Data Visualization with Tableau - Novice to Pro!: 5-in-1

Name: Data Visualization with Tableau - Novice to Pro!: 5-in-1
Rating: 4.1 (145 reviews)

Master the art of creating insightful visualizations from complex data with this visually appealing tutorial!

Created byPackt Publishing

Last updated 8/2018

English

What you'll learn

Build and employ advanced calculations using Quick calcs, Table calcs, and Level of Detail.
Connect data with Tableau and understand the available data sources.
Create effective and compelling dashboards and story points.
Get to know tips and tricks to work more quickly and effectively in Tableau.
Create advanced charts increasing your capability to work with complex data in a quick and efficient way.
Leverage the blend and join features in Tableau 10 for creating powerful data sets.
Build basic charts taking the first steps in data analysis.
Create bar charts, pie charts, waterfall charts, bump charts, line graphs, boxplot and line graphs etc.
Develop calculated fields such as running sum, moving average, year on year growth etc. with conditional logic.

Course content

5 sections • 178 lectures • 20h 25m total length

The Course Overview6:58
This video will give you an overview about the course.
An Introduction to Tableau10:27
The aim of the video is to provide a short overview of the rationale for data visualizations in data analysis.
Explain the difference between Excel and Tableau
Summary statistics mask outliers and visualizations will help
Explain that there are four different products that Tableau offers
How to Install Tableau on Your Computer?3:13
In this video, we go through the process of installing the latest version of Tableau desktop.
Download the software
Install the software
Register the software
Tableau Help and Online Resources6:10
The aim of this video is to look at the variety of ways to get help online for your Tableau project.
Get help through the Tableau desktop help menu
Search the web in a smart way by using the right keywords
Check out links of several additional resources if you need help
Understand the Tableau User Interface8:28
Tableau is pretty intuitive but it's not without its quirks. In this video, we'll do a cursory but comprehensive examination of the user interface.
See what it looks like when you open Tableau
Connect to a sample visualization
Navigate within a visualization and learn about the undo feature
Exploring Tableau File Types2:30
In this video, we’ll learn about the different file types.
Learn about the default and that it doesn’t include the data
Understand what’s in a .twbx file
Learn about the other types of file types include the .tde extract file
Understanding Tableau`s Blue and Green Pills10:56
In this video we’ll differentiate between the blue and green pills. The blue pills are generally discrete and are dimensions. The green pills are measures.
Learn about dimensions and measures
Understand what you can do with green and blue pills
Understand what dimensions and measures are with respect to blue pills and green pills
Working with Data Sources9:36
In this video we’ll learn about the types of connections, how to connect to a basic Excel file, and understand the various parts of the data source user interface.
Review all of the connection types, including Excel
Connect to an Excel data source that is included in Tableau
Understand the different components of the data source page
Working with Extracts Instead of Live Connections5:23
Tableau’s default data connection is ‘live’. But in this video we’ll look at the best way to connect to data is to use an extract.
Explain the difference between a live and an extract
Learn about the advantages of using an extract
Get a feel for the user interface of the data source page of Tableau
Working with the Excel Data Interpreter6:33
In this video we’ll learn to use Tableau’s data interpreter to quickly address data quality issues from poorly formatted Excel spreadsheets.
Import data from Excel into Tableau
Use Tableau’s data interpreter to clean the data
Learn a couple of other tips beyond the data interpreter
Split Fields When Connecting to Data2:21
In this video we’ll use Tableau’s split field feature to get the data into the ideal format.
Learn about the split field feature in the data source pane
See an example of splitting a field
Learn about other uses for split fields
Pivot Your Data into the Ideal Format3:29
Tableau is ideally suited to consume data in specific formats. In this video we’ll learn how to get the data into the right format using the pivot data feature.
Understand the best way to express Excel datasets
Learn some of the ways to address different column structures
Learn how to pivot the data
Understanding Metadata and Data Source Connections2:16
In this video, we’ll look at the two important pieces of the data source section that needs to be addressed—metadata and data source connections
Understand how to access the metadata in Tableau’s data source
How to show hidden fields
Learn how to sort within the data preview pane
Filter from Your Data Source4:09
Filtering your data source is especially essential for large datasets. So in this video we’ll learn how to do it now so that when you are dealing with
Understand some of the reasons to filter your data source
Use the add filter link in the data source window
Learn how to edit filters after you have already added one
Tableau's Show Me Feature3:35
In this video, we’ll look at Tableau’s Show Me feature. It allows you to quickly do visualization as soon as you’ve loaded the data.
Move a few fields into the visualization space
Click the Show Me tab in the upper right hand corner
Select the type of visualization that you want to use
Crosstabs and Heat Maps8:12
In this video, we’ll look at crosstabs and heat maps which are the most essential visualization tools. Tableau allows virtually unlimited customizations of the crosstabs and heat maps.
Move data fields into rows, columns, and values
Select a crosstab
Develop a heat map and use the appropriate colors
Using Bar, Stacked Bar, and Side by Side Bar Charts5:35
In this video, we’ll look at bar charts. They are the easiest way to tell a story about the biggest and smallest categories of data.
Create a regular bar chart
Create a stacked bar chart and side by side chart
Learn whether to use a regular bar chart, a stacked bar chart, or a side by side chart
Pie Charts8:49
In this video, we’ll look at Pie charts. They are very popular and it’s easy for Tableau to use them. But the question is whether or not you should ever use pie charts.
Create a pie chart
See if you can express the data better with a bar chart
How to make a pie chart useful by sticking only with a two category comparison
Line and Area Charts4:43
In this video, we’ll look at line and area charts. They are the optimal methods for displaying data that is over time.
Create a line chart
Create an area chart
Decide whether to use a line or an area chart
Working with Packed Bubbles3:11
In this video, we’ll look at Packed bubble charts. They are a unique way to display data.
Set up the fields you need
Create a packed bubble chart
Ensure that the colors are correct and the data are correct
Using Tree Maps1:59
In this video, we’ll look at Tree maps. They show data in a more detailed way than pie charts. Word clouds are an easy way to illustrate a category’s intensity.
Set up the fields you need with the appropriate filters
Create a tree map
Create a word cloud using the tree map feature
Creating a Basic Scatter Plot6:19
In this video, we’ll look at Scatter plots. They are unique in this section as it uses disaggregated data as opposed to aggregations.
Set up the fields and notice the aggregation problem
Disaggregate the data to show a scatter plot
Display a simple trend line
Creating a Basic Map6:39
In this video, we’ll learn how to create a basic map in Tableau. We’ll be spending much more time on this in later sections.
Ensure that longitude is in a column and latitude is a row field. This will show a map
Make sure that there is a field assigned to either the detail or values
Adjust the color scheme to make it appropriate to the data you are displaying
Introduction to Calculations3:58
In this video, we’ll discuss the various types of calculations that Tableau uses in extending visualizations beyond using just the fields in your spreadsheet.
Develop an understanding of the different types calculations, including strings, Boolean, if-then, case, and date calculations
Learn about aggregations and its fundamental place in Tableau’s programming language and its connection to calculations
Find out why calculations are an essential part of even a basic understanding of how to do visualizations in Tableau
Understanding Basic Calculations5:50
The importance of calculations in Tableau cannot be underestimated. In this video we’ll work through some easier types of calculations to gain confidence is a great way to start using calculations.
Create a calculation that takes 10% off of a value in a measure
Make formatting changes after the basic calculation is written
See the place in the calculation window where you can see a description and format of a calculation
Understanding String Calculations6:29
In this video, we’ll look at String calculations. They are one of the special variants of coding in Tableau. We’ll delve into a few examples to help guide your work.
Example one is to illustrate how easy it is to split something like a first name, last name
Example two is to show how to parse numbers out of a field that has both text and numbers
Convert parsed numbers to a format that Tableau can interpret
Learn about boolean, if-then Calculations, and case Statements13:03
In this video, we’ll look at the most important type of calculation that is the boolean and if-then calculation.
Create a boolean calculation and interpret the results
Learn about if-then calculations and understand the constraints and requirements
Learn about case statements and understand the constraints and requirements
Date and Time Calculations11:48
Dealing with dates and times especially when the data aren’t organized for it is often a struggle. Tableau has done a great job with making it easier but there are still challenges. In this video, we’ll work through some examples to help you understand this.
Learn how Tableau handles date and time fields
See an example of how to convert non-dates into dates
Learn how to do date/time arithmetic
Understanding Aggregations and Disaggregations14:29
Tableau’s fundamental power is to automatically generate summary statistics through point and click. But because of its ease, we sometimes forget the powerful mechanism behind this. In this video we’ll dig into the guts and learn about.
See an illustration of aggregations and disaggregations
How to address errors in calculations because of mixed fields
Learn how attributes and dimensions behave
Using Calculations to Add Insight to Your Visualizations10:48
The whole reason to learn about calculations is to get the date into a format that you need to add insight to visualizations. In this video we’ll show what we learned in this section.
Assemble a visualization using existing fields
Create the calculation that you need to add the insight
Format and tweak the visualization into how you want it to look
Introduction to Mapping in Tableau10:02
In this video, we’ll look at mapping. It is a subset of visualization but is often split between those who are considered experts in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and others. Tableau changes that by allowing powerful tools for everyone who uses it.
Discuss Tableau’s native integration of spatial data
Learn some of the important geographic terminology needed to do maps in Tableau
Learn about some common map types and see some map examples in Tableau
Creating a Standard Map View10:02
The aim of this video is to create a Standard Map View. Unlike for things like bar charts, there are a couple of extra steps you need to do for even a standard map. It’s not difficult once you learn it.
Learn how to identify geographic roles
Assemble a standard map view using the steps described
Add other information to aid in insight
Dealing with Map Errors7:49
In this video, we’ll learn how to deal with errors in maps. In order to get accurate data, it’s imperative that you resolve errors that inevitably crop up in spatial data. Most of the time these are not typos but rather cases where there are identical names for multiple provinces or states.
Use the edit locations feature to resolve most errors
Make manual corrections to map errors using Wikipedia
Check to ensure map errors are correct
Customizing a Standard Map View10:20
Small formatting changes can have a large amount of impact in the look and feel of a map. In this video we’ll explore a few ways to do this.
Create a bar chart and make formatting changes on that chart
Learn what a tooltip is and how to format it
Use a new Tableau 10.5 feature to embed the bar graph into a tooltip
Using Filters in Maps12:15
You can use a map to filter bar chart in a dashboard. In this video, we’ll find out how to do this.
Create a bar chart based on sum of sales
Add the worksheets to a dashboard and format
Create the filters and test them to ensure that they work
What Are Dashboards and Stories?6:11
In this video, we will learn that the dashboard feature in Tableau is the core of the functionality. Also, we will learn what you can do in the dashboard window, the worksheet window, and the story window.
Understand what you can and cannot do in the dashboard section
What the limitations are with the story window
What you can do in each of the three types of visualizations
Understanding Dashboard Actions11:53
Dashboard actions make Tableau dashboards infinitely flexible. In this video, we will learn how to do dashboard actions.
Understand what dashboard actions are
Learn how to do dashboard actions
Test the actions to ensure that it works in the way that you expect
Basics of Dashboard Formatting8:58
In this video we’ll look at dashboard formatting. Because Tableau is so flexible, formatting features are amazing. But it also takes some effort to get things exactly right.
Learn how to add objects to the dashboard
Change the size and color of text in the dashboard
Make size adjustments to the dashboard
Understanding Workbook Level Formatting3:17
In this video we’ll look at workbook formatting. Some of the main formatting can be done at the workbook level instead of changing it in each worksheet.
Learn the types of formatting that you can do globally
Control the formatting globally
Learn the limitations to global formatting
Assembling Your Dashboards into a Story7:53
Story functionality allows you to attach several dashboards to one set of visualizations. In this video, we will learn how to use the feature.
Understand the various elements to the story user interface
Assemble the dashboards into a story
Learn about how to size dashboards to fit into a story
Focusing on the Narrative7:48
Because of Tableau’s power in doing visualizations you should be careful with how to design visualizations. We’ll discuss some ideas on how to focus on your narrative.
Define storytelling in the visualization context
Discuss best practices for telling great stories
See an example of how to focus on the narrative using a visualization
Using Color with Purpose9:09
Careful use of color will make any visualization much more effective.
Illustrate a classic example on contrasting colors
Explain why contrasting colors work
Show why having too many colors isn’t as good as contrasting colors
Tooltips for a Purpose5:41
Tooltips are a way to add lots of information to Tableau visualizations without adding clutter.
Learn about the features of a tooltip
Learn how to add fields to tooltips
Check the formatting of the tooltips
Using a Parameter to Focus the Audience’s Attention7:01
Parameters add a lot of features to visualizations. We’ll go through an example that illustrates a control chart.
Create the visualization using the steps outlined
Create calculations that define the lower and upper bound of the parameter lines
Format the visualizations to make it easy to identify points outside the lines
Removing Clutter in Your Dashboard6:31
Learning Tableau is the easy part. The harder part is to use the skills you’ve learned to make your visualization easier to read.
Create a cluttered visualization and learn some new skills
Then critique the visualization you just created
Fix the visualization you made by removing clutter online
Exporting Your Visualizations3:19
Most of the time you won’t be able to show off your visualization in Tableau itself. So we’ll learn how to export it.
Learn how to format the dashboard using the page setup feature.
Export the dashboard to a PDF
Export the data to an Excel spreadsheet
Test your knowledge

The Course Overview4:51
This video will give you an overview about the course.
What Is Data Visualization?3:56
The aim of this video is to learn about the techniques for data visualization.
Explore the basic concepts
Explore various chart forms
Get to know the advantages / benefits that accrue from appropriate visualization
Why Visualize Data?3:04
What is the significance of appropriate visualization?
Explore the role of data visualization in spotting patterns, unravelling trends, draw insights
Get to know advantages / benefits that accrue from appropriate visualization
Leading Data Visualization Tools2:48
Which are the market leading data visualization tools?
List the market data visualization tools
Explore in brief about Tableau, QlikView, FusionCharts, Plotly, D3.js etc.
Introduction to Tableau2:28
Why Tableau has gained the popularity that it has?
Know more about the varied data sources that Tableau can connect with.
Explore the varied chart/graph forms that is supported by Tableau
Explore Tableau’s product suite
Tableau Products Suite3:43
What are the few products from Tableau’s product suite.
Take a look at Tableau’s authoring tools such as Tableau Desktop and Tableau Public
Explore Tableau’s sharing tools such as Tableau Server and Tableau Online
Discuss briefly Tableau Reader
Tableau File Types6:00
The aim of this video is to learn the various file types supported by Tableau.
Differentiate between Tableau Workbook (.twb) and Tableau Packaged Workbook (.twbx)
Differentiate between Tableau Data Source (.tds) Tableau Packaged Data Source (.tdsx)
Explore briefly Tableau Data Extract (.tde)
Working on Excel Data9:57
The aim of this video is to learn to read in data from an Excel data source, understand the database, table, columns, and data types of columns, dimensions & measures.
Connect to excel data source
Explore the workspace of Tableau
Plot a simple visualization to display regions in descending order of sales
Connecting to a Text Data Source2:16
The aim of this video is to learn to connect to a text data source.
Read the data from the text file
View the metadata in metadata grid
Create a simple visualization to display the subjects with the average student scores
Handling R Data3:46
The aim of this video is to Read in data from .RData file.
Port the data from a R data frame to .RData file
Read the data from .RData file into Tableau
Take a look at an example determining the flower species with the longest petal and sepal length
Connecting to MS Access Database3:54
The aim of this video is to Read in data from MS Access database.
Connect to MS Access DB and explore the flower dataset
Check the metadata
Use an example to demo the database connection
Creating a Pie Chart7:27
The aim of this video is to determine the percent distribution using a Pie chart.
Choose the mark type as “Pie”
Use “Sales” to provide the size of the pie slices and “Profit” to provide the angle.
Use the table calculation, “Percent of Total”
Creating a Bar Chart7:02
The aim of this video is to demonstrate the distribution of sales by ship mode for each segment using a Bar chart.
Create a stacked bar using “Ship Mode” on “Color”
Compute the aggregated sales across ship modes to display the total
Add interactivity by using filters on “Segment” and “Region”
Creating a Line Graph5:12
With this video, learn to determine the trend of “Sales” and “Profit” across “Months” using a Line graph.
Use measures in Tableau worksheet
Use the time dimension, date value – month of “Order Date”
Forecast forward for the next 13 months
Discovering Scatter Plot6:41
The aim of this video is to determine the relationship between “Sales” and “Profit” by “Category” and “Sub-Category” using a Scatterplot.
Create a scatter plot using measures “Sales” and “Profit”
Use a hierarchy of “Category” and “Sub-Category”
Collate data adding more details
Handling Filter Data9:24
Filter the records of cities in the visualization based on some condition.
Plot the visualization
In the demonstration, apply filter conditions using general, wildcard, condition, and top
Discovering Context Filter10:24
The aim of this video is to learn how to discover context filter.
Explore the need for context filter
Plot the visualization
Apply the context filter
Implementing Sorting4:15
The aim of this video is to implement ascending, descending, manual of data.
Plot the visualization
Get a detailed knowledge on Sorting with the help of a demonstration
Nested Sort6:14
The aim of this video is to learn about nested sort in tableau.
Get a detailed knowledge on nested sort
Sort on the combined field with the help of a demonstration
Understanding Grouping of Data8:39
The aim of this video is to display a hierarchy in the visualization of data.
Create groups of sub-categories of products in the demonstration
Plot the visualization with user defined hierarchy on the rows self
Manipulating Sets10:28
The aim of this video is to learn about manipulating sets in Tableau.
Explore more on sets
Create a set consisting of top 10 customers by profit, sales in the demo
Perform set operations such as union, intersect, and minus
Creating Parameters6:21
The aim of this video is to learn how to create a parameter.
Understand parameters
Use the parameter in the set defined on the dimension, customer name
Show the parameter control for the user to input the number
Discrete and Continuous14:49
The aim of this videos is to learn more about working with dates.
Explore date data type
Discuss about dimensions, measures, discrete, and continuous
Discuss about date parts and values with respect to dates
Percent of Total7:19
The aim of this video is to learn about table calculations and performing percent distribution.
Explore more about Table Calculations
Learn about Percentage Distribution
Perform a Demo implementing these parameters
Running Total Calculations8:36
The aim of this video is to learn more about the “Running sum”.
Learn more about Running Total
Compute the running sum of sales by region using a Demo
Apply the table calculation, “Running Total” to the measure, Sales
Computing “Rank”5:21
The aim of this video is to compute rank for sub-categories of products arranged in descending order.
Use the dimension –Sub-Categories on the Rows shelf
Apply the table calculation, “Rank” to the measure
Moving Average6:36
The aim of this video is to compute the moving average using the sales of the previous two months.
Use the dimension – order date on the columns shelf
Use the measure sales on the rows shelf
Apply the table calculation, “Moving average” to the measure sales
Computing “Year on Year Growth”6:47
The aim of this video is to compute the year on year growth using the measure, “Sales”.
Use the dimension – Order Date on the Columns shelf
Use the measure Sales on the Rows shelf
Apply the table calculation, “Percent Difference From” to the measure Sales
Combination Chart5:44
The aim of this video is to learn about Combined Axis Chart using an example.
Determine how “Profit” fares against “Sales” across months
Work with two separate measures placed on the same axis
Highlight the bars as per the respective measures
Dual Axis Chart2:29
The aim of this video is to learn about Dual Axis Chart using an example.
Change the chart type for the first measure to Bar and for the second measure to Line
Work with two measures placed on two different axis
Synchronize the secondary axis with the primary axis
Heat Map5:48
The aim of this video is to learn about Heat Map using an example.
Explore more about a Heat Map and how it is created
Explore the advantages
Plot a Heat Map in Tableau
Tree Map4:41
The aim of this video is to learn about Tree Map using an example.
Explore more about a Tree Map and how it is created
Explore the advantages
Plot a tree map
Box Plot7:28
The aim of this video is to learn about Box Plot using an example.
Get to know the Facts and history of a Box Plot
Explore the advantages
Plot a Box Plot in Tableau
KPI Chart4:47
The aim of this video is to learn about KPI Chart using an example.
Get familiar with what a KPI means
Explore the advantages
Plot a KPI Chart in Tableau
Waterfall Chart4:25
The aim of this video is to learn about Waterfall Chart using an example.
Explore more about a Waterfall Chart and where it is used
Plot a waterfall visualization using dimension – “Sub-Category” and measure – “Profit”
Compute the “Row Grand Total”.
Bump Chart3:59
The aim of this video is to learn about Bump Chart using an example.
Get familiar with the various uses of a Bump Chart
Get to know how it is created
Plot a Bump Chart
Level of Details (LOD)18:53
The aim of this video is to learn about LOD (Level of Detail) using examples.
Learn in detail about the LOD syntax
Create calculated fields using LOD expressions
Linear Regression13:19
Predict the distance (dist) by establishing a statistically significant linear relationship with the predictor variable (speed).
Explore the four built-in functions
Learn the difference between Correlation and Regression
Connect to Rserve instance from Tableau
Performing “Market Basket Analysis” in Tableau12:32
The aim of this video is to learn about the Market basket analysis.
Explore the concept
Plot a graph to visually display the sub-categories of products that are most frequently bought together
Plot a graph that allows to select a sub-category and lists the other sub-categories purchased alongside it in descending order of their frequencies
K-means Clustering11:49
Cluster the records from the “Iris” flower dataset into three clusters.
Connect to Rserve instance from Tableau
Use the function to invoke the R function, “kmeans”
Plot a graph to visually present the three clusters
Building an Interactive Dashboard20:21
The aim of this video is to create an interactive dashboard.
Create or identify views or worksheets to place on the dashboard
Create a dashboard
Add interactivity to the dashboard using dashboard actions
Best Practices for Effective Dashboards4:33
Enumerate best practices for effective dashboards.
Know your purpose and audience leveraging the most viewed spot
Author at your final display size
Learn how to Choose appropriate charts/graphs and add interactivity to encourage exploration

The Course Overview3:22
This video provides an overview of the entire course.
It's All about the Data12:09
Sometimes data isn't quite perfect or machine-readable for Tableau use.
First connect to a dataset and begin looking around
Light formatting tips
More formatting tips to get the data in better shape
Filtering at All Levels14:26
Getting the right data can be both a functional problem and a performance problem. This video is designed to break down many places Tableau allows users to filter.
Connect data
Demonstrate filters on the data connect screen
Demonstrate the remaining filtering options and how these impact the visualizations
Combining Data14:37
Many times, data isn't just in one place. Not all data is in one table. Tableau helps us with this by joining and blending. This video covers joining data, which up until 10 meant data in the same data.
Establish main connect
Look at joining data and how it impacts adding rows/columns
Cross-database joins extend this capability further, but allowing data to be on different platforms like SQL Server joins to Excel for example
Blending Data13:54
Combining data is an excellent ability of Tableau. There is a real need to combine data that exists on any platform. Blending can help with this. With this video, learn how to blend data.
Connect to the main data source
Blending with a secondary data source of a different platform
Use data scaffolding to get around the limitations of blending, but still have the power to blend
Stacking That Data12:48
Adding in new rows to data is a common task, but in previous versions of Tableau… not so easy. 9.3 added the union and 10.0 enhanced it with wildcard usage. In this video, learn the techniques to stack data.
Connect to the main data source
Explore pivoting and unpivoting to better line up data that is tipped on its side
Explore the three unique abilities that Tableau allows with Excel to add data from individual workbooks, sheets, or even subtables
Completing the Picture12:58
In very rare cases, Tableau's default behavior doesn't give us the ability to present the information as easily as we would like. In this video, learn about Data Densification which is an internal feature to Tableau that can help fill in the gaps.
Connect the main data source
Demonstrate domain padding and how it can help
Demonstrate domain completion
To Extract or Not to Extract?14:19
Sometimes performance is slow for a Tableau dashboard. Use extracts to help this out. The aim of this video is to learn how to do them.
Connect to the main data source
Describe what an extract is and how to use it
Describe when to best leverage an extract versus a live connection
Future-Proofing the Data10:49
A common pitfall is not leveraging shared data sources in a way the keeps them scalable as time goes on. This video addresses this concept by offering ways to compress the information as much as possible.
Connect to the main data source
Discuss the benefits of shared data connections
Describe how to build one as an example using a SQL View and SQL server
Sharing is Caring6:10
So now we have created an awesome dataset. How do we make it available, searchable and useful for others in our company? This video addresses making shared data connections available, with metadata.
Connect to the main data source
Create, extract, and clean up fields
Publish primary changes to the shared data connection
Content for the Consumers5:26
Now that we have created extracts and understand the concepts of shared data connections, where do we put them? This video covers organizing Tableau Server to best leverage shared data connections for your company.
Connect to Tableau Server
Describe metadata about the published shared data connections
Demonstrate how to organize the folder content to best leverage shared data connections
The Four Pill Types11:14
Why won't my chart display the way I want? Why isn't Tableau doing what it should? The four pill types drive the answers to the questions and are foundational to expertise with Tableau desktop. Get to know more with this video.
Connect to the main data source
Describe the key difference between dimensions and measures
Describe the key differences between (blue) discrete and (green) continuous marks
Chart Types That Work10:31
With all the chart options available, which do we choose? This video helps to clarify what chart types to use and when.
Connect to the main data source
See several examples of charts and describe when to use them
Show the remaining charts, roughly 12 in total, to complete the most effective options to convey and display information
Controlling the Canvas9:51
Sometimes, Tableau's defaults are bit restrictive and seemingly won't allow us to do just what we want. Expanding on the four main pill types further, create your own solutions to whatever you wish to build in Tableau.
Connect to the main data source
Demonstrate typical examples of struggles
See solutions to these cases as well as understand the "how" of using these techniques over and over
Being Creative with Color7:04
Color is a powerful tool we have as Tableau report/dashboard developers. With this power, it is easy to get carried away and misuse, overload, and confuse the audience. This video looks at these concepts.
Connect to the main data source
Demonstrate problem dashboards and discuss why they aren't as effective as they could be
Change the charts to be much more simple and to the point using concepts that are crucial to our pre-attentive skills
Being a Minimalist10:09
Often times, dashboards can be overwhelming for consumers. With all the different chart types and data, tendencies quickly drift toward overloading the audience. The video shows several ways to format and scale down, putting the data first.
Connect to the main data source
Demonstrate cluttered dashboards and how to fix them
See several formatting tips to reduce, declutter, and simplify dashboards to focus the audience's attention
Getting Analytical9:25
This video aims to present context and a deeper understanding of data through Tableau's Analytics pane and three main tools: trend lines, references lines, and forecasting.
Connect to the main data source
Demonstrate the analytic pane and how to use trend lines and reference lines
Demonstrate the forecasting capabilities in Tableau Desktop
Clustering7:40
Clustering allows dynamic grouping of data based on k-means statistical clusters. It offers a statistical solution to several scenarios.
Connect to the main data source
Explore what clustering is and how it can help
Demonstrate the new Tableau 10 clustering capability in Tableau and how to use it
Custom Territories6:55
Being able to assign geographic regions is valuable in several cases; Tableau's new Custom Territories feature looks to address just that.
Connect to the Main Data Set
Demonstrate the need for geographic territory support
Demonstrate Tableau's Custom Territory feature
At the Ready Quick Calcs8:50
Quick Calculations address common business scenarios with data like looking for running total, year over year, month over month, and YTDs. This video demonstrates some of them and how they can be used in just a few clicks.
Connect to the main data source
Learn with a demonstration how to use quick calculations
Take a look at how to extend data quick calculations and answer questions further
Table Calcs10:22
Much like quick calcs, table calcs extend capabilities and functionalities of the data. This video will help you understand table calcs and how many deeper questions and problems can be solved.
Connect to the main data source
Implement non-modal calculations, which are new to Tableau 10
Take a look at a few table calcs as well as windows functions
LODs of Fun9:31
Level-of-detail calculations allow us to calculate data that isn't even used on the screen. This video will let you learn these calculations.
Connect to the main data source
Learn the basics of Level of detail
Explore a few examples and uses for Level of Detail calculations
Leveling Up with Advanced LODs9:46
Presenting data in terms of context provides a far more effective visualization. In this video, with level-of-detail calcs we can present the concept of "proportional brushing" as well providing a more detailed example of market basket analysis.
Connect to the main data source
Describe and present how to create proportional brushing
Describe and present market basket analysis
The Accidental Action11:19
Many times, Tableau developers create vizs that are meant to be explored and interacted with outside of the more obvious filters/parameters. This video demonstrates an action that lets people stumble across interactivity, by highlighting the points.
Connect to the main data source
Demonstrate the highlight action
Demonstrate the new Tableau 10 highlighter feature
Vizs That Play Together7:44
One viz may not be enough to present information in the context that we would like. With this video, learn how to use actions to interact between individual vizs on a dashboard.
Connect to the main data source
Demonstrate action filters
Take a look at other practical uses of actions
It's Starting to Feel like an App10:32
With all the power and insight at our fingertips, how do we organize it? This video looks at examples for leveraging complete dashboards together, making the experience far more integrated.
Connect to the main data source
Demonstrate planning for question paths to determine what dashboards will be needed
Demonstrate linking the dashboards using actions for a better experience that allows the audience paths into any of the supporting details
Handing Out Interactivity7:00
How can I make interactivity obvious to my end user? This video offers usage tips and tricks for drop-down menus and other filtering using quick filters and parameters.
Connect to the main data source
Implement a quick filter understanding the scope of its execution
Demonstrate different formatting (usage) options for quick filters
Dynamic Actions with Parameters7:16
The aim of this video is to learn more about Parameters that allow us to link our data with a custom array of strings, integers, dates, and so on.
We explore some additional options to customize our Tableau experience
Demonstrate the Top x filter in Tableau
Demonstrate a sort column and usage with a parameter
Swapping in the Flow8:08
Wouldn't it be great to give our audience the ability to pick the measures and create the viz themselves? This video demonstrates not only how to swap out fields but also complete worksheets.
Connect to the main data source
Demonstrate field swapping using parameters
Demonstrate sheet swapping using parameters
Dynamic Containers10:58
This video looks at organizing the content and leverage dashboard canvas space, even if it isn't visible.
Connect to the main data source
Demonstrate Containers in Tableau's Dashboard Screen
Take a look at Customer container usage
Content Push7:37
Tableau lets us add views to dashboards wherever we can organize better? This video will help you learn a design technique that helps with navigation on button click.
Connect to main data source
Demonstrate containers
Explore advanced use of containers to show/hide a view that slides the main views into the display
Designing for Mobile6:54
When dashboards are built, the display on mobile devices can get messy. In this video, learn Tableau 10's new "DSD" or Device Specific Dashboards feature that can help.
Connect to the main data source
Look at device preview options
Custom the layout of a dashboard for mobile
Wrapping Up5:53
With this video, get to know where to head next to get great content and continue to learn and grow with Tableau.
Overview of the course
References to Packt material and other great online content

The Course Overview5:30
This video provides an overview of the entire course.
Using the Data Interpreter and Pivot5:19
The aim of this video is to prepare data using an interpreter and pivot.
Connect Tableau to the Excel file
Clean the file with Data interpreter
Pivot the fields and set filters
Using schema.ini to Resolve Data Type Issues4:44
The aim of this video is to create a data file with fixed width lengths.
Save the file as schema.ini
Connect Tableau to the file
Explore the limitations of schema.ini
Pivoting Columns3:24
The aim of this video is to prepare a data set on the population of people.
Make selections on the downloaded file
Connect the text file as a new data source
Pivot the age group column
Using Union4:06
The aim of this video is to combine comma separated values to a new dataset.
Download the CSV version of all the files
Add the files to a union window
Append the data using the union operator
Using Join7:03
The aim of this video is to combine fields of two separate Excel worksheets into one.
Add both files to a data connection window
Link both files using Join
Learn how it works
Using Blend8:06
The aim of this video is to combine a text file with an excel file.
Add the txt file as a data source
Switch the data source to excel file
Take a look at some examples and know how it works
Creating a Bar Chart7:17
The aim of this video is to show the data using a bar chart.
Connect to the data source
Drag the data to rows and columns
Sort in descending order with different colors
Creating a Stacked Bar Chart6:13
The aim of this video is to show the data using Stacked bar chart.
Open the Stacked bar worksheet In tableau
Drop a discrete field on to a formatting card
Create color partitions using Genre
Creating a Line Chart5:13
The aim of this video is to demonstrate a line series graph.
Connect the master table to data source
Drag the data of Began and the number of records to rows and columns
Annotate your marks
Creating a Scatter Plot6:14
The aim of this video is to determine the correlation between earnings and value of endorsements of a player using scatter plot.
Connect to the data source
Add dimensions in the Marks card
Use the data highlighter feature
Creating a Heat Map4:59
The aim of this video is to showcase the data of floods using a heat map.
Identify the dimensions and place them into rows and Columns
Use the feature for a finite color to be used in the grid
Annotate and Mark the column with the darkest color to distinguish between the data
Creating a Text Table (Crosstab)5:42
The aim of this video is to display a data of the top 20 movies using a text table.
Set the number format
Identify the dimensions and place them into rows and Columns
Add the Audience Score percentage and Profitability to the text table
Creating a Highlight Table3:04
The aim of this video is to create a highlighted text table displaying the data of a film's worldwide gross amount.
Create a text table
Drag the data to Color in the Marks card
Edit the title by choosing a color for the text to display the data
Creating an Area Chart4:17
The aim of this video is to create an area chart to display the results of restaurants re-inspection.
Connect to the data source
Select the dimension and place them on rows and columns
Filter the data by discrete year
Creating a Pie Chart4:52
The aim of this video is to create a pie chart on the data of top 5 endorsements.
Connect to the data source
Drag a measure to the angle
Perform Quick table calculation
Creating a Bubble Chart5:12
The aim of this video is to create a bubble chart displaying the data of countries with highest populations.
Set the mark type to circle with the respective dimensions in rows and columns
Format the number pane keeping the units in Million
Sort the data in ascending order
Creating a Word Cloud4:25
The aim of this video is to create a word cloud displaying the data of most popular baby names.
Connect to the data source
Distinguish the Gender of the babies with the two different colors
Use the data highlighter feature in Tableau 10
Creating a Tree Map3:57
The aim of this video is to represent 2015 world population data using a tree map.
Place the dimensions into Rows and Columns
Distinguish the Population and region using different colors
Adjust the Label appearance to modify the Style of the text
Creating a Histogram5:31
The aim of this video is to create a histogram to visualize the data of heights and weights of players.
Create bins for height and weight
Set correct dimensions to rows and columns
Annotate and mark the players according to the highest marks
Creating a Small Multiple Chart4:04
The aim of this video is to create a small multiple chart showing the world population data.
Set additional dimensions to rows and columns
Manually drag Income group headers to order the values
Customize the formatting of the chart
Creating a Shared-Axis Chart4:29
The aim of this video is to view the data of NBA players using a shared-axis chart.
Drag another measure to an existing measure's axis
Add multiple dimensions to rows and columns
Explore the uses of shared axis chart
Creating a Combo Chart (Dual Axis Chart)5:26
The aim of this video is to create a dual-axis chart.
Set the correct dimensions in the Filters tab
Create a horizontal-axis view of the data
Create two axes opposite to each other
Creating a Bullet Chart5:19
The aim of this video is to create a bullet chart.
Add a calculated field for Players
Format the bar chart by adding colors and adjusting the row/ column size
Explore some reference topics
Creating a Bar in Bar Chart4:33
The aim of this video is to compare the field goals attempted by players using a bar in bar chart.
Set the correct dimensions to Rows and Columns
Create calculated fields to view the data
Take a look at its uses
Creating a Donut Chart5:37
The aim of this video is to create a donut chart shows the breakdown of Hollywood's top movies from 2007-2011 by genre.
Create a regular pie chart and force an axis on the pie chart
Create a dual-axis chart and then make one of the pies smaller
Remove the slices from the smaller pie and add a label to it
Creating a Unit Chart5:30
Other charts may be more effective and less cluttered. But we have unit charts engaging because of the images and visuals used.
Add the calculated fields to Rows and Columns
Choose colors for the data resembling the medals
Change the mark type to circle for each discrete unit to be represented as a circle mark
Creating a Box and Whisker Chart4:03
The aim of this video is to create a box and whisker plot.
Select the desired plot from the "Show Me" tab
Set the correct Dimensions
Display the scatter from the plot
Creating a Sparkline with Indicators6:36
The aim of this video is to create a Sparkline with additional indicators at the line end.
Set the correct dimensions and filter the data
Select the years and Top 15 records
Hold the average score with the calculated field
Creating a KPI Text Table5:23
The aim of this video is to show the top 10 New York restaurant cuisines based on their average inspection scores from 2012-2016 in a text table with KPIs.
Create calculated fields that will determine the grades for the cuisines
Set the grade criteria such that if the value falls within a certain range, the If statement returns a special character
Create a text field and include previously calculated grades formatted in different colors.
Creating a Waterfall Chart4:15
The aim of this video is to show the cumulative changes in profit using a waterfall chart.
Create a calculated field for negative profit
Change the mark type
Set the newly created Profit/Loss calculated field to the Marks card
Creating a Population Pyramid4:49
The aim of this video is to create a population pyramid for a given period.
Reverse the axis of the bar chart for males and females
Create calculated fields and add them to rows and columns
Explore articles on the types of population pyramids

The Course Overview5:37
This video provides an overview of the entire course.
Creating a Motion Chart4:13
The aim of this video is to create an animated chart that shows the graph of change in population over years.
Set the correct dimensions and measures to rows, columns, and marks card
Set the mark and trial histories
Click on the forward arrow to play the graph
Creating a Dynamic Column/Row Trellis Chart4:47
The aim of this video is to create a parameter to adjust the rows and columns.
Calculate the data of population in percentage and create a parameter
Set the colors to differentiate between the data
Test the parameter
Creating a Top/Bottom N Filter4:03
The aim of this video is to create a bar chart to view the top or bottom data.
Create a parameter for Top and Bottom
Add some calculation to the fields and place them in Rows and Columns
Test the parameter
Comparing One to Everything Else4:59
It is not uncommon to want to compare one item against all other items in a chart.
Use the worksheet called Compare one against everything else
Create calculated fields
Compare the data with the other records
Dynamically Displaying Dimensions2:12
The aim of this video is to display different dimensions.
Show the parameter control for Dimension to display
Include the formulated dimensions field to Rows and Columns
Test the parameter
Dynamically Displaying and Sorting Measures3:25
The aim of this video is to sort the data based on user selection.
Connect to the data source
Create a parameter to sort the direction
Sort measures based on the selection
Creating a Filter Action10:50
The aim of this video is to create a filter action to all other sheets in the dashboard.
Create a dashboard
Insert data to the worksheet
Format the sheet using colors to differentiate between data
Creating a Highlight Action5:29
When you look at data, you would obviously like the required data to be highlighted so it is easier to work with it.
Create a new sheet, dashboard and story point
Modify the dashboard using the different settings
Add highlight and test the dashboard
Creating a URL Action5:54
If you need extra information besides that on the dashboard, you would require web access directly from your dashboard. This video will enable you to do that.
Create a new dashboard and modify it
Add URL action and different URL’s
Test the dashboard
Creating an Infographic-Like Dashboard5:44
Visual content is always more effective than written content. Hence Tableau provides elements to add visualization to the dashboard.
Create a new dashboard and change settings
Add floating objects, URL action
Test the dashboard to view your result
Creating Story Points5:03
If one wants to keep a lot of topics in mind, it is beneficial if we have something which will arrange topics in a sequence. Story points in Tableau do that for us.
Create a new story point, format it and modify it
Add new points and edit them
View result in presentation mode
Adding Data Layers to the Default Map3:46
Map layers help in adding information on the map. We will add the layers to make our map more informative.
Select state/province and get the latitude and longitude
Add shapes along with modifying them and go to Map layers and edit them
Creating Custom Territories5:42
When there are similarities between two or more regions, Tableau can be used to mark them with the same colour, thus creating custom territories.
Select all the marks in the map to be included
Create the territory using the paper clip
Working with Web Map Service (WMS)3:15
Another alternative for changing the look of maps is WMS. This video will enable you to do that.
Connect to a Web Map Service (WMS)
Add URL to Tableau
Using Path to Display Movement on a Map7:12
Visualizing movement in maps is made easy by Tableau using lines.
Represent the teams with the team logo
Draw lines between teams one moved from and to
Importing Custom Geocoding4:06
Locations that are unrecognizable in Tableau could be visualized by importing your location information into Tableau.
Place the latitude and longitude related to that location on Rows and Columns
Add to database by importing geocode values
Using a Custom Image Background5:13
We can use a custom background in tableau to enrich the user interface.
Load a background image and identify fields in data source
Mark X and Y values and record them into Excel file
Adding a Constant Line3:57
To show a constant value on the graph, we can add constant line.
Drag the Constant Line option from the Analytics pane
Edit the Constant Line
Adding a Trend Line4:34
Trend lines are typically added to charts to visualize general patterns or movement. Let’s learn how to do that in this video.
Select a trend line depending on requirement
Edit or remove trend lines
Using a Reference Line4:34
When you need to measure values comparatively, you will require adding reference line.
Add reference line
Edit and modify reference line
Adding a Reference Band2:58
Similar to reference line, reference bands are used to point areas with similar points.
Add reference band
Modify and edit reference band
Performing Cluster Analysis2:48
It will be easier to perform operations if similar points or objects are together. This function is called clustering.
Add clusters into your view
Specify number of clusters and variables
Edit and describe the cluster and also look at the summary for information on the cluster
Visualizing Forecast2:42
We can forecast data on the basis of previous trends. This video will help you to visualize forecast using Tableau 10.
Add forecast and describe it
Study the summary of the model
Performing Linear Regression with R6:08
To find the best fit straight line in the scatterplot, you need to perform linear regression. Let’s look at how to do that in this video.
Add R code and modify it accordingly
Add functions to the R code
Execute R code

Requirements

Familiarity with previous versions of Tableau would be helpful.

Description

Tableau is one of the fastest evolving Business Intelligence (BI) and data visualization tools. Data Visualization with Tableau helps your insights come compellingly alive and communicates complex ideas simply. Expressive visualization enables you to get beyond static charts to create multi-faceted views of data and explore every dimension. The rise of big data and the growing public awareness of its power has made this the moment for data visualization. Data visualization is changing the way the world looks at data.

Tableau is perfect for developing creative and powerful data visualizations for any business. It offers professionals looking to spot trends, outliers, and patterns an insightful, data-driven business focus that truly separates the signal from the noise.

This comprehensive 5-in-1 course is a step-by-step guide to Tableau dashboard development. Each part of this course focuses on key functionality of Tableau to enable you to become familiar with Tableau and learn advanced concepts to build dynamic and functional dashboards. Create informative, visually-appealing dashboards and perform efficient analytics in Tableau. Build easy to follow demonstrations discussing the pros and cons of each chart form. Animate your visualizations with the latest features in Tableau 10, with the help of this visually appealing guide.

Contents and Overview

This training program includes 5 complete courses, carefully chosen to give you the most comprehensive training possible.

The first course, Learning Tableau 10.x, covers new insights hidden in your data by building incredible dashboards and great visualizations with Tableau 10.5. In this course, you’ll be introduced to Tableau and understand the different versions of the software including Tableau Desktop, Tableau Desktop Professional, Tableau Public, Tableau Online, and Tableau Server. Learn about other topics such as table calculations, parameters, filters, user-defined calculations, (variables). Next, you’ll see how to use dashboard actions to create interactivity between dashboard components and how to “drill-down” into more dashboards containing additional detail for specific data elements.

By the end of the course, you’ll be adept with the knowledge to create great visualizations with Tableau for your day-to-day business needs.

The second course, Data Visualization with Tableau, covers how to visualize your Data using Tableau. This course gives an overview of the fundamentals, from normal computations to implementations of various concepts such as Integrating Tableau with R, advanced graphs, and formatting visualizations. These techniques include the creative use of different types of calculation such as row-level, aggregate-level, and more. You will discover how almost any data visualization challenge can be met in Tableau by a proper understanding of the tool's inner workings and creatively exploring its possibilities.

By the end of the course you will be equipped for success as a Data Analyst: you will be able to create effective dashboards and data visualization solutions using Tableau.

The third course, Mastering Tableau 10, covers mastering the art of creating insightful visualizations from complex data. This course walks you through the fundamentals of Tableau, helping you hone your skills and master core volumes such as Working with Data in Tableau. The video will provide viewers with high-quality practical content explaining how to master advanced calculations, dashboards, and visualizations with Tableau. It will teach experienced users how to answer complex queries they've been wrestling with, while also introducing them to tricks they never knew were possible.

Lastly, Advanced Interactivity brings it all together by demonstrating many ways in which users can interact with information at their fingertips.

The fourth course, Tableau 10 Business Intelligence Solutions - Volume 1, covers creating powerful, effective visualizations to help analyze your data with Tableau 10. This video series provides easy-to-follow examples to get you up-and-running with Tableau 10 and covers basic–to-advanced use cases and scenarios. You will start by preparing data using different strategies and move on to build basic charts and then more complex charts by incorporating different Tableau features and interactivity components.

By the end of this highly intuitive and practical video, you'll have gained the confidence and competence to analyze data more efficiently and effectively, by creating compelling interactive data and charts in Tableau

The fifth course, Tableau 10 Business Intelligence Solutions - Volume 2, covers powerful effective BI solutions. Following on from Volume 1, this volume focuses on the more advanced offerings of Tableau in terms of dash boarding and analytics. You will see how you can leverage these features to make better sense of your data. You’ll understand how Tableau interacts with your data, and be able to create stunning dashboards and story points in Tableau for effective storytelling.

By the end of this highly intuitive and practical video, you'll have gained the confidence and competence to analyze your data more efficiently and effectively by creating compelling dashboards and storyboards in Tableau, and you’ll be able to use them to effectively communicate your business insights.

By the end of the course, you’ll master the art of creating insightful visualizations from complex data with this visually appealing tutorial!

About the Authors

Govind Acharya is a Principal Analyst at the University of California, Davis Budget, and the Institutional Analysis office. He has over a decade of experience in visual analytics in academic, for-profit, and non-profit business environments. He is an economist by training for a PhD at Cornell University. Besides spending almost a decade mashing data in Tableau, he loves to spend hours cycling the roads of Northern California and thinking about new ways to explain data through pretty pictures.
Seema Acharya is Senior Lead Principal with the Education, Training and Assessment Department of Infosys Limited. She is an educator by choice and vocation and has rich experience in both Academia and the software industry. Her areas of interest and expertise are centered on Business Intelligence, Big data and Analytics, and technologies such as data warehousing, data mining, data analytics, text mining, and data visualization. She has authored the following books:
-Fundamentals of Business Analytics, ISBN: 978-81-265-3203-2, publisher – Wiley India.
-Big Data and Analytics, ISBN-13: 978-8126554782, publisher - Wiley India.
-Pro Tableau - A Step By Step Lab Guide ISBN-13: 978-1484223512, publisher – Apress.
She has co-authored a paper on "Collaborative Engineering Competency Development" for ASEE (American Society for Engineering Education). She holds the patent on "Method and system for automatically generating questions for a programming language."
Tim Messar is a Senior Data Architect working in the insurance industry for over 10 years. He has lead several projects and initiatives providing business intelligence solutions using SQL Server, Analysis Services Cubes, and Tableau. Tim is also an IT Consultant for Messar Consulting LLC. You can find him on Twitter as @TimMessar.
Donabel Santos is a self-confessed data geek. She loves working with data, writing queries, and developing reports on her SQL Server databases, and exploring and visualizing data with Tableau.

She is the principal and senior business intelligence architect at QueryWorks Solutions, a Tableau Learning and Alliance partner in Vancouver, BC, Canada, providing consulting and training services. She has spent years in consulting and has developed a variety of solutions for clients in different verticals—finance, manufacturing, healthcare, legal, higher education, and local government. Donabel is a multi-year Microsoft Data Platform MVP (previously known as SQL Server MVP) and has extensive experience in the SQL server in different areas, such as development, administration, data warehouse, reporting (SSRS), tuning, troubleshooting, XML, CLR, and integration with ERPs and CRMs using PowerShell, C#, SSIS, and Power BI. One of Donabel's passions is teaching and sharing her love for data. She is a Tableau Certified Professional and a Tableau accredited trainer, delivering Tableau public and on-site client training. She is also the lead instructor for a number of courses at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), including Applied Database Administration and Design (ADAD) and Applied Data Analytics (ADA) programs. She teaches SQL server administration, development, integration (SSIS), data warehouse foundations, and visual analytics with Tableau. Donabel has also authored three other books with Packt Publishing: SQL Server 2012 with PowerShell V3 Cookbook, PowerShell for SQL Server Essentials, and SQL Server 2014 with PowerShell V5 Cookbook. She also contributed a chapter to Manning Publications' PowerShell Deep Dives.

Who this course is for:

Tableau users who have basic familiarity with Tableau and now want to build rich analytics and visualizations with Tableau that are customized to the needs of their business.
Business, data, and analytics professionals who want to build rich interactive visualizations using Tableau.

Data Visualization with Tableau - Novice to Pro!: 5-in-1

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Learning Tableau 10.x46 lectures • 5hr 26min

Data Visualization with Tableau42 lectures • 4hr 59min

Mastering Tableau 1033 lectures • 5hr 16min

Tableau 10 Business Intelligence Solutions - Volume 132 lectures • 2hr 45min

Tableau 10 Business Intelligence Solutions - Volume 225 lectures • 1hr 59min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: