# Reading performance recordings and their events

*Tableau Consultant Study Guide · Design and Troubleshoot Calculations and Workbooks · Last updated November 3, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-consultant/design-and-troubleshoot-calculations-and-workbooks/reading-performance-recordings-and-their-events*

Start a performance recording in Tableau Desktop or on a Tableau Server site, read the Timeline, Events and Query views, match the slowest event type to its documented remedy, and use the Desktop-only Detailed Views to find costly repeated activities.

- Certification: Salesforce Tableau Consultant
- Exam section: Design and Troubleshoot Calculations and Workbooks
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Interpret and resolve issues by using performance recordings.

## What the exam expects

- Start a performance recording in Tableau Desktop, and on Tableau Server enable it for the site and then record a view through its URL.
- Read the Performance Summary (Timeline, Events, Query) and name the event type that dominates a slow load.
- Recommend the remedy that matches each event type: computing layouts, connecting, compiling, executing, generating extracts, geocoding, blending and server rendering.
- Explain what the Query view shows: SQL or XML, truncated text, combined queries on the Null worksheet, and the executeQueries event for Tableau Cloud published data sources from Desktop 2024.2.x.
- Use the Detailed Views (Depth, Exclusive CPU, Inclusive CPU, Elapsed Time) to find activities that are cheap once but run many times.

Key terms:
- **Performance recording:** a capture of timings for key events while you interact with a workbook, delivered as a performance workbook.
- **Event:** one recorded unit of work, such as Compiling query or Server rendering, colored by type.
- **Activity:** a unit of work done while processing one user request; one request produces many activities.
- **Detailed Views:** the advanced dashboard of a recording, visible only when the recording is opened in Tableau Desktop.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Site default | Performance recording is not enabled for a site by default | [Create a Performance Recording](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/perf_record_create_server.htm) |
| Who enables it | A server administrator, site by site, under Workbook Performance Metrics | [Create a Performance Recording](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/perf_record_create_server.htm) |
| Stop a Server recording | Move to a different page or remove :record_performance=yes from the URL | [Create a Performance Recording](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/perf_record_create_server.htm) |
| Snapshots | Each snapshot is up to the minute; the data is cumulative | [Create a Performance Recording](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/perf_record_create_server.htm) |
| Server rendering event | Recorded on Tableau Server only | [Record and Analyze Workbook Performance](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/perf_record_create_desktop.htm) |
| Sending to Support | Save the recording as a packaged workbook (.twbx) | [Record and Analyze Workbook Performance](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/perf_record_create_desktop.htm) |
| Events view order | Sorted by duration, greatest to least | [Interpret a Performance Recording](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/perf_record_interpret_server.htm) |
| Query text format | XML for a published data source, SQL for a direct connection | [Interpret a Performance Recording](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/perf_record_interpret_server.htm) |
| Cloud published sources | From Desktop 2024.2.x, executeQueries replaces Executing query | [Record and Analyze Workbook Performance](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/perf_record_create_desktop.htm) |
| Detailed Views | Visible only when the recording opens in Tableau Desktop | [Interpret a Performance Recording](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/perf_record_interpret_server.htm) |
| VizQL Server role | Loads and renders views, computes and executes queries | [Tableau Server Processes](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/processes.htm) |

## Check yourself

- When does a performance recording of a Tableau Server view stop?
- Why can the advice for a slow Executing query event differ between a live connection and an extract?
- When Generating extract events dominate, what does help suggest?
- Which Desktop menu path starts a performance recording?
- Why should you filter the Depth view to a single user request?

## Sources

- [Interpret a Performance Recording](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/perf_record_interpret_server.htm)
- [Record and Analyze Workbook Performance](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/perf_record_create_desktop.htm)
- [Create a Performance Recording](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/perf_record_create_server.htm)
- [Performance Recording](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/perf_troubleshooting.htm)
- [Optimize Workbook Performance](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/performance_tips.htm)
- [Tableau Server Processes](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/processes.htm)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 8 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Tableau Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams