How to Create Tableau Key Progress Indicators (KPIs)

You can easily create a view that shows Key Progress Indicators (KPIs). To do this, you complete the following tasks:
  • Create the base view with the fields you want to measure.
  • Build a calculated field that establishes the figure from which you measure progress for the data you’re measuring.
  • Use shapes that Tableau provides that are designed specifically for KPIs.
This example shows how to build a KPI view that shows a green check mark for any sales figure over $125,000, and a red X for any sales figure under $125,000.

Create the base view with the data you want to measure

Step 1

Open a new workbook and connect to the Superstore data source.

Step 2

From the Dimensions pane, drag Category to the Rows shelf and Region to the Columns shelf.

Step 3

From the Measures pane, drag Sales to Text on the Marks card.

Create a calculated field using the Sales figure

Step 1

Select Analysis > Create Calculated Field.

Step 2

In the Calculated Field dialog box, complete the following steps.
  1. For Name, type KPI.
  2. In the Formula box, build the following formula:IF SUM ([Sales]) > 125000 THEN "Above Benchmark" ELSE "Below Benchmark" END
  3. Confirm that the status message indicates that the formula is valid, and then click OK.
Note: You can also write the formula the following, slightly more succinct format:
IF SUM([Sales]) > 125000 THEN "Above Benchmark", "Below Benchmark" )

Create the KPI view from the base view

Step 1

On the Marks card, from the drop-down list of views, select Shape.

Step 2

From the Measures pane, drag KPI to Shape.

Step 3

On the shape legend drop-down menu, select Edit Shape.

Step 4

In the Edit Shape dialog box, make the following selections:
  1. Under Select Shape Palette, select KPI.
  2. Under Select Data Item, select Above Benchmark, and then in the KPI palette, select the green check mark.
  3. Select Below Benchmark, and then select the red X.
  4. Click OK.
The shapes in the view show your selections. Now you just need to hide the text labels.

Step 5

On the Marks card, click Label, and in the drop-down control, clear the Show mark labels check box.
You can fine-tune how Tableau displays the mark labels by doing the following on the Label drop-down control:
  • To show the label for just one mark, under Marks to Label click Highlighted, and then click the mark in the view.
  • To show the labels for one or more marks, under Marks to Label click Selected, and then select the marks in the view.