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Learning Tableau

By : Joshua N. Milligan

3.8 (22)

Learning Tableau

3.8 (22)

By: Joshua N. Milligan

Overview of this book

If you want to understand your data using data visualization and don't know where to start, then this is the book for you. Whether you are a beginner or have years of experience, this book will help you to quickly acquire the skills and techniques used to discover, analyze, and communicate data visually. Some familiarity with databases and data structures is helpful, but not required.

Preface

Preface

What this book covers

What you need for this book

Who this book is for

Conventions

Reader feedback

Customer support

Free Chapter

1. Creating Your First Visualizations and Dashboard

1. Creating Your First Visualizations and Dashboard

Connecting to data in Access

Foundations for building visualizations

Visualizing data

Bringing everything together in a dashboard

Summary

2. Working with Data in Tableau

2. Working with Data in Tableau

The Tableau paradigm

Connecting to data

Working with extracts instead of live connections

Metadata and sharing data source connections

Joins and blends

Filtering data

Summary

3. Moving from Foundational to Advanced Visualizations

3. Moving from Foundational to Advanced Visualizations

Comparing values across different dimensions

Visualizing dates and times

Relating parts of the data to the whole

Visualizing distributions

Visualizing multiple axes to compare different measures

Summary

4. Using Row-level and Aggregate Calculations

4. Using Row-level and Aggregate Calculations

Creating and editing calculations

Three levels of calculation

Parameters

Practical examples of calculations and parameters

Ad hoc calculations

Performance considerations

Summary

5. Table Calculations

5. Table Calculations

An overview of table calculations

Quick table calculations

Scope and direction

Addressing and partitioning

Advanced table calculations

Practical examples

Summary

6. Formatting a Visualization to Look Great and Work Well

6. Formatting a Visualization to Look Great and Work Well

Formatting considerations

How formatting works in Tableau

Adding value to visualizations

Summary

7. Telling a Data Story with Dashboards

7. Telling a Data Story with Dashboards

Dashboard objectives

Example – is least profitable always unprofitable?

How actions work

Example – a regional scorecard

Story points

Summary

8. Adding Value to Analysis – Trends, Distributions, and Forecasting

8. Adding Value to Analysis – Trends, Distributions, and Forecasting

Trends

Distributions

Forecasting

Summary

9. Making Data Work for You

9. Making Data Work for You

Structuring data for Tableau

Dealing with data structure issues

An overview of advanced fixes for data problems

Summary

10. Advanced Techniques, Tips, and Tricks

10. Advanced Techniques, Tips, and Tricks

Sheet swapping and dynamic dashboards

Leveraging sets to answer complex questions

Mapping techniques

Using background images

Summary

11. Sharing Your Data Story

11. Sharing Your Data Story

Presenting, printing, and exporting

Sharing a workbook with users of Tableau Desktop or Tableau Reader

Sharing data with users of Tableau Server, Tableau Online, and Tableau Public

Summary

Index

Index

An overview of table calculations

Table calculations are different from all other calculations in Tableau. Row-level and aggregate calculations, which we considered in the previous chapter, are performed at the data source layer. If you were to examine the queries sent to the data source by Tableau, you'd find the code for your calculations translated into whatever flavor of SQL the data source used.

Table calculations, on the other hand, are performed after the initial query. Here's an extended diagram that shows how aggregated results are stored in Tableau's cache:

Table calculations are performed on the aggregate table of data in Tableau's cache right before the data visualization is rendered. As we'll see, this is important to understand for multiple reasons, including the following:

Aggregation: Table calculations operate on aggregate data. You cannot reference fields in a table calculation without referencing it as an aggregate.
Filtering: Any filters will be applied before table calculations...

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Tech Concepts

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Programming languages

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