Tableau for Power Users

Part 1:  Introduction and Getting Started

1. Why Tableau? Why Visualization?
2. The Tableau Product Line
3. Level Setting – Terminology
4. Getting Started – creating some powerful visualizations quickly
5. Review of some Key Fundamental Concepts

Part 2: Filtering, Sorting & Grouping

1. Filtering, Sorting and Grouping are fundamental concepts when working with and analyzing data.
2. Advanced options for filtering and hiding
3. Understanding your many options for ordering and grouping your data: Sort,
4. Groups, Bins, Sets
5. Understanding how these options inter-relate

Part 3: Working with Data

1. Learn the difference between joining and blending data, and to do each
2. Consider the implications of working with large data sets, and options for when and how to work with extracts and the data engine.
3. Investigate best practices in “sharing” data sources for Tableau Server users.
4. Data Types and Roles
5. Dimension versus Measures
6. Data Types
7. Discrete versus Continuous
8. The meaning of pill colors
9. Database Joins
10. Data Blending
11. Working with the Data Engine / Extracts and scheduling extract updates
12. Working with Custom SQL
13. Adding to Context
14. Switching to Direct Connection
15. Building meta data via shared Data Source connections
16. Performance considering and working with big data
17. OLAP considerations (Overview)

Part 4: Working with Calculated Data and Statistics – Understand the intricacies of manipulating data within Tableau

1. A Quick Review of Basic Calculations
2. Arithmetic Calculations
3. String Manipulation
4. Date Calculations
5. Quick Table Calculations
6. Custom Aggregations
7. Custom Calculated Fields
8. Logic and Conditional Calculations
9. Conditional Filters
10. Advanced Table Calculations
11. Understanding Scope and Direction
12. Calculate on Results of Table Calculations
13. Complex Calculations
14. Difference From Average
15. Discrete Aggregations
16. Index to Ratios
17. Understanding where Calculations Occur
18. Statistics
19. Reference / Trend Lines
20. Statistical Calculations
21. Summary Stats
22. Cohort Analysis
23. Working with Dates and Times
24. Continuous versus Discrete Dates
25. Dates and Times
26. Reference Dates

Part 5: Advanced Mapping – Learn the intricacies of working with the mapping function within Tableau including working with custom geographies and geo-coding, working with an alternate WMS server and spatially visualizing non-geographic data

1. Fundamentals Review: Building basic maps
2. Fixing geographies
3. Geographic Fields
4. Map Options
5. Built-in Demographics / Layering
6. WMS – working with a Web Map Service
7. Importing Custom Geographies
8. Assigning Geographies to Non-Geographic fields
9. Distance Calculations
10. Spatially Visualizing non-Geographic Data using background images and geo-coding

Part 6: Working with Parameters – How to use parameters to modify our title, create What-If analysis, etc

1. Parameter Basics
2. Data types of parameters
3. Using parameters in calculated fields
4. Inputting parameter values and parameter control options
5. Advanced Usage of Parameters
6. Using parameters for titles, field selections, logic statements, Top X

Part 7: Building Advanced Chart Types and Visualizations / Tips & Tricks – Create chart types and visualizations that may be less obvious in Tableau, as well as more common tips & tricks / techniques to assist customers in solving more complex problems.

1. Bar in Bar
2. Box Plot
3. Bullet Chart
4. Custom Shapes
5. Gantt Chart
6. Heat Map
7. Pareto Chart
8. Spark Line
9. KPI Chart

Part 8: Best Practices in Formatting and Visualizing

1. Formatting Tips
2. Drag to Legend
3. Edit Legend
4. Fill 100% Black Line
5. Highlighting
6. Labeling
7. Legends
8. Working with Nulls
9. Table Options
10. Annotations and Display Options
11. Introduction to Visualization Best Practices

Part 9: Building Better Dashboards – How to build effective and interactive applications via dashboarding.

1. Interactive Dashboards
2. Quick Filters
3. Dashboard Objects
4. Filter Actions
5. Highlighting and Actions
6. Performance
7. Publish to Web
8. Zones
9. Guided Analytics
10. Cascading Filters
11. Highlighting
12. Quick filter Options
13. Select then See Visual
14. Self-Populating Dashboards
15. Shortcuts
16. URL Actions

Part 10: Overview – Working with Tableau Server

1. Publishing to Tableau Server – Overview of publishing, scheduling & security options
2. Tableau Server Usage – Interacting with Published Visualizations

Experienced Tableau users who wish to leverage Tableau’s more advanced capabilities

• Build advanced chart types, visualizations, and complex calculations to manipulate your data
• Work with statistics, statistical techniques, parameters, and input controls
• Implement advanced geographic mapping techniques and use custom images and geocoding to build spatial visualizations of non-geographic data
• Implement all options in working with data: Joining multiple tables, data blending, performance considerations and working with the Data Engine, sharing your connections as meta data, and understand when to implement which connection method.
• Build better dashboards using techniques for guided analytics, interactive dashboard design and visual best practices
• Implement many efficiency tips and tricks
• Understand the basics of Tableau Server and other options for sharing your results