Introduction to Tableau

The Tableau workspace is a powerful and fast growing data visualization tool. Tableau simplifies raw data into easily understandable visual formats. Users can analyze data and create various forms of dashboards and worksheets quickly and easily. With its easy navigation and configuration tools, Tableau allows users to visualize all their data in one central location. 

Launch Tableau

How to Launch Tableau.

Select the Tableau Reporting and Self-Service Tab from the bottom of the NYSERDA Launch page

Show and Hide the Side Bar (Data pane)

The Side Bar contains the Data pane and the Analytics pane when you are editing a worksheet. Different panes are visible depending on what you are doing in the view (Data, Analytics, Story, Dashboard, Layout, Format). The most important thing to know about the Side Bar is that you can expand and collapse this area in the workspace.

Tableau Desktop

Hide Side Bar

• Click the collapse arrow in the side bar.

  Expand
  title screenshot

  
  

Show Side Bar on Tableau Desktop 

• Click the expand arrow in the bottom-left of the workspace (on the status bar).
  

  Expand
  title screenshot

  
  

Web

Hide Side Bar

• Click the collapse arrow in the side bar.
  

  Expand
  title screenshot

  
  

Show Side Bar

• Click the expand arrow in the side bar.
  

  Expand
  title screenshot

  
  

Status Bar Information

The status bar is located at the bottom of the Tableau workspace. It displays descriptions of menu items as well as information about the current view. For example, the status bar below shows that the view has 143 marks shown in 3 rows and 12 columns. It also shows that the SUM(Sales) for all the marks in the view is $2,297,201.

You can hide the status bar by selecting Window > Show Status Bar.

Occasionally, Tableau will display warning icons in the bottom right corner of the status bar to indicate errors or warnings.