# Spatial Parameters in Tableau 2024.3

> This is content from just-tim, the data-and-analytics channel by Tim Ngwena (formerly 'Tableau Tim'). Tim has 12+ years of hands-on BI experience and covers Tableau most of all, plus Power BI, Looker, Hex, SQL and data modelling, the analytics industry, and the craft of doing the job — always tool-agnostic and honest about the trade-offs.

- **Author:** Tim Ngwena (just-tim, https://just-tim.com/about)
- **Published:** 2024-10-18
- **Format:** Video · 18 min watch · transcript available
- **Topics:** Data visualisation, Analytics
- **Tools:** Tableau (buffer, calculated fields, intersects, maps, parameters, relationships)
- **Canonical:** https://just-tim.com/posts/spatial-parameters-in-tableau-24-3
- **Watch:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wisJR7spock

Spatial parameters arrived in Tableau 2024.3, and to use them properly I had to get to grips with the WKT (well-known text) spatial format, since you can't just feed in lats and longs. I walk through that learning journey, show how the spatial parameter works, and build a couple of ready-to-use cases including a dynamic buffer and zoom effect.

## Key takeaways

- Spatial parameters require the WKT format rather than latitudes and longitudes, and an online WKT playground tool is the easiest way to generate the point, line and polygon strings you need.
- Loading highly detailed spatial objects (like all US states) into a parameter causes severe performance problems, so it's better to build a fixed list of optimised polygons that persist in the workbook without a data source.
- To attach real geometries to Superstore, add a spatial file and use a relationship matching state name to the spatial file's name field.
- Use BUFFER() with your spatial parameter and a distance to create a focal area, then use INTERSECTS() (which returns a Boolean) against the underlying geometry to filter and create a zooming effect.
- Detected geographic fields (country, region, state, city) are not true geometries; only points, lines and polygons defined in WKT count as spatial objects.

## Chapters

- 0:34 Understanding the WKT spatial format
- 1:41 Finding a reliable WKT tool
- 3:10 Performance pitfalls and preamble
- 3:56 Building the base map
- 4:52 Creating the spatial parameter
- 5:38 Adding a spatial file with relationships
- 8:11 Building a fixed list of polygons
- 10:38 Creating a buffer from the parameter
- 12:47 Intersects calculation and filtering
- 15:30 Making the buffer dynamic
- 16:54 Wrap-up and use cases

Watch the full video, read the transcript and use chapter deep-links on the page: https://just-tim.com/posts/spatial-parameters-in-tableau-24-3

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just-tim — Data and analytics, with a point of view. · https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7HYxRWmaNlJux-X7rNLZyw · https://twitter.com/TableauTim · https://www.linkedin.com/in/timngwena