Tableau for dummies

Table of content

Introduction

About This Book

Part I: Getting Started with Tableau Desktop

Part II: Bringing in Data

Part III: Analyzing Data

Part IV: Publishing and Sharing

Part V: Advancing to a Higher Level

Part VI: The Part of Tens

Conventions Used in This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Beyond the Book

Where to Go from Here



Part I: Getting Started with Tableau Desktop

Chapter 1: A Brief Introduction to Tableau Desktop

Starting with Tableau

Downloading the Tableau trial

Installing the trial software

Looking at the Tableau Workspace

Starting Tableau

Viewing a sample workbook or data source

Seeing what Tableau can really do



Chapter 2: Seeing What You Can Do with Tableau

Analyzing Data

Looking back at data analysis

Connecting to your data in Tableau

Understanding Tableau worksheets

Starting to analyze data

Enhancing the analysis

Creating Dashboards

Telling the Story



Chapter 3 : Understanding the Basics

Getting to Know the Tableau Desktop Environment

Looking at the Tableau Start page

Understanding the Data Source Page

Using worksheets to explore data

Getting to know the Dashboard workspace

Understanding the Story workspace

Connecting to Your Data

Editing your data source

Replacing a data source

Working with Dimensions and Measures

Understanding dimensions

Understanding measures

Choosing Chart Types

Modifying Your View



Part II: Bringing in Data

Chapter 4 : Understanding Data Connections

Understanding Data Sources

Considering how data is stored

Using file-based data sources

Understanding Different Editions of Tableau Desktop

Considering Live Data versus Data Extracts



Chapter 5 : Connecting to Data

Preparing Your Data

Using the data preparation features

Targeting data sources for manual corrections

Establishing a Connection to Your Data Source

Keeping Your Data Fresh



Chapter 6 : Visualizing Data

Using the Shelves and Cards

The Columns shelf

The Rows shelf

Using a quick filter to exclude data

The Filters shelf

Pages shelf

Marks card

Modifying the View

Fitting the space

Adding annotations

Adding mark labels



Part III: Analyzing Data

Chapter 7 : Understanding the Tableau Desktop Environment

Looking at the Menus

File menu

Data menu

Worksheet menu

Dashboard menu

Story menu

Analysis menu

Map menu

Format menu

Server menu

Window menu

Help menu

Making Use of the Toolbar

Organizing Sheets



Chapter 8 : Considering Data Display Options

Using Show Me

Understanding the Chart Options in Show Me

Area charts (continuous)

Area charts (discrete)

Box-and-whisker plot

Bullet graphs

Circle views

Dual combination

Dual lines

Filled maps

Gantt

Heat maps

Highlight tables

Histogram

Horizontal bars

Lines (continuous)

Lines (discrete)

Packed bubbles

Pie charts

Scatter plots

Side-by-side bars

Side-by-side circles

Stacked bars

Symbol maps

Text tables

Treemaps

Viewing Your Data

Examining the data used in a view

Examining a subset of the data



Chapter 9: Adding Worksheets

Seeing Why Multiple Worksheets Are Useful

Naming and Organizing Worksheets

Naming worksheets

Organizing worksheets



Chapter 10: Creating Dashboards

Understanding the Purpose of Dashboards

Adding a Dashboard

Organizing Your Dashboards

Adding a logo

Adding a web page

Moving and resizing content

Ensuring Ease of Use

Synchronizing quick filters

Hiding the panel

Promoting Exploration through Actions

Using a view as a filter

Adding additional actions



Chapter 11: Building Stories

Discovering the Value of Stories

Telling Stories with Purpose



Part IV: Publishing and Sharing

Chapter 12: Publishing Workbooks

Understanding Publishing

Sharing Your Tableau Workbooks

Providing Access to Analysis



Chapter 13 : Sharing Files with Tableau Reader

Looking at the Reader App

Providing Access



Part V: Advancing to a Higher Level

Chapter 14: Advanced Visual Analytics

Using Advanced Analytics

Calculations

Parameters

Totals

Reference lines, bands, distributions, and boxes

Trend lines

Forecasting



Chapter 15: Creating Calculations

Seeing How Calculations Can Be Useful

Calculated fields

Table calculations

Creating Calculations and Parameters

Creating calculated fields

Creating table calculations and percentages

Creating parameters

Customizing Your Data with Parameters



Chapter 16: Unlocking the Language of Calculated Fields

Looking at Data Types

Understanding Functions

Considering Operators



Part VI: The Part of Tens

Chapter 17: Ten Great Tableau Tips

Don't Wait for Your Source Data to Be Perfect

Reuse Data Connections

When in Doubt, Right-Click

The Undo Button Is Your Friend

Pay Attention to Visual Cues

Leverage Your Previous Work

Visual Best Practices Are Worth Learning

Test for Performance

Keep It Simple

Save Early and Often



Chapter 18: Ten Tableau Resources

Free On-Demand Training

In-Person and Virtual Classroom Training

Community and Forums

Knowledge Base

Support

Tableau Visual Gallery

White Papers

On-Demand and Live Webinars

Events and Conferences

Tableau-Related Blogs

Index

Description

Tell your story and put your data into action with Tableau! Tableau gives you the power to understand your data and put it in a format that is appealing and meaningful for everyone who needs to see it.