Say Hello to the Tableau Workspace
Once we connect to the Data in Tableau from the Start Page and we create the Data Model in the Tableau Data Source Page we can next proceed to create the visualization.
For this we need to click on the Sheet tab (by default it would be Sheet 1).
Once we click on Sheet 1 we are navigated to the Tableau Workspace.
This can be considered as the heart of the Tableau views/Vizzies since it contains the View area which is the canvas in the Tableau Workspace for creating visualizations in Tableau.
The Tableau workspace consists of a combination of different things e.g: menus, a toolbar, the Data pane (and Analytics pane), Cards and Shelves and Sheets.
NOTE: These Sheets can be worksheets, dashboards, or stories.
The Tableau Workspace is mainly divided into 6 areas
Area 1: Toolbar
Area 2: Shelves and Cards
Area 3: View
Area 4: Side bar
Area 5: Status bar
Area 6: Sheet tabs
We will now go deeper into each area of the Tableau Workspace
Area 1: Toolbar
Similar to other software programs (e.g: MS-Excel) Tableau has a Toolbar for quick access to commands, analysis and navigation tools.
While creating or editing a view in Tableau the Toolbar (present at the top of the view) can be used to carry out standard or common actions.
If required in Tableau Desktop, we can hide or display the Tableau toolbar by selecting Window > Show Toolbar.
There are many buttons in the Toolbar the functions of which can be easily understood by simply hovering over them.
For e.g: The below button can be used to swap the Rows and Columns i.e. it will move the fields on the Rows shelf to the Columns shelf and vice versa.
Area 2: Shelves and Cards
Shelves are used to create the structure of the view/visualization in Tableau.
A shelf is a location in the view area where we can drop pills (data pieces) so that Tableau can interact on them.
The action that is carried out by Tableau on the pill depends on which shelf we drag it into.
Given below are the various Shelves that are present in the View Area of the Tableau Workspace:
Rows Shelf
Columns Shelf
Pages Shelf
Filters Shelf
Measure Values Shelf
Cards are utilized for specific purposes based on the visualization.
Given below are the Cards that are present in the View Area of the Tableau Workspace:
Marks card
Summary card
The Marks card is a key element for visual analysis in Tableau.
As we drag fields to different properties in the Marks card, we can add context and detail to the marks in the view.
The Marks card are used set the mark type, and to encode the data with color, size, label/text, detail, tooltip, shape, path, angle.
The Summary card provides a quick view of statistical information about a selection or the entire data source.
By default, the Summary Card shows Sum, Average, Minimum, Maximum, and Median values for the data in the view
We can use the drop-down menu in the Summary Card to show additional statistics e.g: Standard Deviation, Skewness etc.
Area 3: View
The View is the Canvas area in the Tableau Workspace where we can build visualizations.
NOTE: When working in Tableau the View is also sometimes referred to as Viz.
Area 4: Side Bar
In a Tableau Worksheet, the Side Bar area contains the Data pane and the Analytics pane.
By default the Side Bar will display the Data pane.
If we click on the Analytics tab in the Side Bar the Analytics pane will be displayed.
We can toggle between the Data pane and the Analytics pane by clicking the tabs at the top of the side bar.
In Tableau Desktop, the Analytics objects that are enabled in the Analytics pane depends on the view itself.
The objects that are not enabled will be greyed-out.
If required we can expand and collapse the Side Bar in the Tableau Workspace.
To hide the side bar on Tableau Desktop, click the collapse arrow in the side bar.
To show the side bar on Tableau Desktop, click the expand arrow in the side bar.
Area 5: Status bar
This area displays information about the present view/viz.
It is located at the bottom of the Tableau Workspace.
It displays descriptions of menu items as well as information about the present view/viz.
For example, the status bar below shows that the view has 14 marks shown in 1 rows and 4 columns.
It also shows that the SUM(Sales) for all the marks in the view is 745,568.
If required in Tableau Desktop, we can hide or display the Status Bar by selecting Window > Show Status Bar.
Area 6: Sheet tabs
Similar to MS-Excel Spreadsheet each tab in Tableau represents each sheet in the Tableau Workbook.
This Sheet can be either Worksheet (Visual) or a Dashboard (Collection of Views) or a Story (a sequence of Views/Dashboards).
Additional sub-sections in the Tableau Workspace
Apart from the main sections in the Tableau Workspace there are few more sub-sections
1. Quick navigation to the Start Page
2. Quick navigation to the Data Source Page
3. Workbook name
Quick navigation to the Start Page
When we click the Tableau icon it will navigate us to the Tableau Start Page. Here we can connect to the Data.
Quick navigation to the Data Source Page
When we click on this tab it will navigate us to the Tableau Data Source Page. Here we can create the Data Model in Tableau.
Workbook name:
This is the name of the Tableau Workbook. It is located on top of the Toolbar in the Tableau Workspace.
By default it will be Book1. We can rename it while saving it or editing it.
NOTE: For the screenshots present in this article Tableau Version 2024.1.1 (Professional Edition) is used hence certain details are subject to change based on the latest Tableau Desktop version.
I hope this article is useful for all Tableau users especially for anyone just starting their Tableau journey!!!
