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Creating an Overlapped Bar Chart
Published: 30 Jun 2013
Last Modified Date: 24 Aug 2022
Question
How to create an overlapped bar chart, where both bars are always visible because the bar underneath is wider
Environment
Tableau Desktop
Answer
The attached example workbook uses the sample data set Superstore to demonstrate the following directions:
- Drag [Sales] and [Profit] to the Rows shelf
- Right-click the second measure on the Rows shelf, and select Dual Axis
- On the Marks card labeled All, set the mark type to Bar in the dropdown menu
- On the Marks card labeled SUM(Sales), Click Size and then adjust the slider to change the width
- Repeat step 4 on the Marks card labeled SUM(Profit)
- Right-click the right y-axis in the view and select Synchronize Axis
- Optional: Right-click the right y-axis in the view and uncheck Show Header to toggle off the labels on the right side
- Optional: Switch the positions of the measure on the Rows shelf to switch which measure is on top in the view
- Optional: Drag a dimension to the Columns shelf to create multiple overlapped bars
Additional Information
- The Dual Axis option will only appear when right-clicking a measure that is to the right of another non-dual-axised measure.
- To create horizontal bars rather than vertical bars, follow the above directions but place the measures on the Columns shelf
To view these steps in action, see the video below:
Note: the video has no sound
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