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Create a Variable Width Bar Chart (Cascade Chart or Marimekko Chart)


Published: 31 Jul 2017
Last Modified Date: 20 Jul 2023

Question

How to create a variable width bar chart where the bars are touching, also known as a variable width histogram, cascade chart, or Marimekko chart.

Environment

Tableau Desktop

Answer

Graph the bars on a continuous axis of the running sum of the measure also used on Size to define the width of the bars.

The attached example workbook uses the sample data set Superstore to demonstrate the following directions:

  1. Drag [City] to the Filters shelf
  2. In the Filter dialog, check only "Austin" and click OK.
  3. Drag [Sales] to the Rows shelf
  4. Drag [Customer Name] to Label on the Marks card
  5. Drag [Quantity] to Size on the Marks card
  6. Drag [Quantity] to the Columns shelf
  7. Right-click SUM(Quantity) on the Columns shelf and select Quick Table Calculation > Running Total
  8. Right-click SUM(Quantity) on the Columns shelf and select Compute Using > Customer Name
  9. On the Marks card, in the Mark type dropdown select Bar
  10. Click Size, and do the following:
  11. Select Fixed
  12. For Alignment, select Right
  13. Right-click [Customer Name] on Label and select Sort…
  14. In the Sort dialog, so the following and click OK:
    • For Sort by, select Field
    • In the dropdown menu, select Sales
  15. Right-click SUM(Quantity) on the Columns shelf and uncheck Show Header.
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