Tableau For Dummies

Molly Monsey, Paul Sochan

• Publisher: For Dummies
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781119134831
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Data Visualisation
• Index: Computer Science

Make your data work for you!

Tableau For Dummies brings order to the chaotic world of data. Understanding your data and organizing it into formats and visualizations that make sense to you are crucial to making a real impact on your business with the information that's already at your fingertips. This easy-to-use reference explores the user interface, and guides you through the process of connecting your data sources to the software. Additionally, this approachable, yet comprehensive text shows you how to use graphs, charts, and other images to bring visual interest to your data, how to create dashboards from multiple data sources, and how to export the visualizations that you have developed into multiple formats that translate into positive change for your business.

The mission of Tableau Software is to grant you access to data that, when put into action, will help you build your company. Learning to use the data available to you helps you make informed, grounded business decisions that can spell success for your company.

• Navigate the user interface to efficiently access the features you need
• Connect to various spreadsheets, databases, and other data sources to create a multi-dimensional snapshot of your business
• Develop visualizations with easy to use drag and drop features
• Start building your data with templates and sample workbooks to spark your creativity and help you organize your information

Tableau For Dummies is a step-by-step resource that helps you make sense of the data landscape—and put your data to work in support of your business.

Part I

Getting Started with Tableau Desktop

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In this part …

Discover what Tableau Desktop can do for you.

Master the Tableau Desktop basics.

Chapter 1

A Brief Introduction to Tableau Desktop

In This Chapter

Getting started with Tableau

Taking Tableau for a test drive

Understanding what you’re seeing

Getting started with any new software product can be a real adventure. Not only do you have new ways of doing things, but you also need to deal with a completely new user experience — one that maybe displays information in ways that you’re not quite used to. This chapter helps introduce you to Tableau and the exciting new opportunities it presents you with for analyzing and visualizing your data.

Before you can begin using Tableau, you need to have it installed on your computer. So, we begin this chapter by showing you how to find and download a free trial version. Additionally, in this chapter we show you some of the things that you’ll learn to do in Tableau. Sit back and relax. There’ll be plenty of opportunities to try out the product in future chapters

Starting with Tableau

If you’re like most people, you probably find it far more fun and interesting to actually try something yourself instead of simply reading about it. Fortunately, with Tableau, it’s both quick and easy to download and install a trial copy of the latest full version of the software.

Downloading the Tableau trial

Before you can begin using Tableau, you’ll have to pay a visit to the Tableau Software website and download the current version of the software. You’ll need to register first, but you don’t need to supply a credit card number, so don’t worry about getting billed.

The trial version of Tableau that you download will work for 14 days, so you’ll want to make sure that you have some free time in your schedule to try out the application during that trial period. You probably don’t want to begin your trial just before you leave for a relaxing vacation.

To download your free Tableau trial, follow these steps:

1. Open your web browser and visit www.tableau.com/products/desktop and click on “Try it Free.”
   The default version of Tableau Desktop starts to download automatically. This will be either the 64-bit Windows version or the Mac version, depending on your computer.
   

   If you need a different version, cancel the download and click the 32-bit Windows link or the Mac link to download one of those versions. (See Figure 1-1.)
2. Wait for your download to complete.
   That’s pretty much it. The next section walks you through how to install your downloaded software.

Figure 1-1: Visit the Tableau website to get your free trial.

Installing the trial software

After the download has completed, you can install the trial immediately or wait until later. If you don’t want to install the software right now, be sure to remember where you saved the file. If you do want to install the trial now, follow these steps:

1. Click the Run button in the dialog box that appears in order to begin the installation process.
   If you don’t install the trial immediately, locate the saved file later and run it to begin the installation.
2. Read the license agreement and then select the check box to indicate that you’ve read and agree with the terms.
   You won’t be able to install the software unless you select this check box.
3. Click the Install button to continue.
4. After the installation completes, click the Start Trial Now link if you’d like to begin using the software.
   You can also click the Start Trial Later link if you’re not ready quite yet, or the Register Tableau link if you want to convert your copy from a trial to the fully registered version.

Depending on your computer’s operating system, you might see slightly different prompts, but the general steps for downloading and installing the Tableau trial should be quite similar. You also might check the Tech Specs located on Tableau’s website at www.tableau.com/products/desktop.

Looking at the Tableau Workspace

Now that you’ve taken care of getting the trial version installed, it’s time to take a look at Tableau itself.

Starting Tableau

To start Tableau, click the Tableau ...