We just spent the last chapter discussing what data visualization software is and how to select the right one for your dashboard project. For the rest of this course, we will focus on using Tableau Public Desktop (version 2019.x or later).
So, what makes Tableau so special? :o
Tableau Sets the Standard for Data Visualization Software in the Industry
Established in 2003, Tableau has been dedicated to advancing its mission of “making data understandable to ordinary people." Check out its full mission statement here. This has resulted in a software solution that is easy to learn, easy to use, and efficiently delivers professional-level quality visualizations. This is also why it makes a great choice for which data viz software to learn first.
The Paid and Free Versions of Tableau Desktop Provide Essentially the Same Features
There are two key differences between Tableau Desktop (the paid version of the software) and Tableau Public Desktop (the free version):
You cannot locally save your Tableau workbook with the free version. To do so, you must publish the file on Tableau’s public cloud server. This means that your work with the free version will be publicly viewable and available to anyone online.
You cannot connect to all data sources with the free version. With Tableau Public Desktop, you can connect to any data file stored on your local computer (.csv, .txt, .xlsx, .json) as well as one remote source (Google Sheets). However, you are not able to connect to remote servers or databases (local or remote).
It is rare to find a software solution that you can use for free for an unlimited amount of time that also has the same impressive features that are available in the paid versions.
Tableau Provides Powerful Features
This includes the capability to handle large sizes of datasets and the capability to infer various data types and delimiters of files automatically.
The Online Presence of Tableau is Supportive, Comprehensive, and Reliable
There is an abundant amount of tutorials and blogs for many data viz tasks that can be accomplished with Tableau. The online community (i.e., forums for Tableau users) is welcoming and very helpful. Most importantly, the official documentation provided by Tableau is accurate, up-to-date, and well-organized.
I assure you: I do not work for the Tableau Company in any way! I am truly unaffiliated. (Although, honestly, they should totally pay me for all the excellent PR I’m providing! ;))
I am simply a very satisfied user of the Tableau Public Desktop product. Throughout my professional experience, this data viz software solution has always delivered on its promise to make data more accessible and understandable, and then some!
Summary
Tableau has so many advantages, and here are some of the reasons I love it:
It sets the standard for data visualization software in the industry.
The paid and free versions are similar.
It provides powerful features.
The online presence of Tableau is supportive, comprehensive, and reliable.
Okay, so you may know which tool we are going to use, but that doesn’t mean you know how to use it! Let me give you an analogy: You may know which tool in your home toolkit is a hammer and a screwdriver. However, it is more important to know that a hammer is not going to be very useful with screws. And, although you might be able to use a screwdriver to hammer a nail (especially in a pinch--I’ve done it >_<), it won’t be very effective because it wasn’t designed for that purpose.
What I am trying to say is: We need to first learn the ins and outs of Tableau Public Desktop - how it works, what buttons are where, and all that stuff - to effectively use the data viz software to create dashboards. That is the focus of the rest of Part 2.
