▶Book Description
Tableau has for some time been one of the most popular Business Intelligence and data visualization tools available. Why? Because, quite simply, it's a tool that's responsive to the needs of modern businesses. But it's most effective when you know how to get what you want from it - it might make your business intelligent, but it isn't going to make you intelligent…
We'll make sure you're well prepared to take full advantage of Tableau 10's new features. Whether you're an experienced data analyst that wants to explore 2016's new Tableau, or you're a beginner that wants to expand their skillset and bring a more professional and sharper approach to their organization, we've got you covered. Beginning with the fundamentals, such as data preparation, you'll soon learn how to build and customize your own data visualizations and dashboards, essential for high-level visibility and effective data storytelling. You'll also find out how to so trend analysis and forecasting using clustering and distribution models to inform your analytics.
But it's not just about you - when it comes to data it's all about availability and access. That's why we'll show you how to share your Tableau visualizations. It's only once insights are shared and communicated that you - and your organization - will start making smarter and informed decisions. And really, that's exactly what this guide is for.
▶What You Will Learn
- Find out how to build effective visualizations and dashboards
- Prepare and clean your data so you can be sure Tableau is finding answers to your questions - not raising more problems
- Discover how to create advanced visualizations that explain complexity with clarity and style
- Dig deeper into your data with clustering and distribution models that allow you to analyze trends and make forecasts
- Learn how to use data storytelling to aid decision-making and strategy
- Share dashboards and visualizations to cultivate a culture where data is available and valued
▶Key Features
- Create stylish visualizations and dashboards that explain complexity with clarity
- Learn effective data storytelling to transform how your business uses ideas and makes decisions
- Explore all the new features in Tableau 10 and start to redefine what business analytics means to your organization
▶Who This Book Is For
Got data? Not sure what to make of it? This is the guide for you - whether you've been working with Tableau for years or are just beginning your adventure into business analytics.
▶Style and approach
Practical yet comprehensive, this Tableau guide takes you from the fundamentals of the tool before diving deeper into creating advanced visualizations. Covering the latest features found in Tableau 10, this might be the guide that transforms your organization.
▶What this book covers
- Chapter 1, Creating Your First Visualizations and Dashboard, introduces the basic concepts of data visualization and shows multiple examples of individual visualizations that are ultimately put together in an interactive dashboard.
- Chapter 2, Working with Data in Tableau, explains that Tableau has a very distinctive paradigm for working with data. This chapter explores that paradigm and gives examples of connecting to and working with various data sources.
- Chapter 3, Moving from Foundational to More Advanced Visualizations, expands upon the basic concepts of data visualization to show how to extend standard visualization types.
- Chapter 4, Using Row-Level, Aggregate, and Level of Detail Calculations, introduces the concepts of calculated fields and the practical use of calculations. The chapter walks through the foundational concepts for creating Row Level, Aggregate, and Level of Detail calculations.
- Chapter 5, Table Calculations, is about table calculations, one of the most complex and most powerful features of Tableau. This chapter breaks down the basics of scope, direction, partitioning, and addressing to help you understand and use them to solve practical problems.
- Chapter 6, Formatting a Visualization to Look Great and Work Well, is about formatting, which can make a standard visualization look great, have appeal, and communicate well. This chapter introduces and explains the concepts around formatting in Tableau.
- Chapter 7, Telling a Data Story with Dashboards, dives into the details of building dashboards and telling stories with data. It covers the types of dashboards, objectives of dashboards, and concepts such as actions and filters. All of this is done in the context of practical examples.
- Chapter 8, Deeper Analysis –Trends, Clustering, Distributions and Forecasting, explores the analytical capabilities of Tableau and demonstrates how to use trend lines, clustering, distributions, and forecasting to dive deeper into the analysis of your data.
- Chapter 9, Making Data Work for You, shows that data in the real world isn’t always structured well. This chapter examines the structures that work best and the techniques that can be used to address data that can’t be fixed.
- Chapter 10, Advanced Visualizations, Techniques, Tips, and Tricks, builds upon the concepts in previous chapters and expands your horizons by introducing non-standard visualization types along with numerous advanced techniques, while giving practical advice and tips.
- Chapter 11, Sharing Your Data Story, once you’ve built your visualizations and dashboards, you’ll want to share them. This chapter explores numerous ways of sharing your stories with others.
