Tableau – Terminology

August 13, 2022

Tableau is a very powerful tool used for creating visualization and this BI tool is often used by researchers, government organizations, other professionals, etc. Tableau uses some unique terminologies and definitions. Before starting thoroughly discussing Tableau, we should first discuss these terminologies and how and when these are used.

Follow are some terminologies that are often used in Tableau:-

1. Alias:- Alias is terminology used when we have an alternative name for any field or any dimension, or measure.

2. Bin:- It is user defined measure that is used while grouping the measure.

3. Calculated Field:- A calculated field is a new field that is created by the user by applying formulas, for either replacing the existing field or even creating a new field calculation.

4. Bookmark:- Bookmark is a document that is available in the .tbm bookmark’s envelope of the Tableau repository, which is only a single worksheet. It is used for upgrading the analysis of the workbook.

5. Dashboard:- A dashboard is a combination of different worksheets/views that is adjusted on a single page to convey information about the analysis. A dashboard is also used to compare the data of other different workbooks.

6. Crosstab:- To make a text table view we use crosstab. It shows the numbers situated with every dimension member.

7. Data pane:- It is situated on the left side of the worksheets. The data pane consists of all the dimensions, measures, groups, sets, and parameters. From the data pane, it is very easy to drag and drop the component into the workspace.

8. Data Source Page:- Data source is the page where all the joining and blending of the data is done. All the relationships of the files are situated on this particular page.

9. Dimension:- Dimensions hold the field that can not be aggregated. Dimension fields consist of all the categorical data such as hierarchy, name, state, etc.

10. Measures:- Measures hold all the fields which can be aggregated.

11. Filter Shelf:- The filter shelf is also present on the left side of the workbook. It is used to filter the data on the worksheet using dimensions and measures.

12. Extract:- Subset of the data source that can be used to improve the performance of the visualization. Extracted data can be made after limiting and filtering the data that we want to extract.

13. Format Pane:- Format panes are used for formatting the data present on the worksheet. The pane is present on the left side of the worksheet.

14. LOD(Level of details) Expression:- These expressions offer us in combining all the dimensions or any selected dimension on a view. Having LOB ( Level Of Detail Expression), it can attach multiple dimensions with an aggregate expression.

15. Marks Card:- These marks cards are present on the left side next to the worksheet. These are used for improving visual representation. Marks card consists of Text, Color, shape, size, detail, Shapes, etc.

16. Page shelf:- These shelves are situated on the left side of the workbook. it splits the view into a sequence of pages on the basis of values present in the continuous or discrete field.

17. Row Shelf:- Rows shelves are situated on the top of the worksheet. When a field is dropped on this shelf, Tableau will build axes for these measures and if the dimension is added then it will be headers for the same.

18. Column Shelf:- Column shelves are situated over the top of the row shelf. If any dimension is dragged to the column, different axes are created by Tableau.

19. Worksheet:- A workspace where we can create different visualization by dragging and dropping different dimensions & measures.

20. Workbook:- A workbook is a collection of all the worksheets , dashboards, and stories. This file has the extension of .twb.

Check out other useful Tableau charts below:

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Tableau Public to stay updated with our latest blog, Job Openings, Internships, and what’s new in Tableau.