What is Tableau?

Tags Tableau

Overview

 Tableau is a tool that translates data into optimized visual images to see patterns, identify trends, and quickly discover visual insights.  Tableau is offered as a PC and a server based tool. 

Details

Tableau Access

Gaining Access to Purdue Tableau Server

Tableau Server is currently open to all faculty and staff at Purdue. Within Tableau Server, there are several projects which are controlled by various departments around campus. If you are missing access to your department's project, you can start by checking to see if your area has a Tableau Project Leader.

Tableau Server is available for Purdue users to store data sources and Tableau Workbooks. Websites can be linked to the content and dashboards stored in the server for shared use internally and/or externally.

Please contact bicc@purdue.edu with any questions you may have on connecting data sources or servers to the Purdue Tableau Server.

Tableau Training 

Free online training videos for Tableau Desktop are available on Tableau's website.  Courses are subject-driven and use the data sources provided with the Tableau Desktop license. 

Tutorial: Get Started with Tableau

Obtaining a Tableau License

Tableau offers a free desktop license to all faculty and students.

You can download your key here.

Faculty

Navigate to the Tableau for Teaching section of the page at the link above.

Faculty members are eligible for a free one-year license to Tableau Desktop and Tableau Prep for teaching and non-commercial academic research.

You must complete the form each year to verify your status as a faculty member. A link or documentation containing your association to Purdue as a faculty member is required to verify your status. (a screenshot of the Purdue Directory or a course syllabus containing your name are sufficient forms of documentation)

Students

Navigate to the Tableau for Students section of the page at the link above.

Students are eligible for a free one-year license to Tableau Desktop and Tableau Prep.

You must complete the form each year to verify your status as a student.

Staff

To obtain a Tableau license, you must submit a request to bicc@purdue.edu.

Tableau Desktop

A PC based tool that translates data into optimized visual images to see patterns, identify trends, and quickly discover visual insights. Users can shift between views with drag-and-drop technology and drill down to see additional details. It’s a self-service analytics tool that can be used by anyone. The software connects to your base data and generates queries for a quick visual display. You can connect to live data, data warehouses, spreadsheets, or blend different data sources together.

  • Required to build the data connections and visual images and dashboards
  • PC Named User License (can be used on up to two devices)
  • Requires license product key provided with purchase.  Licensing requests can be submitted to bicc@purdue.edu

Tableau Server

A server based resource anyone can use via browser or mobile solutions. Tableau Desktop is used to publish worksheets and dashboards to Tableau Server to share throughout the enterprise or for your use only. It provides live interactive dashboards which can be embedded in enterprise portals. Answer unexpected questions as they happen, filter data, or drill down to find your answers.

  • Required to share visual images and dashboards across the enterprise
  • Enterprise Site License
  • Licensed and Maintained by Information of Technology Services 

Tableau Reader

Tableau Reader is a free desktop application used to open and view visualizations built in Tableau Desktop.

  • Used to view visualizations built in Tableau Desktop
  • Free from Tableau

Examples of Purdue Dashboards using Tableau?

See also:

 

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