Tableau

Introduction to Data Visualization

  • The Power of Visuals: Why Tableau? Comparing Tableau vs. Excel vs. Power BI.

  • The Tableau Ecosystem: Understanding Tableau Desktop, Public, Server, and Online.

  • The Interface: Shelves, cards, the data pane, and the toolbar.

  • Connecting to Data: Importing Excel, CSV, and PDF files; Live vs. Extract connections.

Building Basic Visualizations

  • Dimensions vs. Measures: Understanding how Tableau categorizes data.

  • Discrete vs. Continuous: The “Blue vs. Green” pill concept.

  • Core Chart Types: * Bar Charts and Stacked Bars.

    • Line Charts and Area Charts.

    • Pie Charts and Heat Maps.

  • Sorting & Filtering: Basic filters, top-N filters, and manual sorting.

Advanced Data Manipulation

  • Groups & Sets: Categorizing data points for deeper analysis.

  • Hierarchies: Creating “Drill-down” features (e.g., Year > Quarter > Month).

  • Data Joining & Blending: Combining multiple data sources.

  • The Relationships Model: Understanding the “Noodle” (Logical vs. Physical layers).

Calculated Fields & Parameters

  • Basic Calculations: Arithmetic, string manipulation, and date functions.

  • Quick Table Calculations: Running totals, percent of total, and year-over-year growth.

  • Logic Statements: Using IF, THEN, ELSE, and CASE functions.

  • Parameters: Giving users control over inputs and “What-If” scenarios.

Level of Detail (LOD) Expressions

  • Introduction to LODs: Why they are the most powerful tool in Tableau.

  • FIXED LOD: Calculating values regardless of the view’s granularity.

  • INCLUDE & EXCLUDE: Fine-tuning calculations for specific visual contexts.

Mapping & Spatial Analysis

  • Geocoding: How Tableau recognizes cities, states, and zip codes.

  • Custom Maps: Adjusting background layers and map styles.

  • Symbol vs. Filled Maps: Choosing the right visual for geographic data.

  • Dual Axis Maps: Overlaying two different data types on one map.

Dashboarding & Storytelling

  • Dashboard Best Practices: Layout, white space, and “The F-Pattern” of reading.

  • Actions: Creating Interactivity (Filter Actions, Highlight Actions, URL Actions).

  • Device Designer: Making dashboards mobile-friendly.

  • Tableau Stories: Sequencing visualizations to lead an audience to a conclusion.

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