Tableau · Quick Reference

Lesson 4 — Data Types & Data Preparation Cheat Sheet

Tableau

In one line: Every field in Tableau has a data type that determines how it behaves in calculations and visualizations. Tableau automatically detects types when connecting to data, but you'll...

Key Ideas

1Data Types in Tableau. Every field in Tableau has a data type that determines how it behaves in calculations and visualizations. Tableau automatically detects types when connecting to data, ...

2Joins in Tableau. A join combines columns from two tables based on a matching key field. When you drag two tables to the canvas on the Data Source page, Tableau creates a join dialog. T...

3Unions — Combining Rows. While joins combine columns, a Union combines rows. Use a union when you have multiple tables with the same structure (same columns) but different periods or regions —...

4Relationships vs Joins vs Blending. Tableau offers three ways to combine data from multiple sources. Choosing the right one prevents data quality issues and unlocks the right analysis capabilities.

5Pivoting Data & Data Interpreter. Real-world data often comes in formats optimized for human reading, not machine analysis. Two tools help you reshape this data without leaving Tableau.