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Creating a Quadrant Chart


Published: 08 Dec 2016
Last Modified Date: 20 Jul 2023

Question

How to create a quadrant chart with multiple icons and multiple colors.

Environment

Tableau Desktop

Answer

Step 1: Create a scatter Plot

  1. Drag Sales to Columns.
  2. Drag Budget Sales to Rows.
  3. Drag Product to Color.

Step 2: Create two Parameters

Parameter 1
  1. Right-click on a blank area of the Measures pane > Create > Parameter
  2. Name the parameter "Budget Parameter".
  3. Set the data type to Float.
  4. Set the Current Value to the point of the data of your choice (in this example 60,000).
  5. Display Format to Automatic.
  6. Click OK.
Parameter 2
  1. Right-click on a blank area of the Measures pane > Create > Parameter.
  2. Name the parameter "Sales Parameter".
  3. Set the data type to Float.
  4. Set the Current Value to the point of the data of your choice (in this example 70,000 )
  5. Display Format to Automatic.
  6. Click OK.

Step 3: Add reference lines

  1. Right click on the Budget Sales axis (y) and select Add Reference Line.
  2. Set the Reference line Value to the Budget Parameter.
  3. Leave the other fields as their default values and click OK.
  4. Right click on the Sales axis (x) and select Add Reference Line.
  5. Set the Reference line Value to the Sales Parameter.
  6. Leave the other fields as their default values and click OK.

Step 4: Create Calculated Field

  1. Click Analysis > Create calculated field...
  2. Name the calculated field "Quadrant".
  3. Enter the below formula and click OK:
    1. IF SUM([Budget Sales]) >= [Budget Parameter] AND Sum([Sales]) >= [Sales Parameter]THEN "Upper Right"
    2. ELSEIF SUM([Budget Sales]) < [Budget Parameter] AND Sum([Sales]) >= [Sales Parameter] THEN "Upper Left"
    3. ELSEIF SUM([Budget Sales]) >= [Budget Parameter] AND Sum([Sales]) < [Sales Parameter] THEN "Lower Right"
    4. ELSEIF SUM([Budget Sales]) < [Budget Parameter] AND Sum([Sales]) < [Sales Parameter] THEN "Lower Left"
    5. END
  4. Drag the calculated field to the view on the Mark of your choice (in this example: Shape).

Additional Information

A quadrant chart is a scatter plot that is divided into four sections. Quadrant charts can be useful for plotting data that has a high volume of different results. By visually representing the data in separate quadrants, you can quickly find the set of items that share common traits or attributes.

To view these steps in action, see the video below: 


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