[TABLEAU] Creating Key Progress Indicators (KPI's)

Creating Key Progress Indicators (KPI's) with Tableau

Tableau can create Key Progress Indicators (KPI's) easily, and even ships with a set of KPI custom shapes for your use. This article describes how to set up KPI's with our example superstore data. We have also provided an example TWBX file for your review. Creating the Base View Step 1 Open Tableau Desktop, and connect to the shipping example Superstore data. Step 2 Place Product Sub-Category on the rows shelf, Region on the columns shelf, and Sales on the text shelf. It should look like this: Creating the KPI View from the Base View In our fictitious example we want to use a green checkmark for any sales figure over $125,000, and a red X for any sales figure under $125,000. When we select a KPI, we would also want to see the sales figure directly. Here is what the finished result might look like: Before selecting a mark After selecting a mark Step 1 We first want to create a calculated field using our Sales figure. Right-click on the Sales measure and choose Create Calculated Field In the dialogue, make the calculated field exactly as shown in the image below and click save when finished: Step 2 Change the mark type from Automatic to Shape (shown in figure 1 below) and drag your new KPI calculation to the Shape shelf (shown in figure 2 below): Step 3 Edit the shapes, by choosing the command shown below from the shape legend: Step 4 In the shape dialogue, choose KPI from the Select Shape Palette list, and then click Assign Palette. Highlight the value Below Benchmark and then click the red X. Highlight Above Benchmark and then click the green checkmark. Click OK when finished: Step 5 To turn off the original text labels unless you click on them, go to the Format menu and choose Mark Labels. Change the label behavior from Automatic to Selected and then close the format window entirely: Step 6 You now have a KPI table and the finished product should look like the following: