Practical Tableau

Whether you have some experience with Tableau software or are just getting started, this manual goes beyond the basics to help you build compelling, interactive data visualization applications. Author Ryan Sleeper, one of the world’s most qualified Tableau consultants, complements his web posts and instructional videos with this guide to give you a firm understanding of how to use Tableau to find valuable insights in data.
 

Over five sections, Sleeper—recognized as a Tableau Zen Master, Tableau Public Visualization of the Year author, and Tableau Iron Viz Champion—provides visualization tips, tutorials, and strategies to help you avoid the pitfalls and take your Tableau knowledge to the next level.

Practical Tableau sections include:

• •  Fundamentals: get started with Tableau from the beginning
• •  Chart types: use step-by-step tutorials to build a variety of charts in Tableau
• •  Tips and tricks: learn innovative uses of parameters, color theory, how to make your Tableau workbooks run efficiently, and more
• •  Framework: explore the INSIGHT framework, a proprietary process for building Tableau dashboards
• •  Storytelling: learn tangible tactics for storytelling with data, including specific and actionable tips you can implement immediately

  This book is best for a ‘201-level’ Tableau user. Most Tableau users have some foundational ‘101-level’ knowledge, but do not have the need for extremely technical ‘601-level’ skills. After all, Tableau’s mission is to help you see and understand your data as easily as possible. This book is targeted specifically at helping you build on the foundational knowledge and take your applications of Tableau to the next level. That being said, I have two big caveats:
   

– Part I covers the core concepts that I find most important when using Tableau. The chapters in that part make it possible for a brand-new Tableau user to learn how to use Tableau with this book alone. For more experienced users, it also offers a review of basic concepts to ensure they have the prerequisites required to build on their knowledge in later chapters.
 

– Beyond technical ‘how-tos,’ this book also offers a strategic framework for data visualization and discusses storytelling techniques. Furthermore, many of the tips and tricks in Practical Tableau were invented by me personally, and may be considered advanced. It is my belief that there is something for every Tableau user in this book, regardless of experience level.