A comprehensive guide to getting started with Tableau

Whether you're new to data visualization or looking to improve your skills, Tableau is a must-have tool for exploring, analyzing, and presenting data visually. At Flowt, we've designed a comprehensive guide to help you get started with Tableau, based on the resources we use to train our consultants.

In this article, you'll get an overview of the various Tableau products, tips for making rapid progress, and practical resources to sharpen your skills.

‍

What is Tableau already?

Tableau is a suite of tools that specialize in visualizing data and creating interactive dashboards. There are several products in the Tableau ecosystem, which can be divided into two main categories: downloadable software products And the online products.

‍

Downloadable software products

• Tableau Desktop : It is the main tool in the Tableau suite. It allows you to connect data, analyze it, and create interactive visualizations. It is a paid software, but a 14-day trial version is available.
• Tableau Public : Free version of Tableau Desktop, with the main limitation being the absence of database connectors other than local files (Excel, CSV). It's a good starting point for newbies.
• Tableau Reader : A free software that allows you to view Tableau files (.twbx) locally.
• Tableau Prep Builder : Tableau's data preparation tool, ideal for cleaning, combining, and organizing your data before analyzing it in Tableau Desktop.

‍

Online products

• Tableau Cloud : A SaaS version of Tableau that allows you to analyze data directly in the cloud with comprehensive administration and governance capabilities. It is the ideal solution for businesses looking for flexibility and accessibility.
• Tableau Server : Similar to Tableau Cloud, but installed on your organization's servers. This option requires more complex management and is often adopted by large organizations with specific data governance requirements.
• Tableau Public (online platform) : A free space where the Tableau community shares their visualizations. It's a great source of inspiration and a great way to learn from other creators.

‍

How do I get started with Tableau?

You've installed Tableau and ready to go, but where do you start? Here are a few steps to guide you.

‍

1. Explore the basics

To get started, get familiar with the basics with the official guides and tutorials:

• Getting started tutorial : Tableau official guide, for a first use of the tool.
• Video courses : Free Tableau training. These videos cover the main features of Tableau.

These resources are a great place to start, but don't stop there. The best way to make progress is to practice.

‍

2. Practice with personal projects

Pick a topic you're passionate about and create dashboards based on data you're interested in. This will help you better understand the tool while learning to tell stories through data. You can use free data sets, for example via the Tableau Public Gallery.

‍

3. Don't you have ideas or don't know where to start?

It's normal, it's never easy to get started on a project when you don't have the basics. My personal recommendation: Before creating your own visualizations, replicate the ones you like/fun/are intriguing.

Explore Tableau Public, download dashboards, and try to recreate them to understand their technical structure. It is an excellent method for mastering best practices and discovering how to build a dashboard.

Look behind the scenes, how did the developer organize his fields, why are the tiles arranged in this way? Could it be improved?

Resources to go further

Here are some useful resources that I recommend

‍

Tutorials

• Tableau official guide
• Tableau video courses
• Tableau knowledge base

Popular YouTube channels

• Andy Kriebel
• SQLBelle
• The Flerlage Twins
• Mo Chen
• Tim chart
• Ladataviz

‍

Newsletters

• DataViz Clarity : A newsletter focused on a very design/product vision, oriented to the creation of relevant dashboards. We are huge fans!

Practical exercises

• Workout Wednesday
• Makeover Monday

Free datasets to practice

• Kaggle
• Google Dataset Search
• Tableau Free Data Sets
• US Gov Data
• Data World
• World Bank Open Data

‍

Tableau community

One of the major benefits of Tableau is its very active community. If you're having a problem, chances are someone has already asked the same question. Here are some spaces where you can interact with the community:

‍

• Tableau Community Forum
• Tableau blog : Perfect for staying up to date with news

‍

FAQS

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions to help you on your learning journey.

‍

• Can I use Tableau for free? Yes, see the section on Tableau Public for more details.
• How long does it take to become proficient on Tableau? The time it takes to master Tableau varies depending on where you're starting out and how much time you put in. Generally, you can reach a basic level in a few weeks, but advanced expertise can take several months.
• Are there offers for students and teachers? Yes! Students and teachers can get Tableau Desktop and Tableau Prep for free. Consult the student offers and teachers.
• Do I need programming skills to use Tableau? No, programming training is not required. However, a knowledge of calculations can improve your mastery of Tableau.

‍

Conclusion

Tableau is a powerful tool, but mastering it depends on Continued practice. Use the resources available to you, engage with the Tableau community, and experiment with different projects to strengthen your skills.

Do you need support to improve your skills on Tableau? Contact Flowt, our team of consultants is there to help you every step of the way.

By structuring your learning around these resources and practicing regularly, you can not only become proficient with Tableau, but also excel in your data visualization projects.