Tableau 3D

What is Tableau 3D?

Tableau 3D refers to the data visualization tools and models for visualizing 3-dimensional datasets in Tableau. Currently, Tableau has capabilities and tools to support visualizing two-dimensional data. 3D models are not very common in Tableau and Tableau doesn’t support 3D visualization natively, however, you can create 3D charts to deepen your knowledge and create bespoke views. 

The below visual is a simple Tableau 3D scatter plot where the dataset is represented in a 3-dimensional view.

Tableau 3D Models

As such Tableau does not support 3D models. However, you can create Tableau 3D charts, Tableau 3D scatter plots, and 3D maps by using the Tableau public extensions that enable you to represent your data in 3-dimensional format.

How to create Tableau 3D?

While Tableau natively doesn’t support any 3D visualization, you can create Tableau 3D visuals such as Tableau 3D scatter plots or maps, etc. by using a complex workaround.

To create a 3D chart, follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Connect to your dataset from the Tableau interface. Ensure that your dataset contains the required information to plot in a 3D view.

Step 2: Drag and drop the geospatial fields to the Tableau view to create a map or scatter plot.

Step 3: Adjust the edges, dimensional measures, height, depth, etc. to make it visually effective

Step 4: Enhance the user interactivity by adding the highlights, filters, or tooltips as required.

What is the .OBJ format?

The .OBJ file format is extensively used to format 3D modeling and computer graphics. Initially, it was coined by Wavefront Technologies for their Advanced Visualizer software. Currently, it is the standard file format used across various software systems to exchange 3D model data. Essentially, it is a plain text file containing the geometry of a 3-dimensional model which includes vertices, polygons, mesh, groups, and model. These parameters enable the file format easy to read and edit. The .OBJ format is compatible with several 3D modeling applications.

A sample .OBJ file format is provided below:

As you can see, the file format includes mesh, group names, vertices, and faces. A mesh in .OBJ file comprises of polygon which is also known as faces. Each polygon or face encompasses a set of vertices. Meshes and groups can be included in groups. 

Similarly, if you notice, the file contains usemtl Color_006, a code segment that indicates a material name which is a texture in a 3D model.  

Similarly, if you notice, the file contains usemtl Color_006, a code segment that indicates a material name which is a texture in a 3D model.  

The .OBJ file format resembles a nesting doll with certain levels of geometric diagram. The .OBJ file contains the details around the edges and normal lighting, which can be filtered out. A .OBJ file is a suitable choice for most of the 3D modeling systems due to the support it provides for polygonal and geometry format. You can create 3D figures such as spherical or cuboid or any complex geometrical shape in 3D using this file format. 

The below diagram shows a 3D Lego model.

How to get data from .OBJ format and upload it to Tableau?

The .OBJ file format works sequentially and does not assign any numbers to the vertices, faces, or meshes.  You can use an automated script such as Python or Excel to generate four different files, i.e., Vertices.csv, Faces.csv, Group.csv, and Colors.csv.

To get the data from .OBJ format and upload it to Tableau, follow the steps below

Step 1: The .OBJ file for faces looks like the one shown below.

Upload the .OBJ file is attached to Excel, and delimiters are applied while importing the data.

Once the data import is successfully completed, your data will look as per below:

Apply the changes outlined below to the Test.OBJ file.

• Add data type as Text to all the values
• Remove columns with “f” and add numeric columns (1,2,3,4)

Post transformation, your data will look like below.

Save the file into Faces.csv.

Step 2: Upload the .OBJ file to Excel and make similar changes as mentioned in Step 1.

Post transformation, your data will look like the following:

Save the file into Vertices.csv.

Step 3: In the Tableau desktop, connect to the Faces.csv file.

Step 4: Apply an inner join with Vertices.csv. To do so, double-click on Faces.csv logical table.

Drag the Vertices.csv file to the join canvas in the physical layer.

Define the join condition as shown below.

Now, your dataset is ready to be deployed in Tableau to create a 3D model in a polygon shape.

You can create a view by defining the number of vertices in a face.

Furthermore, you can enhance the view of your 3D model by adding color and groups to it. For color enhancement, consider adding textures to specify the choice of colors in your 3D model.

Note: Adding groups to your 3D model is not mandatory, and you should consider adding groups to your model only if you intend to add any filter in some parts of your viz.

While 3D models in Tableau are not very common, for your analysis, you can always refer to the various visuals published to the Tableau public for better understanding.

In the next section, we will look at a few examples to understand a bit more about Tableau 3D. By following these instructions, you can create various Tableau 3D visualizations yourself in the view.

Examples

In this section, we will demonstrate different examples to which you can refer to create a Tableau 3D chart.

Example #1

In this example, we will demonstrate creating a Tableau 3D chart using the Top 10 Global Companies dataset. The Top 10 Global Companies dataset contains information about the Top 10 companies in the world including the country of origin, Sales, Profit, Assets, and Market Value.

To create a Tableau 3D chart, follow the instructions outlined below:

Step 1: Import your dataset into the Tableau public using File Navigator.

Step 2: Add another file using a connector, i.e., Add – Add a Connection – Microsoft Excel.

Step 3: Drag Sheet1 to the Join/Union canvas in Tableau.

Step 4: Establish a relationship between the two files in the canvas, i.e., Top 10 Global Companies and Example 1. 

Click on the down arrow next to Select a field for Top 10 Global Companies – Create Relationship Calculation from the drop-down.

Step 5: In the Relationship Calculation window, enter 1 and click on OK to save the changes.

Step 6: Repeat the same step for Sheet 1.

Now, as you can see, the relationship between the two files has been established.

Step 7: Navigate to a new worksheet. Right-click on Path – Create – Bins to create a bin.

Step 8: In the Edit Bins screen, define the bin size as 1.

Step 9: Click on Analysis – Create Calculated Field.

Step 10: Specify the logic to create a calculated field called Index.

Step 11: Create a calculated field @MC by specifying the logic in the calculation editor. 

Step 12: Repeat Step 11 to create another calculated field @Row.

Step 13: Drag the Company Name to the Columns. Change the Marks Type to Shape on the Marks card.

Step 14: Drag the Company Name to the Shape on Marks card.

Step 15: Drag Path (bin) to the Rows shelf.

Step 16: Drag Path(bin) to the Detail on the Marks card and remove it from the Rows shelf.

Step 17: Drag @Row to the Rows shelf.

Step 18:  Right-click on @Row and select Compute Using – Path (bin).

Tableau will change the visual to the shapes shown below.

Step 19: Create a custom folder in your Tableau Repository – Shapes.

Step 20: Save the Tableau shapes to this location.

Step 21: Click on Shape on the Marks card. In the Edit Shape screen, Reload Shapes.

Step 22: Click on the Shape Palette drop-down and choose Custom.

Step 23: Select the shapes for each data item, as shown below.

Now, your Tableau 3D Bar chart is ready for visualization.

Example #2

In this example, we will demo creating a 3D map using the U.S. Comic Book Stores Geolocation. The U.S. Comic Book Stores Geolocation contains a collection of comic book stores located in the United States.

To create a Tableau 3D map, follow the instructions outlined below:

Step 1: Import the dataset into Tableau public desktop using File – Open.

Step 2: Drag the spatial fields to the Tableau view.

Step 3: Click on Analysis – Untick Aggregate Measures.

Step 4: Drag State to the Color on the Marks card.

Step 5: Adjust the size of the map as required.

Step 6: Click on Map – Background Maps – Dark.

Tableau will update the view, as shown below.

Step 7: Navigate to a new Dashboard tab.

Step 8: In the Dashboard pane, choose Automatic size.

Step 9: Drag Example 2 to the Dashboard view and choose Floating to adjust the view.

After adjustment, the view looks like the one provided below.

Step 10: Click on File – Save to Tableau Public.

Tableau will save the visual to Tableau Public.

Step 11: In the web browser that opens, click on Edit.

Step 12: Click on Extension.

Step 13: In the Add an Extension window, search for the Kepler keyword and then select Kepler.gl.

Step 14: Click on Add to Dashboard.

Step 15: Tableau will render the extension in the view. Click on Configure.

Step 16: Select the data model as Example 2 and click on Next.

Step 17: Click on Save.

Step 18: On the Kepler.gl pane, add a new layer and choose A type from the drop-down menu.

Step 19: Specify the Columns, Color, Radius, and Height as shown below.

Tableau will update the chart, as shown below.

Step 20: Enable the 3D map by choosing the icon, as shown below.

Step 21: Adjust the height of the map. Now, your Tableau 3D map is ready for visualization.

Importance Things to Note

• Tableau doesn’t support 3D visualization as they are not aligned with the best practices of data presentation.
• Be clear with the use case before you recommend plotting any Tableau 3D visualization for your stakeholders.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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This article must help understand the Tableau 3D, with its formula and examples. We can download the template here to use it instantly.

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