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Using Dates

An analysis showing how a single date field can be shown effectively as three independent attributes of a visual table.  
 
This analysis contains a single date field effectively shown as three independent attributes of a visual table. In this case the Order Date field is used in the Column (year), Rows (quarter), and Colors (weekday). Without separating and pivoting the date by different levels of detail, could you have noticed that total Saturday sales in the consumer division skyrocketed from 2003 to 2004? Could you have discovered that this only happened in Q4? Could you have seen that the effect was restricted to Saturdays? The date field must be visually pivoted in order to find such insights. Tableau makes this process easy.
 
 

To Learn More

  • You can connect to the database used in this example by selecting Bookmarks > Sample Concepts > Dates in Tableau.
  • For more information on working with Dates in Tableau, search for Dates in the Tableau Help. You can also contact Marc Rueter in Tableau Technical Support at: (206) 633 3400 x513
  • You can learn this trick and many more at the Tips and Tricks index. Don't forget to bookmark it.