Trellis Arrangement in Tableau

In Tableau, there are cases where you need to display a large number of items in a single view without relying on scrolling. This need often arises in dashboard scenarios where it's important to see the overall status at a glance. When laying out all items in a single row or column isn't practical due to space constraints, a trellis layout can be an effective solution.

For example, using the Superstore dataset, let's say we want to display all 17 sub-categories sorted by sales. Displaying them in a single column or row would be too cramped, so instead, we’ll arrange them in a 6-row by 3-column grid layout.

Step-by-Step: Arranging Sub-Categories in a 6 x 3 Trellis

1. Use the INDEX() function to assign a sequential number to each of the 17 sub-categories.

2. Based on the Index value, calculate the column and row positions so that each item is placed in the appropriate cell within the 6x3 grid.

• Column
  To group the 17 items into 3 columns, calculate the quotient when subtracting 1 from the Index and dividing by 6.

• Row
  To place items into 6 rows, calculate the remainder after subtracting 1 from the Index and dividing by 6.

Review the results generated by the calculated fields.

3. Use the calculated row and column fields to build the sheet and display all 17 sub-categories in the desired trellis layout.

4. Hide headers and adjust chart elements for a clean, grid-style look.