Creating maps in Tableau allows you to visualize geographical data effectively. Maps can help you identify patterns, trends, and insights that are geographically based. In this section, we will cover the basics of creating maps, including how to plot data points on a map, customize map views, and use different map layers.

1. Geographical Data: Data that includes geographical information such as latitude, longitude, country, state, city, etc.
2. Map Layers: Different layers that can be added to a map to provide more context, such as streets, terrain, and satellite views.
3. Marks: Visual elements that represent data points on the map.
4. Filters: Tools to refine the data displayed on the map.

First, ensure you have a dataset that includes geographical information. For this example, we'll use a dataset that includes city names and sales figures.

1. Open Tableau and connect to your data source.
2. Load the dataset into Tableau.

1. Drag and Drop Geographical Fields:

   • Drag the City field to the Rows shelf.
   • Drag the State field to the Columns shelf.
   • Tableau will automatically generate a map.

2. Adding Sales Data:

   • Drag the Sales field to the Size shelf under the Marks card.
   • This will adjust the size of the marks based on the sales figures.

1. Changing Map Layers:

   • Click on the Map menu at the top.
   • Select Map Layers.
   • You can choose different layers such as Streets, Satellite, or Terrain.

2. Adjusting Mark Properties:

   • Click on the Marks card.
   • You can change the mark type to Circle, Square, etc.
   • Adjust the color, size, and transparency of the marks.

1. Drag the State field to the Filters shelf.
2. Select the states you want to display on the map.
3. Click OK.

1. Click on the Tooltip shelf under the Marks card.
2. Customize the tooltip to display additional information such as sales figures, city names, etc.

1. Load the provided dataset into Tableau.
2. Create a map that displays sales figures for each city.
3. Customize the map to use the Streets layer.
4. Adjust the mark properties to use circles with varying sizes based on sales.
5. Add a filter to display only cities in the state of California.
6. Customize the tooltip to show the city name and sales figure.

1. Load the dataset into Tableau.
2. Drag City to the Rows shelf and State to the Columns shelf.
3. Drag Sales to the Size shelf under the Marks card.
4. Click on the Map menu, select Map Layers, and choose Streets.
5. Click on the Marks card, select Circle, and adjust the size.
6. Drag State to the Filters shelf, select California, and click OK.
7. Click on the Tooltip shelf, and customize it to show City and Sales.

• Incorrect Geographical Data: Ensure your dataset includes accurate geographical information. Incorrect data can lead to inaccurate maps.
• Overlapping Marks: If marks overlap, adjust the size and transparency to make the map more readable.
• Missing Data: Ensure all necessary fields are included in your dataset to avoid missing data points on the map.

Creating maps in Tableau is a powerful way to visualize geographical data. By following the steps outlined in this section, you can create informative and visually appealing maps that help you uncover insights and trends. Practice creating different types of maps and customizing them to suit your needs. In the next section, we will explore using table calculations to further enhance your visualizations.