Tableau – Motion Chart  

A motion chart is an advanced chart that when properly created adds a great deal of analytical convenience to your data analysis project. Tableau motion charts can help you gain valuable insights from your data.

What is Motion Chart?

The motion chart, as the name indicates, is a chart that is moving or mobile, which gives us an idea of how data points follow a path and produce a trend. Motion charts look similar to line charts, in which a line is plotted on the x and y axes.

The difference between a line chart and a motion chart is that the motion chart moves from a starting point to an endpoint, leaving behind a trail of data points along the way. Our analysis can be conducted based on the highs and lows our values hit within the course by using motion charts.

How to Create Motion Chart in Tableau?

To create a Tableau motion chart, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Add Dimension Field in Column Section

The first thing we need to do is add a dimension field to our Columns section. We select Order Date as a dimension field from our sample dataset of store sales. We then set the field value type to Month.

Step 2: Add Measure Field in Rows Section

The next step is to add a measure field, Sales, to the Rows section. On the screen, you can see a preliminary line chart.

Step 3: Add Dimension Field into Page Section

Since we have not done this in any of the other charts, this step will be new. As shown in the screenshot below, we have added our dimension field, Order Date, to the Pages section. The field value type of this dimension is also changed to Month.

Step 4: Use Tableau’s Play-Pause button to operate Motion Charts

A filter and play box appear on the right after we add our dimension to the Pages section. From here, we can set a range of months or operate the motion chart with the tableau play-pause button.As we move forward, we will learn how to further utilize this filter-play box for our motion chart.

Step 5: Select Circle from the Marks List

From the Marks list, select Circle as the mark type. The plot will show individual data points.

Step 6: To make changes to the motion chart, go to Show History

To create a motion chart with data points and a trailing line, we need to make some changes to the settings. You can do this by selecting Show history. Our line can be customized in many ways from here, including length, show, marks, and more.

Step 7: Choose both options in Tableau Motion Chart

If we select the option Both, our motion chart will have both data points and trailing lines when it moves from one point to another.

Step 8: Click on Tableau Play Button

When we click on the play button, our motion chart begins from one point, moves towards the right following the trail of every data point, and then finally terminates at the last data point.

Step 9: Create Tableau Motion Chart with Two Variables

Alternatively, we can create a motion chart using two variables, which will result in two lines moving parallel to each other (unless they have the same data point). Just add one more measure field to the Rows section.

Our final Tableau motion chart trailing line is shown below.

Using motion charts, we can represent our data as it moves. Using a motion chart in Tableau, we can make our analysis more insightful and meaningful in many ways.