Overview
This lecture introduces Tableau Prep Builder, focusing on its core features and how to start cleaning and preparing data for analysis.
Introduction to Tableau Prep Builder
- Tableau Prep Builder is a tool designed for cleaning, combining, and shaping data before analysis in Tableau.
- It provides a visual and interactive way to build data cleaning workflows, called "flows."
- The interface is user-friendly, supporting drag-and-drop operations for data manipulation.
Main Features and Workflow
- You can connect to various data sources such as Excel, text files, or databases within Tableau Prep Builder.
- Data is cleaned and transformed step by step, with each step represented visually in the workspace.
- Common tasks include removing duplicates, splitting fields, filtering rows, and renaming columns.
- You can preview changes immediately to ensure your data looks correct at each step.
- Flows can be saved and reused for future data preparation tasks.
Outputting Data
- After cleaning, data can be exported to a file (like .csv) or sent directly to Tableau Desktop for visualization.
- The output step ensures the final dataset is ready for analysis or reporting.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Tableau Prep Builder — a software tool for preparing and cleaning data visually.
- Flow — a sequence of steps that clean and transform raw data.
- Data Source — the original location where data is stored, such as Excel files or databases.
- Output — the final, cleaned dataset ready for analysis.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Download and install Tableau Prep Builder if you haven’t already.
- Try building a simple flow by connecting to a sample data file and performing basic cleaning steps.
- Explore related resources or tutorials for more advanced data preparation techniques.