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Background images not showing up in 4.0?

Posted August 12th, 2008 by bsebesta

I recently upgraded to Tableau 4.0
I have been using Microsoft MapPoint to map data, but would like to use Tableau if 4.0 provides enough capabilities.
When using either my own data, or even the sample workbooks provided by Tableau, I cannot see the background image. I can see that the charts are placed in the shape of the United States, but do not see the map. I have background image set to online. What else do I need to check? Do I need to import a background image? When I try to do that, longitude and latitude are not supplied as options for the X and Y field.
Any help on mapping would be appreciated.
Thanks

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On August 12th, 2008 James Baker said:

It sounds like Tableau has not automatically recognized the geographic role of your latitude and longitude (which can happen if they're named differently). There should be a small globe icon for the data type - I bet that's not showing up for you. Right click on your latitude measure and select Geographic Role -> Latitude (and similarly for longitude). A map should then appear behind your data.

Edit: Oh, wait, you say the samples aren't working. That's... interesting. Ah-hah! Our mapping provider was down for about an hour earlier today. Try it now? Sorry for the inconvenience.

On August 13th, 2008 Fan Zhang (not verified) said:

For some reasons I can't get the maps, too. I right clicked the latitude, but there is no georgraphic options - only filter, format and remove... I am also wondering do I need to import any background images??? And the maps do not come up in the sample files I download also...

On August 13th, 2008 Erin Easter said:

Fan Zhang - When you are setting a geographic role you should right-click the field in the Data window. It sounds like you were right-clicking the field when it was already on a shelf in the view.

If you are using your own latitude and longitude fields you can right-click it in the Data window adn select Geographic Role and then select the type of geographic data the field contains.

You won't need to import background images to use the online map provider built into Tableau. Can you confirm that the maps still don't show up in the samples that ship with Tableau? We did experience an outage for about an hour yesterday but they should be available now.

On August 18th, 2008 Fan Zhang said:

We have a Dimension that is the country names, I assign it a Geographic role - country (Name), and drag it to the "Level of detail". I click "show me" and choose "Maps", then I can see the marks scatter on my sheet, which is good - but, I still can't see the background map behind it. I checked Data - Background Maps, and it is online, please tell me why the map still does not show up...

Thanks

On August 18th, 2008 James Baker said:

Are "Longitude (generated)" and "Latitude (generated)" on your Columns and Rows shelves, respectively? If they are, I have no idea why maps wouldn't show up. You can also select Geographic role -> Edit Locations - are there at least some country names that have been recognized (i.e. are not "unknown")?

On August 27th, 2008 Erin Easter said:

You can also try clearing your browser cache in Internet Explorer. If for any reason "blank" map images were provided they may be cached and Tableau is using them instead of the online maps.

If that doesn't work you should probably contact support so they can work with you directly to figure out the problem.

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