Tableau

Dashboards in Tableau
 Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Create dashboard reports and evaluate the

significance of dashboards

Discuss the different elements in dashboard building

Explore the different types of dashboards and how

to fit dashboards into a device

Learn how to use action features in dashboards

Analyze how to use different dashboard layouts for

different devices
 Business Scenario

ABC is a service-based company that is dedicated to providing services to its

clients. It wants to monitor compliance on an individual client basis and take
proactive action.

The company is currently facing a challenge in creating an effective dashboard.

Thus, it has switched to Tableau, which will help it identify the current and past
breaches and take proactive steps to prevent them from reoccurring.​

For this, its employees have to understand the various aspects, elements, types,
and actions in dashboards. ​
Dashboard: Introduction
 Dashboards

A dashboard is a visual representation of data at a location or on a board in the form

of charts and graphs.

It is a graphical user interface that displays a complete view of key performance indicators (KPIs).
 Dashboards

A dashboard’s function is to give real-time results by combining and extracting value from all data.

• The dashboard deconstructs data into digestible

chunks of visual information.
• Businesses adopted the term dashboard from the
automotive industry.
 Dashboards

Example: Hundreds of moving pieces in a vehicle impact its overall performance.

The dashboard shows:

How fast it is being driven

How much fuel is in the tank

Other critical information

 Dashboards

Dashboards are classified according to their function:

Strategic Analytical

Informational Operational
 Data Transparency

Data is crucial to every business.

A well-designed dashboard provides on-demand access to all significant metrics of a dataset.

 Salient Features of Dashboards

Some of the features of dashboards are listed below:

Better decision-making

Data access Accountability

Data transparency Interactivity

 Data Access

On a dashboard, many data sources combine into a single interface, providing a complete
overview of the business.

This cuts the time required to go through voluminous data.

 Better Decision-Making

Dashboards capture department-wise performance and the company’s

overall performance.

When every department has access to this data, meaningful discussions and good
decision-making are facilitated.
 Accountability

Dashboards highlight problem areas and provide the information needed to resolve them.

When dashboards are visible across an organization, every department takes

responsibility for its challenges and data.
 Interactivity

Dashboards allow users to select data, interact with a chart to view changes over time, and so on.

One can access all the required information about specific parameters.
 Assisted Practice: Introduction to Dashboards

Problem statement: Duration: 10 min

Create effective visualizations for data analysis and presentation using layouts and design in
the dashboard
 Assisted Practice Guidelines

Steps to perform:

1. Choose a size for the dashboard

2. Create a pie chart to demonstrate the above-mentioned dashboard

Note: Please download the pdf file 1.01_Introduction_to_Dashboard from the Reference
Material section
 Assisted Practice: Elements in Dashboard Building

Problem statement: Duration: 10 min

Enhance the visibility and comprehension of data through an effective display of elements in the
Tableau dashboard
 Assisted Practice Guidelines

Steps to perform:

1. Explore the different objects available in the Tableau dashboard

2. Create a pie chart to demonstrate the elements

Note: Please download the pdf file 1.02_Elements_in_Dashboard_Building from the

Reference Material section
 Assisted Practice: Fixed Size Dashboards

Problem statement: Duration: 15 min

Design fixed size dashboards for consistent and optimized data visualization across various screen
resolutions and devices
 Assisted Practice Guidelines

Steps to perform:

1. Customize the size of the dashboard

2. Create a pie chart in the dashboard
3. Create a line chart in the fixed size dashboard

Note: Please download the pdf file 1.03_Fixed_Size_Dashboards from the Reference
Material section
 Assisted Practice: Using Action Features in
Dashboard

Problem statement: Duration: 10 min

Showcase interactive actions and their functionality within a dashboard for seamless data
exploration and user engagement
 Assisted Practice Guidelines

Steps to perform:

1. Demonstrate the actions available in the dashboard using a pie and a line chart

Note: Please download the pdf file 1.04_Using_Action_Features_in_Dashboard from the

Reference Material section
 Assisted Practice: Using Device Designer

Problem statement: Duration: 15 min

Design a responsive dashboard using device designer to ensure optimal data presentation and user
experience across multiple devices and screen sizes
 Assisted Practice Guidelines

Steps to perform:

1. Create a dashboard for a different device user

2. Create a pie chart to view it in different device types
3. Create a line chart to view it in different device types

Note: Please download the pdf file 1.05_Using_Device_Designer from the Reference
Material section
Tips on Fitting the Dashboard to a Device
Tips on Fitting the Dashboard to a Device

With Tableau, creating dashboards is a breeze.

The Tableau dashboard can be viewed on:

Phones

Tablets

Other devices
 Preview the Dashboard

If the dashboard does not display the graph satisfactorily on a particular device, or if it appears
cluttered, it could be because:

The dashboard content does not

The dashboard has many charts
fit on small screens
or views.
automatically.

To check, go to the dashboard panel on the left and select Device Preview
 Minimize Objects

Since a tablet or phone screen size is limited, minimize the number of charts or views on a dashboard.

Remove the following elements that are no longer needed:

Legends Views

Titles Filters
 Set up the Dashboard

Unless there is a need to offer a large map view or timeline, prioritize optimizing the dashboard
vertically for phones.

Title metrics and key

metrics

2
Stack material vertically on Stack filters vertically to
small tablets or phone
1 3 make them simpler to top,
screens even if fitted side by side
 Ways to Size the Dashboard

The device designer offers four sizing options:

Default

Fit all

Fit width

Suit the width

 Ways to Size the Dashboard

Dashboard elements get automatically sized to a device’s height and breadth

when you select Fit all.

To fit a lot of views on a tablet or phone screen, the Fit width option is
preferable.

To fit in more content, use Peek.

Use Peek to suggest more available content.

 Key Takeaways

A dashboard is a visual representation that gives a complete view

of KPIs.

Dashboards are classified into analytical, operational, informational,

or strategic dashboards according to their function.

A well-designed dashboard provides on-demand access to all

significant matrices.

A dashboard’s function is to give real-time results by combining

and extracting values from all data.
Knowledge Check
Knowledge
Check
Which of the following are the functions of a dashboard?​
1

A. Analytical

B. Operational

C. Strategic

D. All the above

 Knowledge
Check
Which of the following are the functions of a dashboard?​
1

A. Analytical

B. Operational

C. Strategic

D. All the above

The correct answer is D

Dashboards are classified according to their function: analytical, operational, and strategic.​
Knowledge
Check
What are the reasons for dashboard cluttering?
2

A. Dashboard content does not fit on small screens automatically.

B. The dashboard has many charts or views.

C. Both A and B

D. Only A
 Knowledge
Check
What are the reasons for dashboard cluttering?
2

A. Dashboard content does not fit on small screens automatically.

B. The dashboard has many charts or views.

C. Both A and B

D. Only A

The correct answer is C

The dashboard content not fitting on small screens automatically​ and the dashboard having many
charts or views are the two reasons for a cluttered dashboard.
Knowledge
Check
Which of the following is not a sizing option available in a dashboard?
3

A. Fit All

B. Fit width

C. Shrink

D. Peek
 Knowledge
Check
Which of the following is not a sizing option available in a dashboard?
3

A. Fit All

B. Fit width

C. Shrink

D. Peek

The correct answer is C

There is no shrink option for sizes in a dashboard.

Thank You