Computer Science & Information Systems

Data Visualization – Lab Sheet 1

Getting Started with Tableau
1. Objective:
Students should be able to
A. Setup the Tableau Desktop version
B. Import the dataset
C. Design basic visualizations
D. Save the workbook

2. Introductory Video - DVI-Lab1-Getting Started With Tableau.mp4

3. How to?
A. Setup the Tableau Desktop Version
i. Students needs to obtain the licensed version of Tableau Desktop product which is a
pre-requisite for this lab.
ii. Visit this link, register themselves with Tableau and follow the procedures to obtain
the license.
B. Import the dataset
i. Students can open up the Tableau product from the desktop shortcut or using the
program menu option.
 The start screen is shown in figure 1.

Figure 1. Tableau Desktop User Interface

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 ii. Get familiarized with the three sections appearing on the UI, namely left hand side’s
“Connect” section, middle “Workbooks” section and right hand side’s “Discover”
section.
iii. Download the dataset used in the introductory video from Platify (Virtual Lab).
iv. Using the “Connect” section of the Tableau Interface, import the dataset named
““Global Superstore Orders 2016” .Figure 2

Figure 2. Tableau Desktop – Connect to Excel Spreadsheet

v. A Data source tab will be opened up as shown in below screenshot. It has connection
linked to the excel spreadsheet as shown in. Also all the tabs of that spreadsheet are
represented as table as shown in Figure 3

Figure 3. Tableau Dataset Connection – Data loading

vi. Click on the “Orders” table, it will be moved to the workspace and sample data will be
loaded into the space below.

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C. Design a basic visualization.

In this example, we are going to perform Profit and Sales Analysis for all products.

i. Open up a new worksheet as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Tableau Worksheet

ii. Explore the dimensions and measures sections. Use the right click options on the fields
listed under the dimensions and measures to find out more about the operations on the
fields. Also explore Generated fields in Tableau. Refer Introductory video for more
details.
iii. Drag the “Profit” measure in the columns pane and “Product Name” dimension in the
“Rows” pane. Analyze the result.

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 Figure 5. Tableau Worksheet – Basic visualization 1

iv. Now let’s perform sales analysis for the products. Drag “Sales” measure to the
“Columns” section.

Figure 6. Tableau Worksheet – Basic visualization 2

D. Save the work

i. Rename the “Sheet1” to “Sales Profit Analysis”. Double click on the “Sheet1” tab and
rename the text as required .Figure 7

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 Figure 7 – Rename the worksheet

ii. Save workbook using the “Save” icon and provide the appropriate name to the
workbook. Explore Tableau workbook files (.twb) and Packaged workbooks(.twbx).
Refer introductory video for more details.

Figure 8 – Save the workbook

4. Outputs/Results:
Students should be able to
i. Set up Tableau Desktop Version
ii. Import a Microsoft Excel data set
iii. Design a basic visualization
iv. Save the workbook.

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5. Observations:
Students should be familiar with
i. The Start Page and Data Connection Page in Tableau Desktop.
ii. Tableau workspace.
iii. Dimensions and measures.
iv. Generated fields.
v. Tableau workbook files and packaged workbook files.

6. References:
i. DVI-Lab1-Getting Started With Tableau.mp4