![adding drop lines in Tableau](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e16c6a_39a47691cd56417e9b307acf49a330ca~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_513,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e16c6a_39a47691cd56417e9b307acf49a330ca~mv2.jpg)
Introduction
Drop lines are interactive features that call out the position of marks in the view. This feature comes in handy when presenting views packed with a lot of marks. For example, when you create a scatter plot densely packed with marks, you can turn on the drop lines feature to show the position of each mark when highlighted.
![example of drop lines in tableau](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e16c6a_8aef656c563a44c999a62dfb004eac3d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_738,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e16c6a_8aef656c563a44c999a62dfb004eac3d~mv2.jpg)
(Note: This feature works only on Tableau Desktop.)
Adding drop lines
Let’s say using the sample-superstore data set, you’ve created a scatter plot showing Profit and Sales for each Order ID. See the view below.
![sample scatter plot](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e16c6a_e2c06d9a4b1b4361933e324133319655~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_685,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e16c6a_e2c06d9a4b1b4361933e324133319655~mv2.jpg)
To enable users, easily identify the position of each mark on the view (through highlighting), you can add drop lines by simply,
Right-clicking anywhere on the view.
Select ‘Show Drop Lines’ under ‘Drop Lines’ option.
![show drop lines in tableau](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e16c6a_ec1c07ba6abb42d3a136925a76555355~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_677,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e16c6a_ec1c07ba6abb42d3a136925a76555355~mv2.jpg)
Notice, when you highlight any mark on the view, the drop lines appear without labels.
![scatter plot](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e16c6a_df296d8dffdc450a99e60af987cd80f5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_620,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e16c6a_df296d8dffdc450a99e60af987cd80f5~mv2.jpg)
Let’s add the labels by.
Right-clicking on the view.
Under Drop Lines >> choose ‘Edit Drop Lines…’
On the pop-up dialog box, choose Automatic under labels.
![showing labels in tableau drop lines](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e16c6a_247b60f2520f4519b6003bcf58d96318~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_676,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e16c6a_247b60f2520f4519b6003bcf58d96318~mv2.jpg)
Notice, the drop lines appear with labels (which is more interpretable).
![scatter plot](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e16c6a_e80aafdf39454ae7a8b14004b36c24c8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_632,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e16c6a_e80aafdf39454ae7a8b14004b36c24c8~mv2.jpg)
Formatting drop lines
You can format drop lines by selecting Drop Lines…. Under Format menu.
![formatting drop lines in tableau](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e16c6a_c0787ef7aebd45e187df4c33de9b8301~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_744,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e16c6a_c0787ef7aebd45e187df4c33de9b8301~mv2.jpg)
And customize the line, font, alignment, and shading as per your needs.
![formatting drop line font, alignment, shading and lines](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e16c6a_c7ee8c1a0706464a80b8cdb054b7d972~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_464,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e16c6a_c7ee8c1a0706464a80b8cdb054b7d972~mv2.jpg)
Resulting to…
![scatter plot](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e16c6a_52e31d64135244d4b01311cbeb360f73~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_690,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e16c6a_52e31d64135244d4b01311cbeb360f73~mv2.jpg)
Conclusion
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