Tableau Desktop Fundamentals

Course Objectives

Working in a hands-on learning environment led by our expert facilitator, students will learn how to:

• Connect to your data, and Edit and save a data source.
• Understand Tableau terminology.
• Use the Tableau interface / paradigm to effectively create powerful visualizations.
• Create basic calculations including string manipulation, basic arithmetic calculations, custom aggregations and ratios, date math, logic statements and quick table calculations.
• Represent your data using the following visualization types: Cross Tabs, Geographic Maps, Heat Maps, Distribution Charts, Tree Maps, Pie Charts and Bar Charts, Dual Axis and Combo Charts with different mark types, Box Plots, Highlight Tables, Scatter Plots
• Use Reference Lines to highlight elements of your data.
• Use groups, bins, hierarchies, sorts, sets, and filters to create focused and effective visualizations
• Use Measure Name and Measure Value fields to create visualizations with multiple measures and dimensions.
• Handle changes in your data source such as field addition, deletion or name changes.
• Share your visualizations with others.
• Combine your visualizations into Interactive Dashboards and publish them to the web.

Need different skills or topics?  If your team requires different topics or tools, additional skills or custom approach, this course may be further adjusted to accommodate.  We offer additional Tableau, reporting, data analytics, visualization and other related topics that may be blended with this course for a track that best suits your needs.

Course Prerequisites

This is an introductory-level Tableau course geared for attendees new to using the desktop edition of the tool, or for those who want a refresher of the basics or newer features.  Ideal attendees would be beginner Tableau users who want to quickly get up to speed with next-level Tableau features and functions.  Individuals working with data-regardless of technical or analytical background are a fit for this course.

Follow On / Next-Steps: We offer a wide array of ‘next-step’ Tableau courses for various skill levels and roles. Please see the Related Courses tab for Pre-Requisite course specifics and links, links to similar courses you might review as an alternative, as well as suggested Next-Step Follow-On Courses and Learning Path recommendations.

Course Agenda

Please note that this list of topics is based on our standard course offering, evolved from typical industry uses and trends. We’ll work with you to tune this course and level of coverage to target the skills you need most. Topics, agenda and labs are subject to change, and may adjust during live delivery based on audience interests, skill-level and participation.

1. Getting Started with Tableau

• Tableau Desktop and the Tableau Product Line
• Application Terminology
• Visual Cues for Fields
• Getting Started in Tableau Desktop
• Elements of a Visualization

2. Connecting to Data

• Creating a Live Data Connection
• Saving and Editing a Data Source
• Metadata Grid
• Understanding Changes to Data
• Data Connection Options
• Sharing Options

3. Simplifying and Sorting Your Data

• Data Filtering
• Creating Date Filters
• Sorting

4. Organizing your Data

• Using Groups
• Creating and Using Hierarchies

5. Slicing your Data by Date

• Working with Dates in Tableau
• Using Discrete Date Parts
• Defining a Fiscal Year
• Creating Custom Dates

6. Using Multiple Measures in a View

• Using Measure Values and Measure Names in a View
• Combo Charts
• Combined or Shared Axis Charts
• Creating Dual Axis Charts

7. Showing the Relationship between Numerical Values

• Creating Scatter Plots
• Using Sets

8. Mapping Data Geographically

• Mapping in Tableau
• Geographic Mapping
• Background Maps and Layers
• Navigation and Selection in Maps

9. Viewing Specific Values

• Creating Heat Maps
• Creating Crosstabs
• Creating Highlight Tables
• Grand Totals, Sub-Totals, and Changing Aggregation

10. Customizing your Data

• Calculation Types
• Parts of a Calculated Field
• Options for Creating Calculated Fields
• Strings, Dates, and Type Conversion Functions
• Calculations and Aggregations

11. Analyzing Data with Quick Table Calculations

• Using Quick Table Calculations

12. Showing Breakdowns of the Whole

• Pie Charts and Parts of the Whole
• Creating Tree Maps

13. Viewing Distributions

• Bins and Histograms
• Box and Whisker Plots

14. Highlighting Data with Reference Lines

• Using Reference Lines
• Reference Bands
• Using the Analytics Pane
• Instant Analytics

15. Making Your Views Available

• Building Dashboards
• Dashboard Actions

Course Materials

Hands-on Access Made Simple.   All course materials, data sets, Tableau course software (limited version, for course use only), course notes and related resources (as applicable) are provided for attendees in our easy access, no installation required, remote lab environment for the duration of the course. Our tech team will help set up, test and verify lab access for each attendee prior to the course start date, ensuring a smooth start to class and successful hands-on course experience for all participants. 

Every-Course Extras = High-Value & Long-Term Learning Support! Most courses also include our unique EveryCourse Extras package (Post-Course Resource Site access, Review Labs, Live Instructor Follow-on Support, Free *Live* Course Refresh Re-Takes, early access to Special Offers, Free Courses & more). Please ask for details.