GSB 510 Tableau

workbooks (.twb)

hold one or more worksheets or dashboards; do not include the data

bookmarks (.tbm)

contain a single worksheet and are easy to share your work

packaged workbooks (.twbx)

contain the workbook along with any other supporting data or images

extract (.hyper or .tde)

local copy of a subset or entire data that you can use to share with others

data source (.tds)

shortcut for quickly connecting to the data; these files do not contain the actual data but rather the information to connect

packaged data source (.tdsx)

contains the data source file as well as any local file data

dimensions

qualitative values such as names and dates; can use dimensions to categorize, segment, and reveal the details in you data; affect the level of detail in the view

measures

numeric, quantitative values you can measure

marks

data points displayed on the view using color, size, shape, tooltip

data types

text, date values, numerical values, boolean values, geographic roles, cluster group

data relationships

dynamic and based on shared fields; bring back all possible records from both tables

advantages of relationships

no upfront join type - only need to select fields to define a relationship; content aware - join types are selected based on data in worksheet; flexible - bring back all possible records from both tables

joins

combine tables related by common fields from same database; results from this join create a table that is extended horizontally by adding columns of data; should be used to add columns of data across same row structure

cross database

combine tables related by common fields from different databases; results create a table that is extended horizontally by adding columns of data

unions

use when you want to add more rows of data to the same column structure; results create a table that is extended vertically by adding rows of data

blend

use when combining data from different levels of data; great for blending published data sources; cannot be published

metadata

shows fields in your database as rows; allow you to quickly examine and edit data source fields

data interpreter

can detect items used for visual appeal and exclude them from dataset including titles, notes, footers, empty cells

split

allows you to take fields with multiple pieces of information and split them into separate values; Tableau splits on common separator by default

pivot

allows you to swap your data from a column format to a rows format and vice versa

data fields

created from columns in the data source; two types

dimensions

fields used to categorize, segment, and reveal details in your data

measures

fields that can be aggregated

continuous fields

represent a continuous path without an interruption; create axes when on columns or rows (green)

discrete fields

individually separate and distinct; create headers for rows and columns (blue)

default dimensions properties

color, shape, sort, comment, number

default measures properties

comment, color, number format, aggregation, total using

axis

displays data points within a range of values; horizontal or vertical depending on location of measure

horizontal axis

measure on rows shelf

vertical axis

measure on columns shelf

bar charts

compare across categories

vertical bar chart

dimension on column shelf, measure on row shelf

horizontal bar chart

dimension on row shelf, measure on column shelf

line charts

connect individual data points in a view; provide a simple way to visualize a sequence of values & are useful when you want to see trends over time/forecast future values; common when date dimension involved

combined axis (blended axis)

share an axis so that all marks are shown in a single pane; most appropriate when comparing measures that have a similar scale and units

dual axis

compare multiple measures using dual axes; can display two different marks types on same view

dual axes

two independent axes that are layered on top of each other; useful for analyzing two measures with different scales

scatterplots

used to visualize relationships between numerical variables and show patterns across datasets

maps

allow you to develop a geographical analysis on your data; require location data to work correctly

common map data types

longitude/latitude, city/state/country, airport, area code (US)

density maps

aka heat maps; reveal patterns or relative concentrations in a specific geographic region; let you identify locations with larger or fewer data points; require a point geometry, latitude/longitude, or location names

text tables

good for making a comparison between specific points of data; dimension on column and row shelves

pie charts

should be used when you want to show relationships between fields as they relate to the whole; should be used when the amount of dimensions is limited (<5)

tree maps

great way to show relationships between fields that have over 5 dimensions

sorting

gives you control over the order that dimension members are listed in a table and can often reveal relationships between fields

filter

can limit the amount of data shown; can help the audience pick the data they want to see

extract filters

added to the data source as it is extracted; extract size is proportionate to the extract filters

data source filters

adds filters to the data source data after it is loaded into Tableau but before it is added to the view; doesn't change the volume or size of data

context filters

load a specific filter before other filters are applied using filters card

dimension filters

filter categorical data; generally selecting data to include or exclude

four ways to filter dimensions

general, wildcard, condition, top

measure filters

filter quantitative fields; typically selecting a type of range

four ways to filter measures

range of values, at least, at most, special

continuous date filters

filter relative dates, filter a range of dates, starting date, ending date, special

discrete date filters

provides option to filter by data levels; general, condition, top

groups

combine related members into a new data field; help us correct data and answer "What if"; can be created from dimensions or measures

sets

can be used to compare and ask questions about a subset of data; custom fields that define a subset of data based on some conditions

general set

select one or more values that will be computed when creating the set

condition set

defines rules that will determine which items are added to the set

top set

define limits to what members are included in the set

hierarchies

allow you to drill down deeper in your visualization

alias

provides the option to create alternative names for members in a dimension so that their labels appear differently in the view; can only be created for members of discrete dimensions

totals

use disaggregated data from the underlying data source; must be at least one header, aggregated measure

basic expressions

allow you to transform values at the data source level of detail (row level calculation) or at visualization level of detail (aggregate calculation)

level of detail (LOD) expressions

same functions as a basic calculation but provide the ability for more granularity

Tableau calculations

allow you to transform values at the visualization level of detail only (aggregate calculation)

calculated fields

allow you to create new data from data that already exist; great to use when the underlying data does not contain all the values needed for analysis; able to manipulate string data using specific functions

date calculations

uses calculated field method to manipulate dates in the data source; DATEADD, DATEDIFF, DATETRUNC, DATEPART

table calculations

calculations that you can apply quickly to measures on your view; done locally in Tableau; only take place on the fields available in the view; can take place on dimensions and measures

quick table calculations

allow you to quickly apply calculations to your view using common calculation types; include running total, difference, percent difference, rank

proportional symbol maps

dot density maps where the sizes of the dots vary according to a measure; can show one or two quantitative values per location

choropleth maps

from Greek words for "area/region" and "multitude"; a thematic map in which areas are shaded or patterned in proportion to the measure being displayed; best for showing ratio or aggregated data for polygons

density maps

aka heat maps; reveal patterns or relative concentrations in a specific geographic region; let you identify locations with larger or fewer data points; require a point geometry, latitude/longitude, or location names

format - worksheet

this edit applies to all text in the worksheet except the Header and Tooltip; edits at worksheet level become the new default for all other edits

format - pane

affects the panes on the view where the results of your visualizations are displayed

format - headers

adjust fonts to the headers on the view; will display the dimensions used in the viz

format - tooltip

applies to all the text in the Tooltip

format - title

adjusts the title of the sheet

format - total pane

adjusting the totals will change both the grand totals and the sub totals

format - total header

adjusting this affects the headers for totals and grand totals

format - grand total pane

adjust font for grand total results

format - grand total header

adjust grand total header

format - row and column text

these allow you to adjust fonts independently for values on rows or column

label mark

can adjust alignment, fonts, and label type

tooltip mark

can adjust font type, font size, alignment, and appearance

trend lines

used to highlight trends in your data; both axes must have a field that can be interpreted as a number

reference lines, band, distribution, boxplots

used to identify specific values on a continuous axis

reference line

les you add a line at a constant or computed values

reference bands

shades an area behind the marks between two constant or computed values

reference distributions

adds gradient of shading to indicate the distribution along the axis

box plots

uses quartiles and whiskers to describe distribution along an axis

bullet graph

variation of a bar graph; compares a primary measure to one or more ranges in the context of a range

dashboard - horizontal and vertical

containers that let you group related objects

dashboard - text

creates headers and explanations

dashboard - image

add visual graphics to the dashboard

dashboard - blank

help you adjust spacing between dashboard items

dashboard - navigation

lets your audience navigate from one object to another

dashboard - download

lets your audience download a PDF, PowerPoint, or PNG of entire dashboard

highlight action

use this action to call attention to marks of interest by coloring relevant marks and shading others

filter actions

use this action to send information between worksheets