Did you know that you can use blank objects and blank shapes in a Tableau dashboard? Both can be helpful for different use cases. I will walk you through a couple of examples for each in my article below.
How do you create a blank shape?
I used Techsmith's Snag It for recordings in my YouTube channel here, and to create a blank shape! Snag It is a great software that can do a lot of different things. It's very helpful for documentation for teams.
I simply opened the Snag It Editor and created a 200 pixel by 200 pixel image with nothing in it! I then saved this to a Custom folder in my Tableau Shapes folder as a PNG file. If you are unsure of how to create / save custom shapes in Tableau, refer to my previous blog post here.
Why would you use a blank shape?
Use Case # 1
Now that you know the how, what about the why? In my Beginner to Pop Tableau Public dashboard I use a blank shape to reduce the highlighting behind a KPI! Shout out to Gabriel Morais for inquiring on how I did this in my Tableau Public dashboard. There are other methods to do so as I talk about using a Dummy calculated field in this past blog article.
Use Case # 2
Another use case I had for a blank shape is in this Tableau Public dashboard here.
This dashboard has a bar chart with a dual axis with phaser shape, so a combo bar / shape chart! When the Bar equals 100% the icon changes from a blank shape to a Star Trek Enemy shape! I made this as a fun way to complete a course. a colleague (Heather Gough) did this with lightsabers, where the progress was displaying a filled light saber. She had a clear light saber over a bar chart.
If you want to know more use cases for blank or transparent shapes, the Flerlage Twins have a blog article with up to 20 use cases here!!!
What about blank objects? When do you use them?
Use Case # 1
I have used blank objects in Tableau when I do not want the user to click on an area in a Tableau dashboard.
Use Case # 2
I also use blank objects as a placeholder in containers. This is part of the fighting container process, like when you are trying to put a container in a container in a container. An example is here in my #RWFD Employee Worktime Tableau Public Dashboard when I was trying to create the look of a selection button.
Feel free to download any of my Tableau Public dashboards to see how they are configured.
Comments