Lessons Learned from Tableau Students

I was fortunate to be involved in the Next Level Tableau (NLT) training with Andy Kriebel this week and last. It's astounding how there is always something new I pick from up from students in classes.

Difference From Table Calcs

I never use the Difference from option when applying table calculations to a metric in Tableau. I learned the previous week that it starts with the current point and then goes back however long you specify. I thought it always skipped the current point.

Example: Moving Average Calc

So if you want to look at a moving average for the past 12 months, it will include the current month in that look back.

Right-Click Date Dimensions

It's a simple but time saving tip. If you right click on a Date field and drag it to your Columns shelf, it will pop up with Discrete or Continuous format options. Mind-blown, I have been doing this the "long way" for years with dragging it to the shelf and then clicking on the pill to select the Discrete or Continuous format. AKA - left-clicking this entire time!

Here is a video of my previous method and this tip;

Faster Selection with Measure Names / Measure Values

A student showed me this trick in my regular classes and not in NLT. Simply Drag Measure Names to the Filters shelf and check the box for the multiple measures you want to have in a worksheet. There are other steps involved in moving Measure Values to the Rows shelf and Measure Names to the Detail view modifier.

This method is much easier than dragging Measure Values directly to the Rows shelf and then removing all the extra Measures from the Measure Values marks card.

See the video below!