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Documents

Reference PDFs you can read here without leaving the page. 10 documents.

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Introduction to data visualization

What data visualization is and what it is for, from Minard's 1812 chart of the Russian campaign to Nightingale's mortality diagram. Covers the principles of good visual communication and the prepare-your-data steps that come before any chart.

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The Tableau family of products

Desktop, Server, Online and Reader compared — what each is for, the Personal vs Professional edition split, and the limits on Tableau Public (1 GB, 1M records, flat files only).

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Chart types in Tableau

Bar, line, map, pie, packed bubble, histogram and scatter — what each needs in measures and dimensions, when to use it, and its variants. Includes why pie charts are usually best avoided.

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Building dashboards

The four-step approach to a dashboard: start from the question your audience is asking, build discrete views, assemble, then balance so the page is not overloaded.

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Dashboard actions

Filter, highlight and URL actions, and the select / hover / menu triggers. Includes the warning worth heeding: do not overcomplicate a dashboard with actions, and know what each one achieves.

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Formatting

The two formatting rules that matter: be consistent, and keep dashboards uncluttered. Having many formatting options does not mean using them all.

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Custom geocoding and mapping

Tableau does not geocode for you — you supply latitude and longitude in a CSV. Covers extending built-in roles, defining your own polygons and regions, and why over-detailed geocoding slows a workbook.

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Combining data

Four routes to combined data: enterprise integration into a warehouse, scripting with R or Python into an extract, joins specified in Tableau, and blending linked via common fields.

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Publishing options

Reader, Public, Public Premium and Server compared on cost, audience, refresh and data limits — including what Tableau Public must never be used for.

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Interview question pack

The full written question set in one document, covering data visualization, filters, blending, file types, dual axis and Server topics. Useful for offline revision.