Tableau Interview Questions

1. What is meant by TABLEAU?

Ans: Tableau is the most powerful data visualization tool in the modern business intelligence Industry. With Tableau, data analysis becomes much faster and simpler. Also, it helps to simplify the raw data into an easy-to-understand format. It allows the creation of dashboards, making the data visualization much more interactive and easy to understand. Thus, employees working at different levels in an entity can easily understand the visual representation of data.

2. Define Data Visualization

Ans. The term data visualization refers to the graphical representation of data. It makes the data easy to understand through visualization tools. Also, it will be easy to access the data. Here, you can use different visual items such as graphs, charts, bars, maps, and many more. 

3. Name the various Data Types that support Tableau.

Ans. Below are the different Data Types that support Tableau:

• Date
• Text or String values
• Numerical (number) values
• Boolean values (relational data)
• Date and time 
• Geographical values (You can use maps)

4. What is meant by Heat Map?

Ans. A heat map is useful where there is a large data set overlaps the data values. It is a kind of graphical representation of data that uses a color-coding scheme to represent different data values. Here it uses warm and cold colors to present the values. As the values go higher, the marks heat up, and as a result, you will see dark colors on the map. 

5.What are Filters in Tableau and their various types?

Ans. Filters in Tableau are useful for building dashboards and help reduce the size of data sets. It makes them efficient and eliminates the unnecessary dimension elements, etc. It is a process of eliminating certain data or values from the result set. Moreover, filters are applied in a worksheet to limit the data of records in a data set.

There are different types of Tableau Filters available to use:

• Extract filters
• Dimension filters
• Context filters
• Data source filters
• Table filters
• Measure Filters

6.What is meant by LOD Expression?

Ans. In Tableau, LOD Expression refers to the Level of Detail Expression. This expression is useful for running complex queries that include many dimensions at the data source and visualization levels. 

7.Describe TreeMap in Tableau.

Ans. TreeMap in Tableau is a type of data visualization that uses nested rectangles to show the data. The TreeMap is useful generally to represent large-size data. It is a type of graph that you can use to compare hierarchical data. Also, TreeMap is used as a chart to analyze data anomalies. 

8. Define Parameters in Tableau and how it works. Give an example of it.

Ans. Parameters in Tableau are dynamic values or workbook variables that can replace the constant values in calculations or filters such as a date, string, or number.

Example: Suppose you're creating a filter that displays the top Ten products that give higher profits rather than their fixed value. Here, you can use parameters to easily update the filter to present the top 10 or any number of products.

9. What do you mean by Tableau dashboard?

Ans. A tableau dashboard is a collection of different visualization types that simultaneously presents different types of data. It allows you to put different elements of various worksheets on a single dashboard. Hence, it is the most effective and efficient method to view and analyze data simply.

10. What are the various connection types in Tableau?

Ans. In Tableau, there are two different connection types available:- Live & Extract

Live: It helps to build a direct connection to the data source that helps data to fetch directly from tables. Live connections allow Tableau to query and read from your database. Moreover, it provides real-time updates regarding changes in the Tableau data source.

Extract: Tableau Extracts are the data snapshots extracted from the data source. Also, you can put them into the Tableau repository, which is useful for improving performance. You can periodically refresh these data snapshots. Further, when you build an extract of the available data, you can minimize the data size using filters.

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11. Explain the different Tableau products.

Ans. The following are the different Tableau products in use.

• Tableau Desktop
• Tableau Reader
• Tableau Server
• Tableau Online 
• Tableau Public

Tableau Desktop

It is the most useful data visualization and business analytics tool from Tableau. Anyone can use it to connect with data directly from the data storage (warehouse) for the latest data analysis. Further, it helps to transform data images into optimized queries to understand well. Moreover, it helps build different reports, dashboards, charts, and graphs. 

Tableau Reader 

Tableau Reader is a free desktop app useful to open and interact with various data visualizations built in Tableau Desktop. 

Tableau Server

It is a web-based online platform that allows you to host and manage dashboards and reports published in Tableau Desktop. You can easily share them across the organization using the online Tableau Server. Further, you need a web browser to access Tableau Server, build dashboards and workspaces, and publish reports. 

Tableau Online

Tableau Online includes the Tableau Data Server that helps to publish data sources much faster and update them automatically. It is also a data-sharing tool that you can use to share a dashboard that you publish with Tableau Desktop.

Tableau Public

It is free to use the platform to make data visualizations, explore, build, and share them publicly online. Further, it allows users to connect to a worksheet and develop interactive visualizations for the web. It allows anyone to build data visualizations.

12. Distinguish between Dimensions and Measures.

Ans. 

Dimensions

In Tableau, dimensions are the independent variables and qualitative values such as dates, names, Size, Color, etc. Further, dividing another field into separate groups is a useful field.

Measures

Tableau measures include certain numeric and quantitative data values analyzed by dimension tables, such as sales, profit, quantity, orders, etc. Further, you can aggregate measures in Tableau. Also, these can be stored within a table that includes foreign keys that uniquely refers to the related dimension tables.

13. Name the various data types in Tableau.

Ans. Data types in Tableau provide information about the type of data that Tableau stores in the data source. There are different data types available in Tableau, such as Date, String, Data & Time, Boolean, Numbers, Geographical, and Mixed values. 

14.Describe the various types of Joins in Tableau.

Ans. The 'Joins' in Tableau are similar to SQL joins, where a join combines the data and aggregates it. There are different types of Joins in Tableau, such as Inner, Left, Right, and Full outer joins.

• Inner Join - The consequent table includes values having matches in both tables.
• Left Join - In the left join, the consequent table includes all the values from the left table that matches the values of the corresponding right table.
• Right, Join - In the right join, the consequent table includes all the values from the right table that matches the values of the corresponding left table.
• Full Outer Join - By applying this join, it returns the data which is common and uncommon to both the tables.

15. Distinguish between Joining and Blending.

Ans. Data Blending refers to combining data from two or more data sources such as Oracle, Excel, etc. Moreover, each data source includes a separate set of measures and dimensions in the data blending. 

On the other hand, Data joining refers to combining data from two or more tables or worksheets from the same data source.

16. Mention the number of tables you can Join in Tableau.

Ans. The maximum number of tables you can join in the Tableau software is 32.

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17.What is meant by the Calculated Field in Tableau, and How to build it?

Ans. In Tableau, a calculated field is useful to build new fields from the current data in the data source. Moreover, you can build more robust visualizations, and it doesn't affect the original dataset.

For example, let's see the calculation of the "average delay to ship an order."

Here we take the data set that contains the information related to the order date and ship date for five different areas. Let's build a calculated field:

• In Tableau, navigate to -> Analysis and choose -> Create Calculated Field option. 
• You will see a Calculation Editor will open. Then, give a name to the calculated field: "Delay in Shipping."
• Then you need to enter the formula: DATEDIFF ('day,' [Order Date], [Shipping Date])
• After finishing, click on the "Ok" button.
• Then drag (bring) the "Delay in Shipping" field to the view section.
• Repeat steps from 1 to 5 to build a new calculated field named "Average Delay in Shipping."
• Then drag the Region field to the Rows shelf and SUM(Average Delay in Shipping) to the marks card. The average delay for each area will appear.

18. Explain how you present the Top and Bottom Five Sales in the Same View.

Ans. We can present the sales using the In & Out functionality of sets.

The following are the steps to follow:

• Bring the field called "Customer Name" to the Rows shelf. Also, drag the "Profit" field to the Columns shelf to get the visualization.
• Build a set by right-clicking on the field "Customer Name." Then select to create an option and click on the field "Set."
• Now give the name "Top Customers" to the given set. Then by clicking on the Top tab, you can configure the set. Also, choose "By field" and fill in the values like Top, 5, Sum, & Profit. 
• Also, you can build a second set of "Bottom Customers" after the Top Customers and fill the values of "By Field" as Bottom, 5, Profit, & Sum. 
• Now, choose the above two sets and right-click on them. Here, you can use the option "Create Combined Set." Give the name to the set -> Top & Bottom Customers and consists of all members of the two sets. 
• After that, you must pull the "Top and Bottom Customers" onto the Filters pane.

Hence, you will see the top five Sales will appear.

19. Distinguish between Sets and Groups in Tableau.

Ans. A Group in Tableau software is one-dimensional, and a collection of different members combined to build a higher category. On the other hand, Tableau sets are custom fields useful to build a data subset based on certain conditions that a user defines. 

20. Explain the difference between Heat Map & TreeMap in Tableau.

Ans. A heat map in Tableau is useful where there is a large data set overlaps the data values. It is a kind of graphical representation of data that uses a color-coding scheme to represent different data values.

In Tableau, a TreeMap is a type of data visualization that uses nested rectangles to show the data. The TreeMap is useful generally to represent large-size data. It is a type of graph that you can use to compare hierarchical data.

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21.Distinguish between .twb and .twbx extension in Tableau.

Ans. 

The extension .twb is an XML document containing the data interaction instructions. Further, it consists of all the selections and layouts you have built within your Tableau workbook. 

On the other hand, a .twbx extension is a 'zipped' archive and a packaged workbook containing a .twb extension. Also, it includes any external files like extracts and background images that don't support local file data.

22. In brief, define the terms Tableau Worksheet, Dashboard, Story, and Workbook.

Ans.

The data visualization software Tableau holds a workbook and a worksheet file structure, similar to Microsoft Excel.

• A workbook in Tableau includes one or more sheets that can be a dashboard, a worksheet, or a story.
• In Tableau, a worksheet consists of a single view, including shelves, legends, and the Data pane.
• A dashboard in Tableau is a group of views from different worksheets.
• A story in Tableau includes a series of worksheets/dashboards that work combined to carry information.

23.Explain the term Blended Axis in Tableau.

Ans. Blended Axis in Tableau is useful to blend or mix two measured values into a single axis. Also, this is useful when multiple graphs or charts use more than two measures.

24. Explain what Dual Axis is in Tableau.

Ans. In Tableau, Dual Axis is an excellent experience that allows users to compare measures in the same graph. It is useful when there are two different measures to compare. Many websites use the Tableau dual axis to display the comparison between two measures and their growth rate. Moreover, this axis allows you to compare many measures at once.

25. Define the Rank Function in Tableau.

Ans. The ranking in Tableau allows a position to be something that is generally within a category and is measure-based. Thus, it accepts two types of arguments - Aggregated measure and Ranking order. Moreover, Tableau helps to rank in multiple ways, such as:

• rank 
• rank_dense
• rank_unique
• rank_modified 

26. What step can you take if some Countries or Provinces are missing and showing a

Ans. While you work with maps and other geographical fields, you can see that the indicator identifies some unknown locations in the lower right corner of the view.

Now, you just need to click on the indicator and select from the below options:-

• Edit data Locations - Edit the locations correctly by mapping your data with the known data locations.
• Filter Data - Reject the unknown data locations from the view by filtering them. In the calculations, the locations will not include.
• Default Position Data Display- Display the data values at the map's default position of (0, 0).

27. Explain the Calculation of the Daily Profit Measures Using LOD.

Ans. 

LOD or Level of Detail Expressions allows users to easily build bins on aggregated data, like profit per day.

The aim is to measure the success of an organization by the total profit per business day.

Build a calculated field with the name LOD - Profit/day and enter the below formula:

FIXED [Product Order Date] : SUM ([Profit])

Then build another calculated field with the name "LOD - Daily Profit KPI" and enter the below formula:

IF [LOD - Profit/day] > 2000, Then "Business is Highly Profitable."

ELSEIF [LOD - Profit/day] <= 0 Then “Business is Unprofitable”

ELSE "Profitable Business"

END

Further, follow the below steps to draw the visualization for calculating daily profit measures through LOD:

• Drag YEAR(Product Order Date) and MONTH(Product Order Date) to the given Columns rack.
• Drag the Order-Id field to the Rows rack, and by Right-clicking on it, choose the" Measure" and hit the Count(Distinct) tab.
• Drag the part LOD - Daily Profit KPI to the existing Rows rack
• Drag the part LOD - Daily Profit KPI to mark cards and modify the mark type from automatic to the area in that card.

28. Explain the Scheduling of a Workbook within Tableau after its publication.

Ans. While signing in to Tableau Server:- 

Navigate to Content > Content or Data Sources > Workbooks, based on the content type you want to refresh.

Choose the data source/workbook checkbox which you want to refresh. Then choose> Actions > Extract Refresh.

Open the Refresh Extracts section > select the option "Schedule a Refresh" and finish the below steps:

• Select the required schedule 
• If available, mention the refresh you want, whether a full or incremental refresh.

29. Name the multiple types of Tableau.

30.How to handle Null and Special Values in Tableau?

Ans. If the field holds a null value or is on a logarithmic axis, then Tableau cannot plot these values if there is a zero or negative value. Further, it indicates a point in the lower right corner of the view, and you can click on that indicator and select from the below options:

• Filter the Data
• Eliminate the null value from the data visualization part through a filter. If so, the null values are also eliminated from any calculations used in the view.
• Displays Data/information at Default Position
• Displays the data at a default space on the given axis.

31. Explain the way of Embedding a Web Page in a Dashboard in Tableau.

Ans. Below are the simple steps useful to embed a web page in a dashboard:

• Navigate to the Tableau Dashboard
• Double click on the option "Webpage," available under the section "Objects." 
• Enter the web page URL () within the dialog box, which will appear.
• Then, you can see the webpage on that Dashboard.

32. How to build a Dynamic WebPage?

Ans. To build a dynamic webpage, you can start by dragging the "Map by Sales" part into view. It will display the name of the state or area and its sales position.

• First, Navigate to the > Dashboard.
• Make a double click on the "Web Page" option under the "Objects" section. 
• Don't enter the URL in the dialog box; click on the "Ok" tab. 
• Now, hit the tab > Dashboard < from the menu and choose "Action."
• Go and select the "Add Action" button and then choose the option "Go To URL."
• Enter the URL you want to use under the URL section( for example- a Wikipedia page). Then hit the Adjacent Arrow there and select the option "State."
• Now go to the "Select” option and hit the “Ok” button there. 

Then, clicking on any state, such as New York, will load the New York Wikipedia page. So, these are the steps that can make a web page dynamic.

33. How can you present region-wise Profit and Sales?

Ans. The following simple steps will show region-wise profit and sales:

• In Tableau, bring the field "Profit and Sales" to the Rows rack
• Then bring the field "Region" to the Columns rack

Further, you can elaborate on it using the below steps:-

• Make a double click on the field "State" to get its view
• Then, navigate to the "Marks" card. Modify the type of "Mark" from Automatic to Map.
• Now, drag the "Region" field to Color on the Marks card
• Finally, bring the fields- Profit, Sales, and State to the "Label" section on the "Marks" card.

34. Define the ways to optimize the Dashboard's performance.

Ans. There are many ways to optimize the Dashboard's performance in Tableau, such as:

• Increase the number of fields and records. You can also remove the unused fields from the data visualization section or use extract filters.
• Reduce or restrict the Filters used by keeping away quick filters. Here you can use "Action" and "Parameter" filters. The use of these filters will minimize the load of queries. 
• Further, you can use Min/Max instead of Average functions. It is because they take more time to process than Min/Max functions.
• Try to use boolean or numerical calculations rather than string calculations. Computers can process numerals (integers) and booleans much faster than strings.
• Then follow this further- Boolean > int > float > date-time > string

35. Name the visualization type to be used in the given Scenarios.

Ans. To display aggregated total sales throughout different product categories and subgroups-

• To present the time-span of events or activities 
• To present quarterly profit increment 

The below data visualizations types for the above-given scenarios will be used:

• Treemap
• Waterfall chart
• Gantt chart

36. Define Extracts and Schedules in the Tableau server.

Ans. Data extracts in Tableau are the copies or subsets of the real data. The workbooks that use data extracts rather than live data connections are much faster. It is due to the extracted data being imported into Tableau Engine. After this data extraction, users can easily publish the workbook. It also publishes the extracts within the Tableau Server. 

The Schedules are only accessible to the Tableau Server Admins. They include the name, types, scope, number of tasks, schedules list, and running status. Moreover, scheduled refreshes get refreshed when you publish a workbook with data extract.

37. What is Performance Testing in Tableau, and how to perform it?

Ans. Performance testing is one of the important parts of Tableau implementation. It is performed by loading Testing Tableau Server (TTS) with TabJolt. It is a kind of 'Point and Run' load generator especially built to perform QA tasks. However, Tableau doesn't support TabJolt directly by any means. You need to install it using other open-source products.

38. Name the components of a Dashboard.

Ans. Horizontal, Vertical, Image Extract, Text, and Web.

39. Define the process of adding Custom Color to Tableau.

Ans. In Tableau, the process of adding a Custom Color refers to a power tool. You need to restart your Tableau desktop after you save the .tps file. You can do it from the Measures pane by bringing the one that you want to add Color to Color. From the color legend menu arrow, choose the tab> Edit Colors. A dialog box will appear, and then select the palette drop-down list of colors and customize it as per your need.

40. What is meant by a TDE file in Tableau?

Ans. In Tableau, a TDE file is a kind of Tableau desktop file that includes data extracted from external sources such as MS Excel, MS Access, CSV file, etc. The file includes an extension .tde.

41. Can relational joins be built in Tableau without building a new table?

Ans. Yes, it is possible to create relational joins in Tableau without building a new table in Tableau.

42. How do you automate reports in Tableau?

Ans. First, you need to publish a report to Tableau Server; while publishing the report, you will find an option to schedule reports. Here, you need to choose the right time at which you want to refresh the data.

43. Define the DRIVE Program Methodology in Tableau.

Ans. In Tableau, the Drive Program is a methodology for scaling out self-service analytics, as Tableau makes data analytics much faster. Moreover, the Tableau Drive is based on best practices from successful enterprise level deployments. This methodology is developed to build collaboration and increase IT and business efficiency.