First Experience in Tableau

ARCHIBALD ECHANO

Mar 1·3 min read

For any aspiring data scientist, being exposed to and knowing different tools to use would provide a better edge over others. In this story, the author would like to share with you his experience in using Tableau for the first time.

What is Tableau?

Tableau is a visual analytics platform transforming the way we use data to solve problems. Empowering people and organizations to make the most of their data. — Tableau Software, LLC, A Salesforce Company

Ways to Have Exclusive Functions of Tableau

Students may take advantage of the “Tableau for Students” using this link. By following the steps, you are given more than a year of exclusivity to use academic licenses which include Tableau Desktop, Tableau Prep, and access to E-learning. On the other hand, Tableau also offers a free trial before purchasing their licenses.

Guide in Exploring Tableau

Step 1. Opening Tableau.

The image shown above will be the first thing you will encounter upon opening Tableau Desktop. You may be able to import your dataset from MS Excel, Text File, JSON File, MS Access, and even from PDF File. You may also explore sample workbooks or discover tableau through training and walkthrough being offer by the application itself.

Step 2. Importing Data and Choosing your dataset

After importing data from MS Excel, you may choose the sheet that will be used in your data visualization. Simply drag the table shown in the left pane under the title: “Sheets”.

Step 3. Data Visualization

By Clicking the “Sheet 1” on the lower portion, it will be exactly the same as shown in the image above. Tableau is all about Drag & Place. You drag your feature to either column or row, or to marks, and it will automatically show a graph suitable to the feature you chose.

You may explore the “Marks” dialogue box to customize your graph. You may also choose your desired graph shown in the dialogue box, “Show Me”.

One of the most interesting function of Tableau is the geo-mapping. Simply click the world map-like icon and add Features, as shown below:

The Tableau identifies if the column is a name of country and automatically maps out thru Longitude and Latitude as your axis. By inserting another feature as colors, it can identify concentration of that feature per area, in this case, country. Placing your pointer to the country will show details such as name of country and the quantity.

Reminders

Sharing with you what my professor told us to always remember when using Tableau, especially the Tableau Public:

1. It is accessible by everyone when published on Tableau Public.
2. If necessary, turn off the downloading setting to prevent people from getting your workbook and the underlying data.

Feedback

Tableau is a very user-friendly software. It is easy to understand. No programming involve in using, and almost everything is automated. I recommend this to all aspiring data scientists like me.

If you have any questions or anything you want to talk about, please do leave me a note or send me a message.