As is traditional, the whole DS is taking/have now taken their Tableau Desktop Certified Associate exams.
As such, much like with my Server blog post, I’d like to share some helpful resources for each item on the prep-guide so you can study, study, study!
Data Connections – 17%
• Connect to Tableau Server https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/examples_tableauserver.htm
• Describe connection options https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/basicconnectoverview.htm
• Connect to different data source types https://www.guru99.com/tableau-data-connections.html
• Join tables from single and multiple databases (Same as above) https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/joining_tables.htm
• Prepare Data for Analysis:
• Blending https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/multiple_connections.htm
• Metadata Grid https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/environment_datasource_page.htm
• Pivot https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/pivot.htm
• Union https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/union.htm
• Data Interpreter https://public.tableau.com/en-us/s/blog/2016/05/clean-your-excel-data-data-interpreter
• Explain data extract formats and capabilities https://www.tableau.com/about/blog/2014/7/understanding-tableau-data-extracts-part1
(Formats) https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/environ_filesandfolders.htm
• Create extracts with multiple tables https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/extracting_data.htm
• Explain performance considerations between blends, joins, and cross-database joins https://kb.tableau.com/articles/howto/deciding-between-joining-tables-and-blending-data
• Use Automatic & Custom Split https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/split.htm
Organizing & Simplifying Data – 10%
• Understand how to:
• Filter data (views) https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering_datasource.htm
(data) https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/filtering.htm
• Sort data https://help.tableau.com/current/reader/desktop/en-us/reader_sort.htm
• Build groups https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/sortgroup_groups_creating.htm
• Build hierarchies https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/qs_hierarchies.htm
• Build sets https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/sortgroup_sets_create.htm
Filters, groups and sets https://interworks.com/blog/kwagner/2014/06/30/when-use-filters-groups-sets-tableau/
Field & Chart Types – 15%
• Explain the difference between measures and dimensions https://vizpainter.com/dates-in-tableau-make-me-want-to-tear-my-hair-out/
• Explain the difference between discrete and continuous fields https://www.theinformationlab.co.uk/2011/09/23/blue-things-and-green-things/
• Explain how to utilize Tableau-generated fields (second half) https://mindmajix.com/connect-data-generated-values-tableau
• Understand how and when to build:
• Histograms /william-guicheney/tableau-101-build-histograms/
https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/buildexamples_histogram.htm
• Heat maps http://www.vizwiz.com/2012/05/tableau-tip-create-beautiful-heat-map.html /andrew-lehm/heat-maps-heat-maps-and-heatmaps/
• Tree maps https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/buildexamples_treemap.htm https://www.theinformationlab.co.uk/2014/12/16/treemap-vs-bar-chart-end-treemap/
• Bullet graphs https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/qs_bullet_graphs.htm
• Combined axis charts /robert-headington/combined-axis-vs-dual-axis/
• Dual axis charts /robert-headington/combined-axis-vs-dual-axis/
• Scatter plots /borja-leiva/creating-scatter-plots-tableau/
https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/buildexamples_scatter.htm
• Cross tabs https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/buildexamples_text.htm
• Bar in bar charts https://www.decisivedata.net/blog/building-bullet-chart-tableau
https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/buildexamples_bar.htm
• Box plots https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/buildexamples_boxplot.htm
• Use titles, captions and tooltips effectively https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/formatting_specific_titlecaption.htm
• Edit axes https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/formatting_editaxes.htm
• Use mark labels and annotations https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/annotations_marklabels_showhideworksheet.htm
https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/annotations_annotations_add.htm
Calculations – 18%
• Understand how to:
• Manipulate string and date calculations https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/functions_functions_string.htm
• Create quick table calculations https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/calculations_tablecalculations.htm
• Use level of detail (LOD) expressions https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/calculations_calculatedfields_lod_overview.htm
• Explain different types of LOD expressions https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/calculations_calculatedfields_lod.htm
https://www.tableau.com/about/blog/LOD-expressions
• Use Ad-hoc calculations https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/calculations_calculatedfields_adhoc.htm
• Work with aggregation options https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/calculations_aggregation.htm
• Build logic statements https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/functions_functions_logical.htm
• Build arithmetic calculations https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/calculations_calculatedfields_formulas.htm
• Build grand totals and sub-totals https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/calculations_totals_grandtotal_turnon.htm
• Use calculations in join clauses http://drawingwithnumbers.artisart.org/cross-data-source-joins-join-on-calcs-union-almost-anything-in-tableau-v10-2/
Mapping – 13%
• Navigate maps, including:
• Pan & Zoom
• Filtering
• Map layering
• Custom territories
• Lasso & Radial selection
• Geographic search
https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/maps_explore.htm
• Modify locations within Tableau https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/maps_editlocation.htm
• Import and manage custom geocoding https://interworks.com/blog/ktreadwell/2012/11/01/adding-custom-geocoding-tableau/
• Use a background image map https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/bkimages.htm
• Connect to spatial files https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/examples_spatial_files.htm
• Create density maps (heat maps) https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/maps_howto_heatmap.htm
Analytics – 15%
• Use the following in visual analysis:
• Reference Lines https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/reference_lines.htm
• Reference Bands https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/reference_lines.htm
• Trend Lines https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/trendlines_add.htm
• Trend Model https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/trendlines_add.htm
• Forecasting https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/forecast_create.htm
• Drag & Drop Analytics https://www.tableau.com/about/blog/2015/1/analytics-flow-36387
https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/environ_workspace_analytics_pane.htm
• Box Plot https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/reference_lines.htm
• Reference distributions https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/reference_lines.htm
• Statistical summary card https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/inspectdata_summary.htm
• Instant Analytics https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/environ_workspace_analytics_pane.htm
• Data Highlighter https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_highlight_highlighter.htm
Dashboards – 12%
• Build dashboards and stories https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/dashboards_create.htm
• Create dashboard actions https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/actions_dashboards.htm
• Design dashboards for viewing on devices https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/dashboards_dsd_create.htm
• Utilize visual best practices for viewing on devices https://interworks.com/blog/kallenspach/2019/10/30/how-to-build-mobile-friendly-tableau-dashboards/
• Describe publishing & sharing options https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/publish_workbooks_share.htm
Finally, even if you can’t speak German – half of this blog is in English – this blog is incredibly helpful.