Creating a treemap

A treemap is used for displaying huge amounts of data that can be structured hierarchically (tree-structured). It presents the data using differently sized and colored rectangles.


Treemap example.

Data in a treemap is organized hierarchically. Each branch in the hierarchy is symbolized by a rectangle, which in turn is divided into smaller rectangles representing sub-branches. Within the different hierarchy levels, the rectangles are sized proportionally by the values in a numerical data column, for example a sales column. The largest rectangle is positioned in the top left corner and the smallest rectangle in the bottom right corner.

For example, below you can see the hierarchy used in the treemap above:
Hierarchy for a treemap.
The entire visualization space is used, which makes it possible to present a large amount of data simultaneously. This makes it easy to spot patterns and irregularities in your data by a quick look.

The sizes of the rectangles represent numerical data. Also the colors of the rectangles can reflect numerical data by changing gradually between a color representing the maximum value of your data and another color representing the minimum value. You can choose the same data column for both sizing and coloring, or different data columns. In the treemap above, the sizes of the rectangles reflect one data column, and the colors another.

The different settings are found in the legend: the Hierarchy axis, the Size axis, and the Color axis.
Hierarchy, Size and Color axes in the legend of a treemap.

Procedure

  1. On the authoring bar, click Visualization types to open the flyout.
  2. Drag the Treemap visualization type to the wanted position on the analysis page.
    A suggestion of a treemap is presented.
  3. On the Hierarchy axis, select the columns to include in the hierarchy. Start with the top level.
  4. On the Size axis, select by which column the rectangles should be sized.
  5. Select which type of aggregated value to display for the selected column.
  6. On the Color axis, select by which column the rectangles should be colored.
  7. Select which type of aggregated value to display for the selected column.

Example

The data table below lists how much money different customers have spent at four different store departments. Assume you want to find the "top" male and female customer at the Toys department.
Data table for treemap.
The treemap settings below give you the answer.
Treemap finding the "top" male and female customer at the Toys department.
Customer ID SSMM55005 is the woman who spent most money, and SSMM55091 is the man, because these customers' rectangles are the largest in the female and male branches respectively.

Maybe these two customers are the "top" customers at the Clothing department as well. To find out, change the column on the Color axis to Clothing to see if these rectangles have the darkest color.
Treemap, further investigation.
It seems other customers are more interested in clothing than the two customers who spent the most on toys!