Tableau interview questions and answers

TABLEAU INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. What is data visualization?
Data visualization refers to the techniques used to communicate data or information by
encoding it as visual objects (e.g. points, lines or bars) contained in graphics.
2. Why tableau?
Whether your data is in an on-premise database, a database, a data warehouse, a cloud
application or an Excel file, you can analyze it with Tableau. You can create views of your data and share
it with colleagues, customers, and partners. You can use Tableau to blend it with other data. And you
can keep your data up to date automatically.
3. What is the five main product offered by Tableau company?
Tableau offers five main products: Tableau Desktop, Tableau Server, Tableau Online, Tableau
reader and Tableau Public.
4. What are the Filters? How many types of filters are there in Tableau?
Filter is nothing but it is restricted to unnecessary, it is showing exact data. Basically filters are 3
types.
 Quick filter
 Context filter
 Datasource filter
5. How to remove the All options from a Tableau auto – filter?
Right click filter>>customize>>uncheck show all option
6. What is the benefit of Tableau extract file over the live connection?

Extract can be used anywhere without any connection and you can build your own visualizations
without connecting to Database.
7. Max no of tables we can join inTableau?
We can join max 32 table, it’s not possible to combine more than 32 tables.
8. What are Dimensions and Facts?
Dimensions is nothing but the descriptive text columns and facts are nothing but measures
(numerical values) dimentionex:productname city..facts:sales, profit
9. What is blended axis?
Multiple Measures are shown in sa ingle axis and also all the marks shown in single pane
 Drag a dimension in a column
 Drag the first measure in column
 Drag 2nd measure in existing axis
 Us/multiplemeasures_blendedaxes.html
10. How many ways we use parameters inTableau?
We can use parameters with filters, calculated fields ,actions, measure-swap, changing views
and auto updates
11. Is Tableau Software good for a strategic acquisition?
Yes for sure! It gives you data insight to the extend that others don’t. Helps u plan and point the
anomalies and improvise your process for betterment.
12. Is Tableau Software good for a strategic acquisition?
Yes for sure! It gives you data insight to the extent that others don’t. Helps u plan and point the
anomalies and improvise your process for betterment.
13. How many maximum tables can you join in Tableau?
You can join a maximum of 32 tables in Tableau.

14. What is the benefit of Tableau extract file over the live connection?
Extract can be used anywhere without any connection and you can build your own visualizations
without connecting to Database.
15. What is the difference between a heat map and treemap?
A heat map is a great way to compare categories using color and size. In this, you can compare
two different measures. Tree map is a very powerful visualization, particularly for illustrating
hierarchical (tree – structured) data and part – to – whole relationships
16. What is a hierarchical field?
A hierarchical field in tableau is used for drilling down data. It means viewing your data in a
more granular level.
17. What is the difference between joining and blending in Tableau?
Joining term is used when you are combining data from the same source, for example,
worksheet in an Excel file or tables in Oracle database
While blending requires two completely defined data sources in your report.
18. How to automate reports?
You need to publish report to tableau server, while publishing you will find one option to
schedule reports.You just need to select the time when you want to refresh data.
19. What is Assume referential integrity?
In some cases, you can improve query performance by selecting the option to Assume
Referential Integrity from the Data menu. When you use this option, Tableau will include the joined
table in the query only if it is specifically referenced by fields in the view.
20. Explain when would you use Joins vs. Blending in Tableau?
If data resides in a single source, it is always desirable to use Joins. When your data is not in one
place blending is the most viable way to create a left join like the connection between your primary and
secondary data sources.

21. What is default Data Blending Join?
Data blending is the ability to bring data from multiple data sources into one Tableau view,
without the need for any special coding. A default blend is equivalent to a left outer join. However, by
switching which data source is primary, or by filtering nulls, it is possible to emulate left, right and inner
joins.
22. What do you understand by blended axis?
In Tableau, measures can share a single axis so that all the marks are shown in a single pane.
Instead of adding rows and columns to the view, when you blend measures there is a single row or
column and all of the values for each measure is shown along one continuous axis. We can blend
multiple measures by simply dragging one measure or axis and dropping it onto an existing axis.
23. What is the story in Tableau?
A story is a sheet that contains a sequence of worksheets or dashboards that work together to
convey information. You can create stories to show how facts are connected, provide context,
demonstrate how decisions relate to outcomes, or simply make a compelling case. Each individual sheet
in a story is called a story point.
24. What is Tableau Public?
Tableau Public is a free service that lets anyone publish interactive data to the web. Once on the
web, anyone can interact with the data, download it, or create their own visualizations of it. No
programming skills are required. Be sure to look at the gallery to see some of the things people have
been doing with it.
25. What is data modeling?
Data modelling is the analysis of data objects that are used in a business or other context and
the identification of the relationships among these data objects. Data modelling is a first step in doing
object-oriented programming
26. What is your daily work process in tableau?

I think we all work on different projects using Tableau, so the work begins from understanding
the requirement getting the required data, story boarding then creating visualizations in tableau and
then presenting it to the client for review.
27. What is parameter in Tableau? And how it works?
Parameters are dynamic values that can replace constant values in calculations and can serve as
filters
28. How does Tableau perform with huge datasets?
Tableau Performance is based on Data source performance. If data source takes more time to execute a
query then Tableau must wait up to that time.
29. Explain the integration of Tableau with R?
R is a popular open-source environment for statistical analysis. Tableau Desktop can now
connect to R through calculated fields and take advantage of R functions, libraries, and packages and
even saved models. These calculations dynamically invoke the R engine and pass values to R via the
Rserve package, and are returned back to Tableau.
Tableau Server can also be configured to connect to an instance of Rserve through the tabadmin utility,
allowing anyone to view a dashboard containing R functionality.
Combining R with Tableau gives you the ability to bring deep statistical analysis into a drag-and-drop
visual analytics.
30. Define the names for parameters, filters etc…
Parameters are dynamic values that can replace constant values in calculations and can serve as
filters.Filters are used to restrict the data based on the condition u have mentioned in the filters shelf.
31. How to view SQL which is generated by Tableau Desktop?
The Tableau Desktop Log files are located in C:UsersMy DocumentsMy Tableau Repository. If
you have a live connection to the data source, check the log.txt and tabprotosrv.txt files. If you are using
an extract, check the tdeserver.txt file. The tabprotosrv.txt file often shows detailed information about
queries.

32. What is page shelf?
page shelf is power full part of tableau That you can use to controle the display of output as well
as printed results of output.
33. What are the major differences between tableau version 7.0 and tableau version8.0?
New visualizations are introduced like treemap, bubble chart and box and whisker plot
We can copy worksheet directly from one workbook to another workbook
Introduced R script
34. Is Parameter have its dropdown list?
Yes it may have its own drop down list, the entries which you make in the Parameter while
creating it can be viewed as Dropdown list.
35. What is the difference between Data blending and join?
Joining is a SQL term that refers to combining two data sources into a single data source.
Blending is a Tableau term that refers to combining two data sources into a single chart. The main
difference between them is that a join is done once at the data source and used for every chart, while a
blend is done individually for each chart
36. How to do performance testing?
Performance testing is again an important part of implementing tableau. This can be done by
loading Testing Tableau Server with TabJolt, which is a “Point and Run” load generator created to
perform QA. While TabJolt is not supported by tableau directly, it has to be installed using other open
source products.
37.W hat are the imitations of context filter?
The context filter is not frequently changed by the user – if the filter is changed the database
must recomputed and rewrite the temporary table, slowing performance.
38. Can we place an excel file in a shared location and use it to develop a report and refresh it at
regular intervals?

Yes, we can do it. But for better performance, we should use Extract.
39.We cannot select multiple values in parameters
Can we display the top five and last five sales in the same view?
Yes. Using sets and combined set.
40. Can parameters have the dropdown list?
Yes, parameters do have their independent dropdown lists enabling users to view the data
entries available in the parameter during its creation
41. How To remove the All options from a Tableau auto-filter?
Edit the quick filter from the pull-down arrow. Go to “Customize” and uncheck the “Show “All”
Value” checkbox.
42. What are Dimensions and Facts?
Dimensions are nothing, however, the descriptive text columns and facts are measures
(numerical values) dimension ex: product name town.facts: sales, profit.
43. What is the difference between tableau 7.0 and 8.0 versions?
 New visualizations are introduced like tree map bubble chart and box and whisker plot
 We can copy worksheet directly from one workbook to another Workbook
44. What are the important updates to Tableau 10.5?
A: Released in January 2018, version 10.5 offered over a dozen new features, including the
ability to rename workbooks from the web, a Box connector, and basic improvements to existing
functionality.
46. What is your work process?
A: When answering questions about how you go about using Tableau, make sure you
demonstrate that you too can ask questions because that is important to your job. You need to know
why data is needed. Asking the right questions of the non-data users will help you get them the answers

they need. They also address how you present your findings in a way that helps the non-data side to
understand.
47. How aggregation of data works in Tableau?
Aggregation is a process in which we measure at more summarized and higher levels of the data
and view numeric values. When a measure is placed on a shelf, by the process of summing it Tableau
automatically aggregates the data. When it is placed on a shelf, the function always shows in front of the
field’s name, so that we can easily determine the aggregation applied to a field. For instance, Sales
appears as SUM. But using Tableau, the measures can be aggregated only for relational data sources.
Only the aggregated data is contained in multi-dimensional data sources. Only the Windows supports
these multi-dimensional data sources.
48. Explain in detail default Data Blending Join?
Without having to draw up any special coding, data blending brings up into one Tableau view
the data from the multiple data sources. A left outer join can resemble a default blend. It is probable to
reproduce the right, left, and inner joins by filtering nulls and switching the primary data source.
49. How to add custom Color to Tableau?
Create Custom Color code in “Preferences.tps”
Navigation ::: Documents » My Table Repository »Preferences.tps
Add custom color code
Note: In tableau 9.0 version we have color picker option..

51. Is Parameter have its dropdown list?
Yes it may have its own drop down list, the entries which you make in the Parameter while
creating it can be viewed as Dropdown list.
52. What is the Difference between the quick filter and Normal filter intableau?
Quick filter is used to view the filtering options and can be used to select the option. Normal
filer is something you can limit the options from the list or use some conditions to limit the data by field
or value.
53. What is the Kerberos?
Kerberos is a new feature from tableau eight.3, with Kerberos additionally it’s attainable to set
up single-sign-on.
54. What’s Security Assertion Markup Language?
SAML employes to set up the one sign-on.
In the single sign-on, it’s attainable to access multiple servers.
55. What is Data Blending?
Unlike Data Joining, Data Blending in tableau allows combining of data from different sources
and platforms. For instance, you can blend data present in an Excel file with that of an Oracle DB to
create a new dataset.
56. State limitations of parameters in Tableau.
Parameters facilitate only four ways to represent data on a dashboard (which are seven in quick
filters). Further, parameters do not allow multiple selections in a filter.
57. What is Content Filter?
The concept of context filter in Tableau makes the process of filtering smooth and
straightforward. It establishes a filtering hierarchy where all other filters present refer to the context

filter for their subsequent operations. The other filters now process data that has been passed through
the context filter.
Creating one or more context filters improves performance as users do not have to create extra filters
on large data source, reducing the query-execution time.
You can create by dragging a filed into ‘Filters’ tab and then, Right-Click that field and select ‘’Add to
Context”.
58. How to create cascading filters without a context filter?
I have filterl and filter2..Based on filterl I need to filter2 data
Ex: Filterl as Country and Filter 2: States
I have chosen country as USA and filter2 should display only USA states
Choose options of Filter2 states :
select option of “Only relevant values “
59. What are Quick Filters in Tableau?
Global quick filters are a way to filter each worksheet on a dashboard until each of them
contains a dimension. They are very useful for worksheets using the same data source, which sometimes
proves to a disadvantage and generate slow results. Thus, parameters are more useful.
60. How to view underlying SQL Queries in Tableau?
Viewing underlying SQL Queries in Tableau provides two options:
Create a Performance Recording to record performance information about the main events you interact
with workbook. Users can view the performance metrics in a workbook created by Tableau.
Help> Settings and Performance> Start Performance Recording
Help> Setting and Performance > Stop Performance Recording

Reviewing the Tableau Desktop Logs located at C:UsersMy DocumentsMy Tableau Repository. For
live connection to data source, you can check log.txt and tabprotosrv.txt files. For an extract, check
tdeserver.txt file.
61. What is Page shelf?
Tableau provides a distinct and powerful tool to control the output display known as Page shelf.
As the name suggests, the page shelf fragments the view into a series of pages, presenting a different
view on each page, making it more user-friendly and minimizing scrolling to analyze and view data and
information. You can flip through the pages using the specified controls and compare them at a
common axle.
62. What are the Alerts & Subscriptions?
With the alerts & subscriptions, it’s attainable to grasp the standing of the tableau server
mechanically.
To set up this we want an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol).
Subscriptions can send the desired content to the subscribes to the mechanically.
63. What is The Tableau Servers?
Depending on the licensing value tableau serve area divided into a pair of sorts
User primarily based Tableau Server
Core primarily based TableauServer
64. What’s The Behaviour of Dimension?
Dimension invariably contains distinct values.
Discrete prices suggest that every and each value are freelance of the remaining values.
65. What’s Nested twin Axis?
If we tend to place one twin axis within the opposite is it called “ Nested twin Axis”.

In maps, it’s attainable to produce the nested twin axis
66. What’s Scheduling?
 Automation of the manual tasks achieves with the assistance of programming.
 Scheduling performs for two sorts of tasks.
Extract Refreshers: Which is able to perform refreshing of the extract files mechanically.
Subscription: Which is able to send the desired image to subscribers mechanically victimization SMTP.
67. What are the Default Geographic Roles?
• Code (U.S)
• CBSA/MSA (U.S)
• general assembly Districts (U.S)
• Cities
• Country/Region
• County
• States/Provinces
• nada Codes/ communicating Codes
68. What’s The Behaviour of Dimension?
• Dimension invariably contains distinct values.
• Discrete prices suggest that every and each value are freelance of the remaining values.
69. What is LOD expression?
This offers a way to easily commute aggressions that are not at the level of detail of the
visualization. With this, you can attach more than one dimension to any aggregate expression.
70. Can you create relational joins in Tableau without creating a new table?
Yes, you can create relational joins without creating a new table.
71. What are the four different kinds of shelves in Tableau?
• Rows

• Columns
• Filters
• Pages
72. Name some file extensions in Tableau?
• Tableau Datasource (.tds)
• Tabelau Bookmark (.tdm)
• Tableau preferences (.tps)
• Tableau workbook (.twb)
• Tableau Mapsource (.tms)
73. Explain Tableau Data Server?
Enabling you to share and upload data extracts and reuse calculations and field metadata,
Tableau Data Server makes connecting to data transparent and much easier.
74. Difference between Measures and Dimensions?
Measures:
• Generates axes when added to rows and columns shelves
• Dependent variable
• Stored in a table that has foreign keys
• Numeric units analyzed by dimension table
Dimensions:
• Descriptive attributes values defining multiple characteristics
• Generate headers when added to rows and columns shelves
• Independent variable
• Considered more complex
75. Define sets?
Sets are used to define a subset of data depending on certain conditions. There are oodles of
ways to create a set based on a filter that you have already mentioned.

76. What is the maximum no. of rows Tableau can utilize at one time?
Tableau is not restricted by the no. of rows in the table. Customers use Tableau to access petabytes of
data because it only retrieves the rows and columns needed to answer your questions.
77. What is a hierarchical field?
A hierarchical field in tableau is used for drilling down data. It means viewing your data in a more
granular level.
schedule reports.You just need to select the time when you want to refresh data.
Referential Integrity from the Data menu. When you use this option, Tableau will include the joined
table in the query only if it is specifically referenced by fields in the view.
80. How to remove ‘All’ options from a Tableau auto-filter?
The auto-filter provides a feature of removing ‘All’ options by simply clicking the down arrow in
the auto-filter heading. You can scroll down to ‘Customize’ in the dropdown and then uncheck the
‘Show “All” Value’ attribute. It can be activated by checking the field again.
81. How to do Performance Testing in Tableau?
Performance testing is again an important part of implementing tableau. This can be done by
loading Testing Tableau Server with TabJolt, which is a “Point and Run” load generator created to
perform QA. While TabJolt is not supported by tableau directly, it has to be installed using other open
source products.
82. Is Tableau software good for strategic acquisition?
Yes! For sure. It gives you data insight to the extent that other tools can’t. Moreover, it also
helps you to plan and point the anomalies and improvise your process for betterment of your company.

83. Can Tableau be installed on MacOS?
Yes, Tableau Desktop can be installed on both on Mac and Windows Operating System.
84. What are groups?
A group is a combination of dimension members that make higher level categories. For example,
if you are working with a view that shows average test scores by major, you may want to group certain
majors together to create major categories.
85. Mention what are different Tableau files?
Different Tableau files include:
Workbooks: Workbooks hold one or more worksheets and dashboards
Bookmarks: It contains a single worksheet and its an easy way to quickly share your work
Packaged Workbooks: It contains a workbook along with any supporting local file data and background
images
Data Extraction Files: Extract files are a local copy of a subset or entire data source
Data Connection Files: It’s a small XML file with various connection information
schedule reports. You just need to select the time when you want to refresh data.
Referential Integrityfrom the Data menu. When you use this option, Tableau will include the joined table
in the query only if it is specifically referenced by fields in the view.
88. Explain what is the difference between blending and joining inTableau?
• Joining term is used when you are combining data from the same source, for example,
worksheet in an Excel file or tables in Oracle database

• While blending requires two completely defined data sources in your report.
89. Mention whether you can create relational joins in Tableau without creating a newtable?
Yes, one can create relational joins in tableau without creating a new table.
90. Explain what is Tableau Data Extract?
A table data extract is a compressed snapshot of data stored on disk and loaded into memory as
required to render a Tableau. A TDE is a columnar store and reduce the input/output required to access
and aggregate the values.
91. How to remove ‘All’ options from a Tableau auto-filter?
The auto-filter provides a feature of removing ‘All’ options by simply clicking the down arrow in
the auto-filter heading. You can scroll down to ‘Customize’ in the dropdown and then uncheck
92. How can you display the top five and last five sales in the sameview?
Create two sets, one for top 5 another for bottom 5 and the join these two sets displaying a
unique set of total 10 rows.
93. What is TDE file?
TDE is a Tableau desktop file that contains a .tde extension. It refers to the file that contains
data extracted from external sources like MS Excel, MS Access or CSV file.
There are two aspects of TDE design that make them ideal for supporting analytics and data discovery.
Firstly, TDE is a columnar store.
The second is how they are structured which impacts how they are loaded into memory and used by
Tableau. This is an important aspect of how TDEs are “architecture aware”. Architecture-awareness
means that TDEs use all parts of your computer memory, from RAM to hard disk, and put each part to
work what best fits its characteristics.

94. How can you display the top five and last five sales in the sameview?
Create two sets, one for top 5 another for bottom 5 and the join these two sets displaying a
unique set of total 10 rows.
95. State limitations of parameters in Tableau.
Parameters facilitate only four ways to represent data on a dashboard (which are seven in quick
filters). Further, parameters do not allow multiple selections in a filter.
96. How do you handle Null Values?
Null values along an axis are indicated in the lower right corner of the view. Click the indicator to
open a dialog box that will help you decide how to handle these values. The options available in the
dialog box depend on the type of data in the view.
97. What type of data limitations does Tableau Public have?
Tableau Public can only connect to few data sources like Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and
multiple text file formats. It has a limit of 1,000,000 rows of data that is allowed in any single file.
98. What are the Limitations of context filters?
• The context filter is not frequently changed by the user – if the filter is changed the
database must re-compute and rewrite the temporary table, slowingperformance.
• When you set a dimension to context, Tableau creates a temporary table that will require a
reload each time the view is initiated.
99. How to use group in the calculated field?
• By adding the same calculation to ‘Group By’ clause in SQL query or creating a Calculated
Field in the Data Window and using that field whenever you want to group thefields.
• Using groups in a calculation. You cannot reference ad-hoc groups in a calculation.
• Blend data using groups created in the secondary data source: Only calculated groups can
be used in data blending if the group was created in the secondary data source.
• Use a group in another workbook. You can easily replicate a group in another workbook by
copy and pasting a calculation.

100. However, do I automatize reports victimization Tableau software?
You need to publish report back to tableau server, whereas publication you may realize one
choice to schedule reports. You just have to compel to choose the time once you wish to refresh
knowledge.
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Tableau interview questions and answers