This Tableau extension allows a user to take a data-driven animation
created in the Inovista Animator and load it into Tableau. Variables in
the animation can be linked directly to Tableau data values or defined as
user editable properties.
This extension will take any animation created in the Inovista
Animator and convert it into a Tableau component. Animations may be
charts or infographics driven by Tableau data or simply decorative items
such as moving logos.
The animations can be exported from the Animator as JSON files or they
can be copied to the clipboard. In Tableau, the JSON file can be loaded
or can be pasted directly from the clipboard.
In the Animator, all aspects of the animation can be modified by
creating variables, for example how much of an image to display to
simulate a bar chart. Each variable can be defined as either a data item
or property. In Tableau, data items are linked to Tableau data and
properties can be set by the user. Examples of properties may be fonts
or colors.
Animations don't necessarily need to be data-driven, for example an animated logo may be created.
Once defined, data values can be updated by a filter and/or parameter
change.
How to use this extension will be explained on this and the following page.
(note that there is also a legacy option which allows the creation of a stand-alone extension and this is
defined a later section)
Opening the Tableau Extension Form
Once the animation is ready, go to the 'Image Project' -> 'Export Files'
section. Click on the 'Tableau Extension' button.
This will open the Tableau Extension form.
The form has 2 tabs, one is If the animation contains
variables which will be used in the extension to map data in Tableau, then
the Optional tab allows the entry of a description of each of the
variables. These descriptions will be shown as tooltips in the Tableau
extension editor popup.
Required Tab
Inside the required tab, there is an option for 'Stand-Alone' or 'Importable'. Use the 'Importable' option to work with
the Inovista Animator Gallery Extension.
Define Data and Properties
Each variable has a 'Data' or 'Propery' 'Source Type' option. 'Data' options will be directly linked to a
Tableau data item whereas 'Properties' can be set by the designer in Tableau.
If the 'Property' option is selected, the 'edit' button becomes available.
Clicking on the 'edit' button will present a dialog box which will help to
define how the property is presented in the Tableau Extension popup.
The initial editable options are:
Title: The name that will be used to define the property.
Default Value: The intitial default value of the property.
Property Type: A list of options which will define how the
user will be able to edit the property in Tableau.
The Property Type options are:
Boolean: A true/false or yes/no property.
Text: The user will be able to enter a textual value for the
property.
Numeric: The user will be able to enter a numeric value for
the property. Additionally, there is an option to set a minimum and/or
maximum value.
Color: The Power BI color editor will be used to set the
property.
List: A list of values can be entered here. In Power BI, the
user will be able to select from one of those values.
Font Size: The Power BI font size editor will be used to set
the property.
Font Family: The Power BI font family editor will be used to
set the property.
Optional Tab
If variables have been added to the animation, they can be given a
description in the 'Optional Tab'. If a description has been entered, they
will be used in a tooltip in the Tableau editor popup to help a user
understand exactly what the variable represents. If left blank, then they
are ignored in Tableau and the 'i' icon will not be shown for any variable
that has no description.
Repeating Images
If there are repeating images in the animation, for example a number of
images presenting the same information for different entities, repeat the
variable name for each entity rather than giving it a new name for each one.
If this is the case, when the extension data is mapped in Tableau, then only
one item will be shown for each set. (in the example below, only one
'scalex', one 'scaley' and one 'docValue' will be shown in the popup. If the
Tableau data is in rows, then the first row will populate the first
variable, the second row will populate the second variable and so on.
Resizing Images
To ensure the images resize in Tableau, set the Image Size to a percentage
value in the 'Image Project' section.
