UK Filled Map Geocoding Pack for Tableau
If you enjoy creating maps of UK data in Tableau but would like to do them using the ‘Geographic Role’ menu to create either point or filled maps without the need to blend in a polygon data, this is the solution for you!
Download UK Geocoding Pack for Tableau
The following geocoding roles are available as both point and filled map mark types:
England
- CCGs (Clinical Commissioning Groups)
- LEPs (Local Enterprise Partnerships)
- NHS Area Teams
Great Britain
- Ceremonial Counties
- Middle Super Output Areas
- Parliamentary Constituencies
- Postcode Districts
- Postcode Sectors
United Kingdom
- Local Authority Districts
- Lower Super Output Areas
- Postcode Areas
Installation & Use
Copy the ‘Local Data’ folder and its contents contained in the download to your ‘My Tableau Repository’ and restart Tableau Desktop. Then select the appropriate geocoding role by right clicking on a dimension, going to ‘Geographic role’ in the menu and selecting the role that corresponds to your dimension. Then double click on the dimension to draw a point mark type map, changing the mark type from ‘Automatic’ to the ‘Filled map’ creates a filled map. Alternatively use ‘Show Me’ to switch between the two map types.
While the ‘Local Data’ folder is in your Tableau Repository you will no longer have access to the default Tableau geocoding data. To restore back to default simply move the ‘Local Data’ folder out of your repository,rename it or delete it. Then restart Tableau Desktop.
If you wish to redistribute a workbook using this custom geocoding pack be sure to save the workbook as a packaged workbook (TWBX) or go to File -> Export Packaged Workbook… in the main menu.
Coming Soon
I think anybody should be able to create their own custom filled maps. Alteryx makes it really easy to do just that, keep watching the blog for an upcoming post on how it’s done.
Hi Craig
Thanks so much for putting the time into developing this. I can see my Tableau mapping life being revolutionised! No more work-arounds to plot boundaries and points on the same map and blending issues with may data and boundary files. Is it possible to add tds files to this ‘Local Data’ folder? I see that it’s not just a copy of the boundary files.
I’ve just downloaded the Alteryx trial so looking forward to your next post!
Best wishes
Juliette
Great stuff — thanks for sharing this with the world Craig!
Hi Craig
This is superb and just what I need as I’m doing a masters project on election based tweets. I’ve just tried uploading my workbook to Tableau public however and the maps aren’t working. Do you know if there’s a way I can get them to work on Tableau public?
Thanks
Chris
That’s great, thanks a lot Craig.
I used to work with your UK Boundary Poligon Data for “Counties, Unitary Authorities, and Local Authority Districts” mapping, is there a way to get this level of granularity with the geo-coding you posted above?
Thanks again for sharing this!
Hi this looks great.
However, I’m having difficulty with the zip file, once I download it the computer is saying its an invalid zip file. Is this just me?
Tommy
I’ve rechecked and this still works for me….perhaps try downloading again?
Hi Chris,
Thanks for checking the link.
I just tried the download again and get the same issue. Using both IE and chrome fkr the download gets a file that’s about 7mb but windows won’t open it.
If I try and download on an android device then the download won’t complete, it just reports a failure.
Finally got the download working. It was an issue caused by the corporate firewall preventing the download and also a Chromebook refusing the download too.
Unfortunately after all that tableu refuses to play ball with the new fjles as tneh are from a newei version of the software than I have. 🙁
Dear Craig,
Thank you so much, this is amazing.
Stephanie
Hi,
We are still on version 8 of Tableau and my colleague has had issues with the download file, is it possible to get a compatible file?
Many Thanks
Hi Craig,
First of all, thank you for working out and presenting this solution – it is definitely very valuable for UK-focused users of Tableau.
I was wondering if you have any suggestions for users that are having issues with assigning the custom geographic roles. I have downloaded the custom geodata and copied the “Local Data”-folder into My Tableau Repository. I then proceed to opening Tableau and connecting to my dataset (which contains data for UK postcodes), but when I try to assign geographic roles to the dimensions the only available ones are still the “standardised” roles, not the GB-specific ones. If you have any advice on what the problem could be, I would be very grateful!
Thanks in advance,
Snorre
I have the same issue..not able to see the custom geographic roles after restarting the Tableau.
How is this issue resolved ??
Great resource, Craig. Thanks a million.
This is brilliant! It would be great to see UK regions in here though to replace your previous posts on Polygon mapping of UK Regions. I really do not understand why Tableau have not expanded their mapping of local regions to support more countries other the US.
Cracking stuff,
exactly what I needed at a time when I was becoming demented by my failed attempts to fill out a UK postcode district map.
Thanks!!!
This is brilliant Craig, and I’ve found the CCG and Borough/District breakdowns especially helpful. Thanks.
The holy grail for me though is to be able to map my data at ward level. I see you produced this (http://tableaumapping.bi/2013/11/25/uk-wards/) as a TDE, but I’m struggling to make it work with my data, as I cant give wards a geographic role.
I’m sure there’s a way to get it right, and using long and lat from an excel sheet I came close, but unfortunelty no cigar. Did you have any plans to include ward geocoding as part of the above pack?
Hello, I’m trying to map English regions but couldn’t find the .tds file for that. Also version 9.0 doesn’t identify the region codes.
Hi,
i’ve done the above, but Tableau 9.2 isn’t picking up the local data sources as am option for the geographic role. is there something i’m missing?
I’m having the same problem with Tableau 9.2. Any fixes yet?
Hi Craig has there been any progress with 9.2 issues, am excited to use this but can’t see the custom geo roles?
Hi Craig,
the postcode areas for the UK are wonderful, working perfectly for me.
Is there a version for the British Isles, i.e. including Ireland?
Many thanks,
Ben