Tableau Interview Questions and Answers PDF Download ( Desktop and Server ) by Industry Experts, Practical Scenarios, Examples, Problems and Solutions.

TABLEAU INTERVIEW QUESTIONS - INDEX

Can tableau store huge amounts of data in-memory engine?
How to handle huge volume of data in Tableau?


Explain What is Tableau Calculations - Addressing and Partitioning.


Tableau Hyper, Tableau Hyper's Unique Design, Tableau for Faster Analytics.


How to create Tableau Parameters, where to use and how to use Tableau parameters.


Tableau Dashboards Performance Issues and Challenges, data refresh, network and connectivity.


Tableau 2018.1 , 2018.2 and 2018.3 Features


What is performance recording in Tableau Server? How to implement performance recording in Tableau Server?


Differences between Tableau 9.3 and Tableau 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 ( 9.x vs 10.x versions )


Differences between Tableau 8.3 and Tableau 9.2, 9.1, 9.0 versions ( 8.x vs 9.x versions)


Discuss Difference between 'Data Blending' and 'Data Joining'


Explain Tableau Architecture


MTD, YTD Reports using Tableau Table Calculations


Difference between RANK and INDEX


Types of Data Connections, LIVE vs EXTRACT (IN-MEMORY)


Difference between Individual, Dual and Blended Axis


Types of Filters Quick, Global, Context, At Source, On Dimensions and Measures


Differences between Tiled and Floating in Tableau Dashboard.


Custom Geocoding in Tableau.


Tableau File Types extensions .twb vs .twbx .tde .tdsx .tds .tbs


Tableau Automatic vs Custom Hierarchies Creation


Tableau Actions Difference Filter vs Highlight vs URL


Tableau Workbook Stories Dashboards Worksheets


Tableau Trend Analysis Forecast Models Difference


Summary of Tableau Desktop 9.2 new features (includes Tableau 9.2, 9.1 and 9.0)


Level of detail ( LOD ) expressions, Calculation,Cohort analysis

Can tableau store huge amounts of data in memory engine?
How to handle huge volume of data in Tableau?

Can tableau store huge amounts of data in memory engine? How to handle huge volume of data in Tableau?

Yes, tableau can store huge amounts of data.

But there is no straight answer for this question. Because, we can store huge amount of data based on the Tableau Server implementation (8 cores, 16 cores etc.) configurations. Whether Hyper is used or not, server memory and other factors can influence the volume of the data that we can store.


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Explain What is Tableau Calculations - Addressing and Partitioning.

Tableau Calculations: Addressing and Partitioning

If you are configuring table calculations using specific dimensions, knowing about concepts of ‘addressing and partitioning’ will help in better design.
Partitioning fields break the view up into multiple sub-views (or sub-tables), and then the table calculation is applied to the marks within each such partition.

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Tableau Hyper, Tableau Hyper's Unique Design, Tableau for Faster Analytics.

Tableau Hyper:

Hyper is a high-performance in-memory data engine technology that helps customers analyze large or complex data sets faster, by efficiently evaluating analytical queries directly in the transactional database. A core Tableau platform technology, Hyper uses proprietary dynamic code generation and cutting-edge parallelism techniques to achieve fast performance for extract creation and query execution.

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How to create Tableau Parameters, where to use and how to use Tableau parameters.

Tableau Parameters:

Tableau allows to create parameters. We can use parameters in:

• Calculations
• Filters
• Reference lines
• Parameter control in viz

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Tableau Dashboards Performance Issues and Challenges, data refresh, network and connectivity.

Custom SQL:

During connecting with data source, the custom SQL plays an important role to select the required data for the dashboard from data source. If the custom SQL is not written with performance aspects in mind, then the data refresh will suffer with performance issues.

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Tableau 2018.1 , 2018.2 and 2018.3 Features.

Connect to data on the web

Get immediate answers from your data using Dashboard Starters. Starters are pre-built dashboards based on best practices for applications like Salesforce, Eloqua, Marketo and ServiceNow. Get to deeper insights quicker by modifying starters, including bringing in data from other sources.

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What is performance recording in Tableau Server? How to implement performance recording in Tableau Server?

What is Performance Recording in Tableau Server?

As mentioned in the title, Performance Recording is a task within Tableau Server! We develop and test reports in Tableau Desktop, then publish the reports in Tableau Server. In general, when there are response time issues with a report, complaints from users about slowness, we need to trouble shoot the performance issues.

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Differences between Tableau 9.3 and Tableau 10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 ( 9.x vs 10.x versions )

New Data Sources

Google Sheets
QuikBooks Online

Data Join Updates

Tableau 10 allows to JOIN the data between two different data sources.

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Differences between Tableau 8.3 and Tableau 9.2, 9.1, 9.0 versions ( 8.x vs 9.x versions)

Calculated Fields :

A major area of change. The following is the list in Tableau 9 version.

• Freeform Calculation
• Drag and Drop features
• Google like options list during formula building process has been introduced in Tableau 9 version
• Prameter creation within the create calculated fields box has been removed
• Dimensions and Measures should drag dropped or typed in the formula box

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Discuss difference between ' Data Blending ' and ' Data Joining ' ?

Data Blending: Combining the data from two or more different sources is Data Blending. We can combine data between two more variety of sources such as Oracle, Excel, SQL Server and others.

Example: Combining the Oracle Table with SQL Server Table (OR) Combining Two Tables from Oracle Database (OR) Combining Two Sheets from Excel (OR) Combining Excel Sheet and Oracle Table and so on.

In Data Blending, each data source contains its own set of Dimensions and Measures.

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Explain Tableau Architecture or Framework ?

Conceptually Tableau Architecture contains the following components:

Client or Source Data : OLTP, OLAP, Files, Multidimensional Data and others

Data Connectors : Tableau Fast Data Engine, SQL Connectors, MDX Connectors and Repository

Main components : Data Server, VizQL (Vizual Query Language) Server and Application Server

Gateway : Gateway and Load Balancer

Users or Clients : Desktop Clients, Mobile Clients and Web Users

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Explain Tableau 'Table Calculations' ? Did you work with YTD, MTD reports ?

Table calculations are mainly for YTD, MTD reports and other table based calculations. The purpose of YTD, MTD reports to know numbers at the current date levels, such as - SUM of the Sales as of today starting from the first day of the month. Tableau Table calculations comes with inbuilt functions. The following are some of the different inbuilt functions in Tableu Table Calculations:

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Explain Difference between RANK and INDEX ?

RANK and INDEX are part of Table calculations in Tableau.

INDEX mainly deals with physical position of the record, incremental numbers are assigned based on the physical order of the records.

Example:

SUM(SALES) INDEX
10000 1
40000 2
20000 3
30000 4
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Types of Tableau Data Connections Live vs Extract (In-memory). Which Connection type to use when ?

There are TWO types of data connections in Tableau. LIVE and EXTRACT (IN-MEMORY).

Live connection is for high volume data and send logic to data. Extract brings data in to memory, i.e Data to the logic.

There are no standard rules to decide on which connection to choose. Depending on the situation and resources, we must choose the connection type that helps to provide responsive report.

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Explain Difference Between Individual, Dual and Blended Axis?

Individual Axis: This is mainly used when only one mesaure is used in single line graph. One axis represents one measure information.

Example: Sales by Year. Sales can be on one single axis with the range of values from source data.

Dual Axis: This is mainly used when two mesaures are used in dual lines graphs or charts. One axis represents one measure and other axis represents second mesaure. Both axis will be parallel to each other with different range of values from the source data. When we select dual lines template from Tableau Show me list, by default it implements dual lines graphs or charts using dual axis concept.

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Explain Types of Filters in Tableau - Quick, Global, Context, At Source, On Dimensions and Measures?

Quick Filter: Quick Filter Creates an interactive selection panel on the right top corner of the data view. We can implement Quick Filter on Dimensions or Measures. The interactive selection panel provides the options based on the source data.

Example: Quick Filer on Order Date with Yearly Consolidation provides list of YEARS available from SOURCE DATA for user selection.

Global Filter: Global Filter helps to share the same filter using the same source data across multiple (or) all worksheets within a workbook. We can apply global filter for all the work sheets using the same data (or) It can be applied to only selected worksheets.

Example: Filter with Complex calculation in one worksheet can be applied to some other worksheet which using the same source data to avoid repetetive work.

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Difference between Tiled and Floating in Tableau Dashboards

Each object (Worksheet) in a dashboard can use one of two types of layouts: Tiled or Floating.
Tiled objects are arranged in a single layer grid that adjust in size based on the total dashboard size and the objects around it. Floating objects can be layered on top of other objects and can have a fixed size and position.

Tiled Layout All objects are tiled on a single layer. The top three views are in a horizontal layout container.

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Explain implementation of Geocoding in Tableau in your experience. ?
How to implement Custom Geocoding in Tableau. ?
When to use Custom Geocoding in Tableau. ?

Geocoding :

Tableau FILLED and SYMBOL MAPS require Geocoding information to create a geographical map in the background. Longitude and Latitude information provides the ability to locate specific geographical locations. Tableau GENERATES latitude and longitude details in FILLED and SYMBOL MAPS. When Tableau is not able to get latitude and longitude information by default (or) If there is a need to use EXTERNAL GEOCODING file, Tableau provides the ability to IMPORT gecoding file with .CSV extension.

Creating Geocoding .csv File

Create a geocoding file with .csv extension in a folder by using the following format.

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Tableau File Types extensions .twb vs .twbx .tde .tdsx .tds .tbs ?
Which file type or extension includes data ?
Which file type or extension excludes data ?
Which file type or extension handles packaged data ?
Which file type or extension handles extract data ?

Workbooks (.twb)

Tableau workbook files have the .twb file extension. Workbooks hold one or more worksheets, plus zero or more dashboards and stories.
(Saves the all the sheets and their connection information in a workbook file. The data is not included.)

Packaged Workbooks (.twbx)

Tableau packaged workbooks have the .twbx file extension. A packaged workbook is a single zip file that contains a workbook along with any supporting local file data sources and background images. This format is the best way to package your work for sharing with others who don’t have access to the data.
(Saves all the sheets, their connection information and any local resources (e.g., local file data sources, background images, custom geocoding, etc.).

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What is a Hierarchy ?
Relation between Drill downs, Roll ups and Hierarchies.
What are Automatic Hierarchies?
How to create Custom Hierarchy in Tableau ?

What is a Hierarchy ?

From Data Warehouse concepts point of view and Data Analytics point of view, Hierarchy is arrangement of UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES in LOGICAL ORDER.

Example: TIME can have YEAR, MONTH and DAY hierarchy (or) LOCATION can have COUNTRY, STATE and CITY hirarchy.

Relation between Drill downs, Roll ups and Hierarchies.

Drill downs and Roll ups are dependent on the Hierarchy unique attributes. In TIME hierarchy we can Drill down from YEAR to MONTH, MONTH to DAY. We can also roll up from DAY to MONTH, then MONTH to YEAR.

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Exaplain about Actions in Tableau ?
How many types of options are there in Tableau Actions ?
Difference between Tableau Actions - filter vs highlight vs url ?
Difference between actions vs hierarchies ?
Tableau actions in worksheets, dashboards, workbooks.

Tableau Actions

Using Actions we can create navigation between high level details to low level details to support analysis. This navigation can take place between worksheets (or) withing dashboard between worksheets (or) between two difference workbook.

Options in Tableau Actions

There three options to implement ACTIONS in TABLEAU.

* FILTER
* HIGHLIGHT
* URL

Tableau Actions Using FILTER

The FILTER option helps to navigate from source worksheet to target worksheet. One worksheet can carry high level details and the target worksheet can have detail level information in relation to the source worksheet.

Example: Source worksheet can have category level information and target worksheet can have category, subcateogry details. Upon selection of a category we can navigate to target worksheet to see sub-category level details.

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Explain the relationship difference between Tableau Workbook, Story, Dashboard, Worksheets.?
What is Data View. Data Sources, Dimensions and Measures. ?

Workbooks and sheets :


Tableau uses a WORKBOOK and SHEET file structure, much like Microsoft Excel. A WORKBOOK contains SHEETS , which can be a WORKSHEET , a DASHBOARD , or a STORY .

A WORKSHEET contains a single view along with shelves, legends, and the Data pane.

A DASHBOARD is a collection of views from multiple worksheets.

A STORY contains a sequence of worksheets or dashboards that work together to convey information.

Within a workbook, you can create new sheets, clear an entire worksheet, duplicate sheets, hide or show a worksheet, and delete a sheet. Tableau has several ways to view and organize the sheets in your workbook.

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Explain Tableau Trend Analysis ?
Explain Tableau Forecasting ?
What are the Models in Trend Analysis ?
Explain models Linear, Exponential, Logarithmic, Polynomial ?
Explain models Additive, Multiplicative, seasonal impact ?

Trend Analysis :

It is about finding the behaviour of historic activity based on detailed historic information. The more detailed and accurate information we provide in Trend models the results will be that much accurate.
The following are available models in Tableau for Trend Analysis.

• Linear
• Logarithmic
• Exponential
• Polynomial

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Summary of Tableau Desktop 9.2 new features includes Tableau 9.2, 9.1 and 9.0

Tableau Dektop 9.2 New Features ( Includes Tableau 9.2, 9.1, 9.0) :

• Google Analytics query enhancements
• Recent colors save to the applicatio
• Data grid enhancements
• Data Interpreter enhancements
• Data pane enhancements
• Match mark label color to mark color

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Level of detail ( LOD ) expressions, Calculation, Cohort analysis,Totals or averages across segments,Aggregates of aggregates, Binning aggregates.

Overview: Level of Detail Expressions

Level of detail expressions (which are sometimes also referred to as "LOD Expressions" or "LOD Calculations") are useful for a variety of use cases, including:

Cohort analysis – comparing data for different subgroups
Totals or averages across segments
Aggregates of aggregates
Binning aggregates

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