Power BI Basics for Tableau Users

Eric Parker
Power BI

📊 There will never be a better time to learn Power BI! If you come from a Tableau background and want to understand the core skills you need to successfully build data models and reports in Power BI, this one is for you!

We cover how to transform data in Power Query, model data in Power BI, build and customize visuals, and how to format a report!

Whether you want to prioritize your personal skills development or your organization is making the jump from Tableau to Power BI, start here to build a solid foundation for future Power BI success!

How to Build Dumbbell Charts in Tableau

Ollie Linley
Design

Dumbbell charts are an eye-catching way of comparing two values. They can be used for detailed comparisons or simple KPIs. Dumbbell charts are are effective at displaying the relationship between two data points and highlighting the magnitude of change between them. By using a simple yet powerful visual representation, dumbbell charts enable you to easily compare and contrast data points, identify trends, and uncover insights that might be hidden in traditional visualizations.

How to Add Input Filters in Tableau Prep (Improve Performance!)

Eric Parker
Tableau Text Tables, Tableau Totals, Level of Detail

One of the biggest gripes about Tableau Prep is that it isn't as fast as people want. However, most people aren't leveraging the best way to improve performance; input filters!

Input filters allow you to filter the data at input ensuring that unneeded data is never loaded into and processed in Tableau Prep. This can lead to massive performance benefits.

Ready to learn how to apply input filters and numerous ways they can be configured? Check out this video!

12 Tips for Amazing Tableau Bar Charts

Ollie Linley
Design, Tableau How-Tos

Do you feel stuck when working with bar charts? How do you take them from the standard (although a bit boring) chart we all know to something powerful, engaging, and compelling?

We've put together a free webinar on our 12 top tips to taking your bar charts to the next level.

We looked at things like:

•Color-changing labels

•Multi-axis bar charts

•Multiple labels on a bar

•Drilldowns

How to Make a Pop-Up Warning Message in Tableau

Eric Parker
Layout Containers, Tableau Dashboards, Tableau General Knowledge

Do you want a warning message to pop up in Tableau when there is no data or a user makes an invalid selection? Look no further, we've got the solution for you!

We've worked with numerous clients to help them apply their own version of this method to their dashboards. Ultimately, it comes down to creating a warning message sheet, putting it in a vertical layout container with the worksheet it will replace when activated, and applying some logic and customizations to the warning sheet so it only shows up when you want it to.

Ready to add dashboard warning messages to your Tableau toolkit? Check out this video!

Build Custom Parameter Selection Buttons in Tableau

Ollie Linley
Design, Tableau Dashboards, Tableau Parameters

If you're looking to turn your static Tableau dashboards into interactive powerhouses, buttons are a fantastic way to do that! In today's tutorial, we're diving into one of Tableau's most underutilised secrets: using buttons to control parameters. This isn't just about making dashboards look sleek (though they absolutely will), it's about creating an experience so intuitive that your users will actually want to explore your data.

How to Calculate Equivalent Comparison Dates in Tableau

Eric Parker
Tableau Dates

Do you need to use Tableau to compare values to an equivalent date from a prior year? For example, "How did sales from this Monday compare to the same Monday from last year?"

This is different than comparing to the exact same date from last year since the comparison is probably 364 days (52 weeks) ago. Additionally, this can be made complicated if there are any gaps in your data. For example, if your business doesn't record transactions on Saturdays, you can't simply use the LOOKUP function to go back 364 days because that would take you back too far. Additionally, if you apply a filter and "lose" days in your data set as a result, the LOOKUP approach will fail.

Stacked Bar Chart With Multiple Label Colors in Tableau

Ollie Linley
Design

Have you ever tried to manually change the label color for different segments of your stacked bar chart? It's really tricky! While Tableau has a default color which can be white, black, or white and black alternating, you can't dictate how that should be attributed, and it can't be edited individually.

Here's a fun workaround that lets you control every aspect of the labels in your stacked bar chart from color to size to anything else! We’ll use a dual axis chart (a Tableau workaround hero!), and a reversed axis.

How to Create Multi-Row Formulas in Tableau Prep (Difference From)

Eric Parker
Tableau Prep

One of the most powerful, underrated features in Tableau Prep is the Difference From or "Multi-Row Formula" function. It allows you to calculate the difference in values between rows of data. This is useful when you need to calculate the time elapsed between dates or the general difference in values (e.g. dollars, counts, temperatures) from one row to the next.

This kind of calculation is only available in Tableau Desktop with a Table Calculation which is limiting because Table Calculations can only execute against data that's present in a worksheet. Pre-calculating differences in the underlying data can be a game-changer!

If you're looking to harness the power of SQL's LOOKUP/PARTITION in Tableau Prep, look no further! Check out this video for a full breakdown.

Build 3 Time-Series KPI's in Tableau From Scratch

Ollie Linley
Design, Tableau KPIs

KPI's are a powerful way to draw our end-users' attention to specific key metrics. By adding in visual information in the form of bar charts, we're able to create a comparison of the current year with the previous year.

While there are numerous ways to show this kind of comparison, here are three easy and effective time-series KPI's that can add an element of visual flair to any dashboard! These bar charts are simple to create and use one or two nifty calculated fields to add the visual flair we’re looking for.

How to Build a Sales Funnel in Tableau

Eric Parker
Design, Tableau Dashboards

Want to learn how to build a sales funnel in Tableau? You've come to the right place! Most funnels are hard to interpret because they deal with size disproportion issues. The classic upside-down triangle visual likely isn't the best way for you to represent funnel data for your users.

We've built funnels for dozens of clients over the last decade and have distilled our learnings into this video! Check it out for tips on writing calculations, building a funnel visual, formatting effectively and compiling it all into a meaningful dashboard.

How to Build KPI Tiles in Tableau

Ollie Linley
Design, Tableau KPIs

KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are essential for any dashboard, helping you track performance at a glance and make data-driven decisions faster. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through how to build KPIs in Tableau, from setting up calculated fields to customizing visuals that make your data stand out.

Whether you’re designing a dashboard for executives or optimizing reports for daily tracking, well-designed KPIs can bring clarity and impact. Here’s how to do that in an engaging and eye-catching way!

How to Build Multi-Fact Relationship Data Models in Tableau

Eric Parker
Tableau Relationships, Data

One of the biggest areas of technical advancement in Tableau Desktop over the last several years is the ability to model complex data sources. Relationships first debuted in 2020 but were only usable for simple data models because you could only use a single fact table as a base table.

In 2024, Tableau updated the Relationship builder to allow for multiple-fact tables and shared dimension tables. This ability is invaluable in complex analyses that leverage numerous tables.

How to Ace Your Tableau Certification

Ollie Linley
Certification

Tableau’s Certifications aim at testing your theoretical and practical knowledge of Tableau through Multiple Choice Questions. The test is designed to give your CV the stamp it needs to show that you know how to use Tableau, and that you’re confident applying theory to reality.

However, many people feel overwhelmed when studying for these exams. Knowing where to focus your attention when trying to study “the whole of Tableau” is a daunting task!

How to Build a Dashboard on Tableau Public

Ollie Linley
Design, Tableau Public, Tableau Dashboards

If you want to use Tableau for free and don't need to ensure your data is perfectly private, you can use Tableau Public! This free-to-use option is perfect for Tableau newbies, testers, or people working for organizations where expensive Tableau licenses just aren't possible.

In this video, we'll see how to build a dashboard from scratch: from connecting to data, to building worksheets, to adding actions, and finally, to publishing it.

Overlay Custom Time Periods in a Tableau Line Graph

Eric Parker
Tableau Calculations, Tableau Dates

Comparing one time period to another is a common use case in Tableau. In our experience, one of the best ways to do that is to overlay one on top of the other. The question is, how do you do that dynamically for both a current and comparison period?

Check out this video for one of our favorite homegrown solutions where you create a custom date field and a custom value label which allows you to overlay two time periods for comparison!

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