Exploring and Analyzing Data37% of the exam
Sorting, reference lines and totals
Sort a view by clicking, dragging or the Sort dialog (Data Source Order, Alphabetic, Field, Manual, Nested), clear sorts, add a reference line to a continuous axis with the right computation and label, and show grand totals and subtotals where readers need them.
Apply analytics to a worksheet: Add a manual or a computed sort; Add a reference line; Use a quick table calculation; Use bins and histograms; Create a calculated field (for example, string, date, simple arithmetic); Explain when to use a parameter; Display totals on a worksheet.
~8 min read · 8 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Add a computed sort (axis, header, field label or toolbar icons, or the Sort dialog) and a manual sort (drag a header, or Manual in the Sort dialog).
- Pick the Sort By option for a requirement: Data Source Order, Alphabetic, Field, Manual or Nested, including sorting by a field that isn't in the view.
- Clear one sort or every sort in the view without removing fields.
- Add a reference line from the Analytics pane, choose its computation and label, and explain why some views can't take one.
- Display grand totals and subtotals, and move them to the top or left of the view.
Key terms:
- Computed sort: an order Tableau calculates from data, such as descending by a measure.
- Manual sort: an order you set by dragging members or moving them in the Sort dialog.
- Nested sort: a sort that considers each pane independently.
- Reference line: a line at a constant or computed value on a continuous axis.
- Grand total / subtotal: a total for the whole row or column / for each partition of an outer dimension.
Key facts
Field sort
- Detail
- Sorting field doesn't need to be in the view
Alphabetic sort
- Detail
- Case sensitive; digits individually, 19 before 2
Data Source Order (relational)
- Detail
- Generally natural sort order, 2 before 19
Clear all sorts
- Detail
- Worksheet > Clear > Sorts, or Clear Sorts next to Clear Sheet
Show Sort Controls
- Detail
- Hides sort icons; doesn't remove sorts
Reference line placement
- Detail
- Any continuous axis
Reference line computations
- Detail
- Total, Sum, Constant, Minimum, Maximum, Average, Median
Subtotals
- Detail
- Drop Totals on Subtotals in the Analytics pane
Column grand totals
- Detail
- Bottom by default; Column Totals to Top moves them
- Why does dragging an item on a legend change the view, not just the legend?
- When does a sort order each pane independently?
- What must a view have before it can show grand totals?
- What does a third click on a single-click sort icon do?
The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.
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