How to Create a Rotating KPI in Five Steps With Tableau
Follow this demo to add some dramatic flair to your next dashboard
This is a short demo about how to create a rotating KPI view in Tableau
In Tableau version 2020.1 we have the opportunity to include animations. The rotating KPI view is not easy to create and is for intermediate to advanced Tableau users.
Step 1: Connect to data
This animation needs to iterate through the data in order move the KPIs around in a circle. The way I’ve done this is by essentially creating 10 rows of data for each data point. First I create a csv file with the numbers 1 to 10, then I joined the CSV file with my data source on 1 = 1.
Hopefully this will make more sense later on.
Create CSV file
The first thing to do is to create a NumberIndex.csv file with one column called “Number” that has values from 1 to 10:
Create data source
1. Connect to excel “Superstore” data source
2. Drag the “Orders” sheet into the view
3. Connect to text file
4. Drag in the file created above
5. Connect on “Join Calculation” 1 = “Join Calculation 1”
Step 2: Setup variables
Next I created variables that will space the KPIs neatly on a circle using trigonometry.
Create “Number of Marks” Parameter
Create calculated fields
- Create and “Index” calculated field
- Create “Sin x” calculated field
SIN(([Index]+MAX([Number]))*2*PI()/[Number of Marks])
- Create “Cos x” calculated field
cos(([Index]+ MAX([Number]))*2*PI()/[Number of Marks])
Step 3: Build view
Next add all the fields to view.
Add the fields to the view
1. Add the “Sin x” calculated field to the columns shelf
2. Add the “Cos x” calculated field to the rows shelf
3. Add the “Index” calculated field to details
4. Add the “Sub-Category” dimension to text
5. Add the “Sales” measure to text
Add the filters
- Add the “Sub-Category” field to the filters shelf. Select the “Top” tab. Set the Top 5 by SUM of Sales
- Add the “Number” field to the filters shelf. Select the Condition tab
Set up pages
Add the “Number” field to the pages shelf.
Use “Sub-Category” to compute the table calculation
Set the calculated fields “Index”, “Sin x” and “Cos x” to refer to the “Sub-Category” field in the table calculation. Also sort “Sub-Category” by SUM(Sales).
Step 4: Add animation
Switch on animation. Press play on the pages card and watch your KPIs go round and round.
Step 5: Format
Tableau has many formatting options, here are a few that I used but play around to see what you like.
- Remove lines
- Remove “Show header” for both axis
- Add a dark background
Next steps
You can change the number of marks by updating the filters and the “Number of Marks” parameter.
You can add a background image. On a dashboard, add your image then add this view as floating object.
You can apply this technique on your own data to provide a dramatic header for your next dashboard.
Author short bio
Rho Ackerman is a Business Intelligence Specialist and a Chartered Management Accountant with an MSc in Strategic Business Management. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rho-ackerman-0274a732/
