Tableau Interview Questions and Answers

Q1 : Explain Tableau File Extensions
A : The below ones are few extensions in Tableau:
Tableau Workbook (.twb)
Tableau Data extract (.tde)
Tableau Datasource (.tds)
Tableau Packaged Datasource (.tdsx)
Tableau Bookmark (.tdm)
Tableau Map Source (.tms)
Tableau Packaged Workbook (.twbx) – zip file containing .twb and external files
Tableau Preferences (.tps)

Q2 : How to remove the All options from a Tableau auto – filter?
A : Right click filter>>customize>>uncheck show all option

Q3 : Max no of tables we can join in Tableau?
A : We can join max 32 table, it’s not possible to combine more than 32 tables.

Q4 : What is the difference between heat map and tree map?
A :A heat map is a great way to compare categories using color and size. In this, you can compare two different measures. Tree map is a very powerful visualization, particularly for illustrating hierarchical (tree – structured) data and part – to – whole relationships.

Q5 : What is Tableau Data Server?
A : Tableau server acts a middle man between Tableau users and the data. Tableau Data Server allows you to upload and share data extracts, preserve database connections, as well as reuse calculations and field metadata. This means any changes you make to the data-set, calculated fields, parameters, aliases, or definitions, can be saved and shared with others, allowing for a secure, centrally managed and standardized dataset. Additionally, you can leverage your server’s resources to run queries on extracts without having to first transfer them to your local machine.

Q6 : What are the differences between Tableau Software and Traditional BI tools?
A : Tableau provides easy to use, best in class, Visual Analytic capabilities, but it does not help with the plumbing (data foundation). You could, for example, marry SQL Server with Tableau to get the complete package. Tableau licenses are relatively expensive if you are looking to scale.
Traditional BI can handle it all but with significant upfront costs. Higher consulting, hardware and software costs. Among the mega-vendors, only Microsoft can provide a reasonable value proposition. Open source vendors like Pentaho and JasperSoft do not have an abundant enough talent pool, yet.

Q7 : How to add custom Color to Tableau?
A : Create Custom Color code in “Preferences.tps
Navigation ::: Documents » My Table Repository »Preferences.tps
Add custom color code
Note: In tableau 9.0 version we have color picker option..

Q8 : How many ways we use parameters in Tableau?
A : We can use parameters with filters, calculated fields ,actions, measure-swap, changing views and auto updates

Q9 : What makes Tableau software stand out?
A : In my view, Tableau stands out for several reasons:
First, most of the BI tools out there are pricey. However, Tableau has a free offering (Tableau Public) as well as a very popular (also free) academic distribution. Tableau is well recognized by firms like Forrester research to be one of the most easy to use, and agile products currently available. see here: Tableau Ranks #1 in The Forrester Wave: Advanced Data Visualization (ADV) Platforms That makes it easy to pick up and try new things with, which data visualization people love about it.
On the other hand, unlike some of the other BI tools, Tableau is not a complete technology stack, it is most useful for visualization and analytics. – you will need other products in addition to tableau for heavier enterprise data ETL, maintenance, and storage, etc.

Q10 : What Does TABLEAU do?
A : Our goal is to help people see and understand data. Our software products put the power of data into the hands of everyday people, allowing a broad population of business users to engage with their data, ask questions, solve problems and create value.

Q11 : What is parameter in Tableau ? And how it works?
A : Parameters are dynamic values that can replace constant values in calculations and can serve as filters.

Q12 : Define the names for parameters ,filters etc
A : Parameters are dynamic values that can replace constant values in calculations and can serve as filters.Filters are used to restrict the data based on the condition u have mentioned in the filters shelf.

Q13 : Is Parameter have it’s dropdown list?
A : Yes it may have its own drop down list, the entries which you make in the Parameter while creating it can be viewed as Dropdown list.

Q14 : What Tableau Desktop is?
A : Tableau Desktop is based on breakthrough technology from Stanford University that lets you drag & drop to analyze data. It is great data visualization tool, you can connect to data in a few clicks, then visualize and crate interactive dashboards with a few more

Q15 : What is Tableau Data Engine?
A : Tableau Data Engine is a really cool feature in Tableau. Its an analytical database designed to achieve instant query response, predictive performance, integrate seamlessly into existing data infrastructure and is not limited to load entire data sets into memory.
If you work with a large amount of data, it does takes some time to import, create indexes and sort data but after that everything speeds up. Tableau Data Engine is not really in-memory technology. The data is stored in disk after it is imported and the RAM is hardly utilized.

Q16 : Define story in Tableau?
A : Story can be defined as a sheet which is a collection of series of worksheets and dashboards conveying information. Story can be used to show the connection between facts and outcomes’ relations to decisions. Story can be published to web or can be presented to audience.

Q17 : What is Tableau Server?
A : Tableau Server is browser- and mobile-based insight anyone can use. Publish dashboards with Tableau Desktop and share them throughout your organization. It’s easy to set up and even easier to run.

Q18 : What is the Difference between quick filter and Normal filter in tableau?
A : Quick filter is used to view the filtering options and can be used to select the option. Normal filer is something you can limit the options from the list or use some conditions to limit the data by field or value.

Q19 : How does Tableau perform with huge datasets?
A : Tableau Performance is based on Data source performance. If data source takes more time to execute a query then Tableau must wait up to that time.

Q20 : Is Tableau Software good for a strategic acquisition?
A : Yes for sure! It gives you data insight to the extend that others don’t. Helps u plan and point the anomalies and improvise your process for betterment.

Q21 : How do we do testing in Tableau?
A : You can’t test in Tableau as far as I know. It is a data visualization software.

Q22 : What is blended axis?
A : Multiple Measures are shown in single axis and also all the marks shown in single pane
Drag a dimension in a column
Drag the first measure in column
Drag 2nd measure in existing axis
Us/multiplemeasures_blendedaxes.html

Q23 : What are Dimensions and Facts?
A : Dimensions is nothing but the descriptive text columns and facts are nothing but measures (numerical values) dimentionex:productname city..facts:sales, profit

Q24 : What is benefit of Tableau extract file over the live connection?
A : Extract can be used anywhere without any connection and you can build your own visualizations without connecting to Database.

Q25 : What are Filters? How many types of filters are there in Tableau?
A : Filter is nothing but it is restricted to unnecessary, it is showing exact data. Basically filters are 3 types.
Quick filter
Context filter
Datasource filter