Now it is time to launch the Tableau Public Desktop program!
Once you launch Tableau, you will land on a window I refer to as the Connect/Open Page. This area is where you can connect your data files or open any saved Tableau Workbooks (that are stored on Tableau’s public cloud server). If this is the first time you are using Tableau Public Desktop, then you will not have any saved workbook files to open.
Identify the Different Sections of the Connect/Open Page
Section 1
This area on the left-hand section of the page is where you select the type of file that you want to upload. There are different types of files that you can upload into Tableau:
MS Excel
Text files (such as, .txt, .csv)
JSON files
PDF files
Spatial files
Statistical files (think .sas, .spss, .stata)
You need to make sure to select the correct file type; otherwise, you will run into issues. For example, if you plan to upload a .csv file, you should select Text File and not Microsoft Excel. Or, if you plan to upload a .xlsx file, you need to make sure to select the Microsoft Excel option.
You’ll also notice that there are options to connect to a server (OData and More…). Using the options found here will allow you to connect to data in Google Sheets, public Web URLs, or APIs (OData stands for Open Data Protocol and is an open protocol that allows the standardized creation and consumption of RESTful APIs).
Section 2
Do you need to connect to a data source that isn’t available as an option in the free version? You can easily upgrade to a paid version using the Upgrade Now button in this area.
Section 3
If you have any files saved to Tableau Public, the most recently modified ones will show up in this area. Alternatively, you can click on the Open from Tableau Public link to view all saved (aka Published) workbooks you have created. The screenshot below shows what this dialogue box looks like.
Section 4
Remember our discussion in the previous chapter, Why Tableau? One of the great things about Tableau software is the online content that is readily available for its users. In fact, even the company knows how important it is to foster a collaborative learning environment to ensure that their tool is useful and thus successful.
In this right-hand area of the Connect/Open Window, Tableau provides links to their online content (updated very frequently) for your convenience. This section gives Tableau users easy access to how-to tutorials, featured visualizations that were created by other Tableau Public ssers, and a list of helpful starting resources. Be sure to check them out!
Summary
There are four important sections on the Connect/Open Page
Section 1 allows you to select the type of file that you want to upload and connect to a server if necessary.
Section 2 allows you to upgrade your software.
Section 3 lists your recently modified files, or, if you click on Open from Tableau Public, you can see all "Published" works that you have created.
Section 4 provides access to many helpful resources such as how-to tutorials, featured visualizations, etc.
In the next chapter, you are going to discover how to load data into Tableau!
