In this section, we will explore advanced chart types in Tableau that go beyond the basic visualizations. These advanced charts can help you uncover deeper insights and present your data in more compelling ways.

1. Bullet Graphs
2. Box Plots
3. Gantt Charts
4. Waterfall Charts
5. Heat Maps
6. Sparklines

A bullet graph is a variation of a bar chart designed to compare a single measure against a target value and performance ranges.

1. Connect to your data source and open a new worksheet.
2. Drag a measure (e.g., Sales) to the Columns shelf.
3. Drag a dimension (e.g., Region) to the Rows shelf.
4. Right-click on the axis and select "Add Reference Line".
5. Configure the reference line to show the target value.
6. Drag the measure again to the Detail shelf to add performance ranges.

A box plot displays the distribution of data based on a five-number summary: minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile, and maximum.

1. Drag a measure (e.g., Profit) to the Rows shelf.
2. Drag a dimension (e.g., Category) to the Columns shelf.
3. Click on the Show Me panel and select the Box Plot option.

A Gantt chart is used to illustrate a project schedule, showing the start and end dates of tasks.

1. Drag a dimension (e.g., Task) to the Rows shelf.
2. Drag a date field (e.g., Start Date) to the Columns shelf.
3. Change the mark type to Gantt Bar.
4. Drag another date field (e.g., End Date) to the Size shelf to represent the duration.

A waterfall chart helps in understanding the cumulative effect of sequentially introduced positive or negative values.

1. Drag a measure (e.g., Profit) to the Rows shelf.
2. Drag a dimension (e.g., Month) to the Columns shelf.
3. Change the mark type to Gantt Bar.
4. Drag the measure again to the Size shelf.
5. Create a calculated field to show the running total.

A heat map uses color to represent data values in a matrix format, making it easy to identify patterns and correlations.

1. Drag a measure (e.g., Sales) to the Columns shelf.
2. Drag a dimension (e.g., Region) to the Rows shelf.
3. Drag another dimension (e.g., Product) to the Color shelf.
4. Adjust the color legend to represent different data ranges.

A sparkline is a small, simple chart that provides a compact visual representation of data trends over time.

1. Drag a measure (e.g., Sales) to the Rows shelf.
2. Drag a date field (e.g., Month) to the Columns shelf.
3. Change the mark type to Line.
4. Adjust the axis to fit the small size of the sparkline.

1. Connect to the Sample - Superstore data source.
2. Drag the Order Date to the Columns shelf and set it to Month.
3. Drag the Profit to the Rows shelf.
4. Change the mark type to Gantt Bar.
5. Drag the Profit again to the Size shelf.
6. Create a calculated field named "Running Total" with the formula:

   RUNNING_SUM(SUM([Profit]))
   

7. Drag the Running Total to the Rows shelf.

In this section, we explored various advanced chart types in Tableau, including bullet graphs, box plots, Gantt charts, waterfall charts, heat maps, and sparklines. These charts can help you present your data in more insightful and visually appealing ways. Practice creating these charts to become proficient in advanced data visualization techniques. Next, we will delve into using LOD (Level of Detail) expressions to further enhance your data analysis capabilities.