Opens in a new tab
MIP Logo

Bump Chart Make Easy

This post was originally published on The Data School blog between 2018 and July 2025, before our program was renamed to MIP’s Analytics Career Accelerator. References throughout this article to “The Data School” or “DS” all refer to what is now MIP’s Analytics Career Accelerator. The program, its people, and its commitment to launching outstanding analytics careers remain the same – just under a new name.

If you are having trouble viewing this article, please report it here. 

First Step:

Make the chart like this

Second Step:

Right-click on ‘Sub-Category’ select ‘Create’ -> ‘Parameter’, the Parameter list will be automatically populated with the ‘Sub-category’ name, then right-click on it to choose ‘Show Parameter’

Third Step:

Right-click on the newly-created Parameter, choose ‘Create’ -> ‘Calculated Field’, pick an informative name ‘PickSubCat’, input the formula as follow:

4th Step:

Create a new Calculated Field, name it ‘FakeHighlight’, input the formula as follow:

5th Step:

Put them all together, in the Mark card ‘All’, drag ‘PickSubCat’ to the Colour mark, ‘FakeHighlight’ to the Details mark as follow

6th Step: Table Calculation

Right-click on the ‘Sum(Sales)’ on Rows, choose ‘Add Table Calculation’, and choose the options as follow, do this for the other ‘Sum(Sales)’ as well:

7th Step:

Right-click on the right ‘Sum(Sales)’ and pick ‘Dual Axis’, then ‘Synchronise Axis’, we will have the following result

8th Step:

Drag that Sheet on a Dashboard. On the menu bar, click on ‘Dashboard’, then ‘Actions’ -> ‘Add Actions’ -> ‘Change Parameter’, configure as follow:

Then similar add another action ‘Add Actions’ -> ‘Highlight’, configure as follow, this will help correctly highlight the lines and points of the ‘Sub-Category’ you click-on:

Last Step:

Choose the colour for the un-selected ‘Sub-Category’, add title and you will have and nicely formatted Bump Chart with will highlight the path of trend for each selected ‘Sub-Category’

You can download my sample Dashboard from my Tableau Public link.

Share this post