How to Create a Column Chart?

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Column charts are a popular type of data visualization that are used to display data in vertical columns. They are commonly used to display categorical data, such as sales by product or region.

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Create a Column Chart in Tableau
Create a Column Chart in Tableau

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In this article, we’ll discuss how to create a column chart in Tableau. We’ll also provide some interview questions and technical round questions related to this topic.

To create a column chart in Tableau, follow these steps:

  1. Connect to your data source and open a new worksheet.
  2. Drag the variable you want to plot on the x-axis to the Columns shelf.
  3. Drag the variable you want to plot on the y-axis to the Rows shelf.
  4. Change the mark type to Bar.
  5. Adjust the visualization as needed, including adding labels and formatting.

Your column chart is now ready to use. You can use the chart to analyze data across different categories and identify areas where the data may be significantly different.

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Column charts can be particularly useful for businesses that need to analyze categorical data, such as sales data or customer feedback data. Here are some of the benefits of using column charts:

  1. Analyze categorical data: Column charts make it easy to analyze data across different categories, allowing businesses to identify areas where one category is significantly different from another.
  2. Compare data across time periods: Column charts allow businesses to compare the progress of a particular metric across multiple time periods at once. This can be useful for identifying areas where the metric is significantly different from another time period, or for comparing the progress of the metric across different regions or products.
  3. Identify outliers: Column charts make it easy to identify outliers or areas where the data deviates significantly from the overall trend. This can be useful for identifying areas where further analysis is needed or where the data may be inaccurate.

If you’re applying for a data analyst or visualization-related job, you may be asked about your experience creating column charts. Here are some potential interview questions:

  1. What is a column chart, and how is it used?
  2. What are the benefits of using a column chart over other types of charts or tables?
  3. How do you create a column chart in Tableau, and what are some of the options for customizing the chart?
  4. Can you give an example of a business problem that would be well-suited to analysis using a column chart?
  5. How would you explain a column chart to a non-technical stakeholder?

If you’re asked to demonstrate your Tableau skills in a technical round, you may be asked to create a column chart from scratch. 


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Published by Rahul Bhattacharya

Rahul is a journalist with expertise in researching a variety of topics and writing engaging contents. He is also a data analyst and an expert in visualizing business scenarios using data science. Rahul is skilled in a number of programming languages and data analysis tools. When he is not busy writing, Rahul can be found somewhere in the Appalachian trails or in an ethnic restaurant in Chicago.

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