12 Replies Latest reply on Oct 10, 2014 1:08 PM by Joshua Milligan

Is it possible to dynamically turn on/off annotations?

suresh.joshi.0 Apr 18, 2013 12:27 PM

Hi everyone,

I had an idea that would be pretty handy when handing out Tableau Desktop workbooks, but I don't know if Tableau has the infrastructure/functionality to support it right now.

I wanted to have a button on my dashboard which would allow the viewer (using Tableau Reader) to dynamically turn on/off annotations. The idea would be that the annotations give information about the dashboard, as well as information on what buttons to click and stuff like that (basically permanent tooltips or markup).

After the user figures out their way around the dashboard, they could turn off annotations. This way, I could save whitespace that would otherwise be used in captions and helper text.

So yeah, does anyone know if this functionality is possible?

Thanks!

-SJ

1. Re: Is it possible to dynamically turn on/off annotations?

Tracy Rodgers Apr 18, 2013 1:50 PM (in response to suresh.joshi.0)

Hi Suresh,

This is currently not possible. However, it'd be a great one for the Ideas section!

-Tracy
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2. Re: Is it possible to dynamically turn on/off annotations?

suresh.joshi.0 Apr 19, 2013 1:33 AM (in response to Tracy Rodgers)

Thanks Tracy, unfortunate to hear. Any crazy-go-nuts workarounds I could put into place? Using created fields, or parameters?

Also, I've opened up an idea about this here: http://community.tableau.com/ideas/2104
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3. Re: Is it possible to dynamically turn on/off annotations?

Joshua Milligan Oct 8, 2014 12:34 PM (in response to suresh.joshi.0)

Suresh,

I have a work-around!

Check out:
Dynamic Annotations (Part 1) | VizPainter
and
Dynamic Annotations (Part 2) | VizPainter

Dynamic Annotations (Part 3) | VizPainter

Edit: The first two parts might be interesting and do contain some useful tips -- but check out part 3 for how it can be done easily.

Regards,
Joshua
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4. Re: Is it possible to dynamically turn on/off annotations?

Shawn Wallwork Jun 14, 2013 2:15 PM (in response to Joshua Milligan)

Like the blogs Joshua! Nice workarounds.

--Shawn
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5. Re: Is it possible to dynamically turn on/off annotations?

Michael Doig Sep 25, 2014 5:29 PM (in response to Joshua Milligan)

Hi Josh,

What if I already have a dual axis? Bar chart showing registrations, line chart showing conversion %. I now want to show/hide annotations on the line chart.

I can get your wonderful work around working (ish), showing and hiding based on the parameter, but I obviously need the 2nd line chart to be a 3rd dual-axis?

Suggestions? Might be something simple?

Thanks in advance!
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6. Re: Is it possible to dynamically turn on/off annotations?

Joshua Milligan Sep 25, 2014 8:10 PM (in response to Michael Doig)
Michael,

One of these days I'm going to clean up my blog and fix everything that I've gotten wrong along the way! This is an example of something that I way over-complicated.

A mark is defined by the intersection of dimensional values. So, if you create a calculated field for a parameter and include it as a dimension in the Level of Detail, then any annotations you set for one parameter value only apply when that parameter value is selected. This gives you an easy way of creating unlimited sets of dynamic annotations.

I've attached a workbook to demonstrate and will have a new blog post soon!

Best Regards,
Joshua

Dynamic Annotations.twbx 967.0 KB
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7. Re: Is it possible to dynamically turn on/off annotations?

Michael Doig Sep 25, 2014 6:19 PM (in response to Joshua Milligan)

I know exactly what you mean, I look back at some earlier SQL blogs I wrote and am horrified

Cheers for the TWBX, going to check it out now!

PS - I am on 8.1, any chance I can get a packaged workbook for that version?
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8. Re: Is it possible to dynamically turn on/off annotations?

Joshua Milligan Sep 25, 2014 8:11 PM (in response to Michael Doig)

Michael,

I've updated the workbook in the above reply to be 8.1. See if it works for you.

Regards,
Joshua
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9. Re: Is it possible to dynamically turn on/off annotations?

Michael Doig Sep 25, 2014 8:13 PM (in response to Joshua Milligan)

Confirmed opened. Cheers!
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10. Re: Is it possible to dynamically turn on/off annotations?

Joshua Milligan Oct 8, 2014 12:33 PM (in response to Michael Doig)

And here is the blog post: Dynamic Annotations (Part 3) | VizPainter
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11. Re: Is it possible to dynamically turn on/off annotations?

Toby Erkson Oct 8, 2014 2:10 PM (in response to Joshua Milligan)

Well thanks Joshua, I just wasted 40 minutes playing your Tic Tac Toe and looking at your other vizes Now I have 20 minutes to kill before I can hop on my Italian steed and get some riding therapy in before my kids come home...
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12. Re: Is it possible to dynamically turn on/off annotations?

Joshua Milligan Oct 10, 2014 1:08 PM (in response to Toby Erkson)

Sorry about that!
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