Tableau Prerequisites

Tableau is a visual analytics platform with a wide range of applications for data analysis and visualization. Those with Tableau training can find innovative ways to solve data problems, then share the insights they uncover with their organization to make decisions based on these data findings. You might worry that Tableau will be too hard to learn. This guide will help you understand the best methods for studying Tableau and what you should begin with to make this process easier. This way, you’ll be successful however you choose to apply your new skills. 

What is Tableau?

Tableau is a data visualization tool used for data analytics and business intelligence. It was designed to help individuals and organizations make better data-driven solutions. This software can simplify raw data into an accessible dashboard format that incorporates visual depictions of raw data from datasets, which can then be understood by various professionals working within a company, regardless of whether they come from a technical background. One of the main benefits of working with Tableau is that it performs fast data analysis and can create stunning visualizations based on data findings.

Tableau provides users with many helpful data analysis and visualization features, such as real-time analysis, data blending, and collaboration capabilities. It allows Data Analysts to manipulate live datasets and devote their efforts more to analysis rather than data wrangling. In addition, Tableau doesn’t require programming or technical skills, making it an accessible, effective tool for data analytics.

Read more about what Tableau is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Tableau?

Tableau has a variety of professional uses. Ultimately, the more you know about Tableau, the more data-driven insights you can bring to your organization. Tableau can bring together various data sources into a single point of truth. For example, suppose you’re working with data in Microsoft Access and Excel, as well as in SQL databases and cloud-based applications such as Salesforce. In that case, Tableau can help you bring these data together with just a few mouse clicks. This provides one central source that can be used for all types of business reporting and doesn’t require you to have any coding knowledge to set up. 

Tableau also provides a way to efficiently perform ETL operations (extract, transform and load). With the help of Tableau’s automated data reshaper tool, you can transform any data you want to use into the necessary format by splitting fields, eliminating header and white space, and changing data formats. Instead of spending a whole day extracting, transforming, and loading data using apps such as Excel, you can do it in just seconds in Tableau. In addition, Tableau’s automated reporting feature allows you to easily create a report, then set it to focus on a specific dataset so that the data will automatically refresh without requiring any coding know-how or additional time commitment.

One of Tableau’s most remarkable features is its visualization capabilities. Even for those new to visually presenting data insights, Tableau comes with built-in best practices to help you present information clearly, effectively, and engagingly. This helps ensure that data is delivered to internal and external stakeholders through eye-catching and informative reports.

Is Tableau Easy to Learn?

Most users consider Tableau to be relatively easy to learn. One of the main perks of learning Tableau is that it does not require prior programming or technical know-how to use this tool. This is why many people are interested in developing their Tableau skills to advance professionally or even apply to new careers. For most learners, it takes approximately two to six months to develop a working knowledge of Tableau and a bit longer to master its more advanced functions. 

The speed at which you learn naturally depends on several factors. For example, if you are learning Tableau on your own, it likely will take longer than if you are enrolled in a beginner-friendly Tableau course from a provider such as Noble Desktop. In addition, the speed at which you learn Tableau will depend on your prior experiences working with big data and data visualization. 

What to Know Before Learning Tableau

Although there are no required prerequisites you must know before beginning Tableau study, there are several technical and data-related skills that can help you learn to use Tableau easier and faster. 

Types of Data

A great first step toward learning Tableau is to clearly understand the various data types and how they differ from one another. In particular, understanding the difference between metrics (also known as measures) and dimensions can help with Tableau acquisition. Because all decisions made in Tableau are based on having a clear understanding of what is in the data, the more familiar you are with the data you are working with, the easier it will be to perform subsequent analyses and visualizations.

Structures of Data

Data preparation is one of the most demanding and time-consuming components of data visualization. Typically, data sets are in a wide format, but when working with Tableau, the tool prefers it to be in a long format. Although Tableau can pivot the data you are working with, it does not let you know when it is time to do so. This is why knowing the difference between wide and long data is helpful before you learn Tableau and how to work with each.

Spreadsheets

One of the core skills that can help you learn Tableau faster is a solid understanding of spreadsheets, such as those in Microsoft Excel. Spreadsheets provide a platform where you can see the data, which helps you to better understand the structure and contents. Any time you work with data, it’s essential to focus on the raw data and the summarized form. Spreadsheets provide a great resource that visually display all these data. In addition, it’s sometimes necessary to edit or make corrections to raw data, and since you cannot do so from Tableau, you can do it on a spreadsheet. Enrolling in an in-person or live online Excel course can help you learn Excel to prepare for Tableau.

Learn Tableau with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop provides several great Tableau learning opportunities. For those new to Tableau, Noble’s Tableau Level 1 covers core Tableau tools and skills, such as creating various charts and data visualizations. Students receive an introduction to Tableau Public, a free version of Tableau, and learn how to create and edit graphs and charts.

In addition, Noble’s Tableau Bootcamp is a program that teaches students the fundamental components of data visualization. Those enrolled explore Tableau Public’s different tools to connect to datasets, analyze, filter, and structure the data to make visualizations. By course completion, students will know how to customize, manipulate, and publish various data visualizations. This class comes with the option of a free retake for students who wish to revisit course material.

For those seeking a more rigorous learning environment for learning Tableau, Noble Desktop’s Data Analytics Certificate is a great option. In addition to providing hands-on training with Tableau in the small classroom environment, those enrolled in this certificate study also gain industry-relevant training with other data analytic skills, languages, and programs, such as SQL, Excel, and Python. Expert instructors ensure that those enrolled receive training to become Data Analysts or Business Analysts. One-on-one mentoring is provided for all students.

In addition, for those interested in learning more about Tableau, Noble’s Tableau Resources page has more than 50 articles to help you learn more about this powerful data visualization tool.

Key Insights

• Tableau is considered by most to be an easy-to-learn tool because it doesn’t require any specific technical training or coding knowledge.
• Most people who want to learn Tableau’s basic features can do so in approximately two to six months. It can take even longer to learn its more advanced features and functions.
• To expedite the Tableau learning process, you should start by studying data types and structures and have a working knowledge of spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Excel.
• The speed at which you learn Tableau depends on a variety of factors. Enrolling in a Tableau course from Noble Desktop is a great way to expedite the learning process.