Data analytics in Tableau is classified into two parts:-
1. Developer Tools: – The Tableau tools which are used for development such as the creation of charts, dashboards, report generation and visualization are known as developer’s tools. Tableau Desktop and the Tableau Public, are the example of this type.
2. Sharing Tools: – The role of these tools is sharing the reports, visualizations, and dashboards that were created using the developer tools. The Tableau tools that fall into this category are Tableau Server, Tableau Online, and Tableau Reader.
Let’s see all the Tools one by one:

Tableau Desktop

Tableau Desktop has a rich feature set and allows us to code and customize reports. Right from creating the reports, charts to blending them all to form a dashboard, all the necessary work is created in Tableau Desktop.
For live data analysis, Tableau Desktop establish connectivity between the Data Warehouse and other various types of files. The dashboards and the workbooks created here can be either shared locally or publicly.
Based on the connectivity to the publishing option and data sources, Tableau Desktop is also classified into two parts-
• Tableau Desktop Personal: – The personal version of the Tableau desktop keeps the workbook private, and the access is limited. The workbooks can’t be published online. So, it should be distributed either offline or in Tableau public.
• Tableau Desktop Professional: – It is similar to Tableau desktop. The main difference is that the workbooks created in the Tableau desktop can be published online or in Tableau server. In the professional version, there is full access to all sorts datatypes. It is best for those who want to publish their workbook in Tableau server.

Tableau Public

This Tableau version is specially built for cost-effective users. The word ‘Public’ means that the created workbooks cannot be saved locally. They should be kept on the Tableau’s public cloud, which can be accessed and viewed by anyone.
There is no privacy of the files saved on the cloud, so anyone can access and download the same data. This version is the best for them who want to share their data with the general public and for the individuals who want to learn Tableau.

Tableau Online

Its functionality is similar to the tableau server, but data is stored on the servers that hosted on the cloud, which is maintained by the Tableau group.
There is no storage limit on the data which is published in the Tableau Online. Tableau Online creates a direct link over 40 data sources who are hosted in the cloud such as the Hive, MySQL, Spark SQL, Amazon Aurora, and many more.
To be published, both Tableau Server and Tableau online require the workbooks that are created by Tableau Desktop. Data that flow from the web applications say Tableau Server and Tableau Online also support Google Analytics and Salesforce.com.

Tableau Server

The software is correctly used to share the workbooks, visualizations, which is created in the Tableau Desktop application over the organization. To share dashboards in the Tableau Server, you should first publish your workbook in the Tableau Desktop. Once the workbook has been uploaded to the server, it will be accessible only to the authorized users.
It’s not necessary that the authorized users have the Tableau Server installed on their machine. They only require the login credentials by which they can check reports by the web browser. The security is very high in Tableau server, and it is beneficial for quick and effective sharing of data.
The admin of the organization has full control over the server. The organization maintains the hardware and the software.

Tableau Reader

Tableau Reader is a free tool which allows us to view the visualizations and workbooks, which is created using Tableau Desktop or Tableau Public. The data can be filtered, but modifications and editing are restricted. There is no security in Tableau Reader as anyone can view workbook using Tableau Reader.
If you want to share the dashboards which are created by you, the receiver should have Tableau Reader to view the document.

Tableau Architecture

Tableau Server is designed to connect many data tiers. It can connect clients from Mobile, Web, and Desktop. Tableau Desktop is a powerful data visualization tool. It is very secure and highly available.
It can run on both the physical machines and virtual machines. It is a multi-process, multi-user, and multi-threaded system.
Providing such powerful features requires unique architecture.
The different layers used in Tableau server are given in the following architecture diagram:-

Let’s study about the different component of the Tableau architecture:
1. Data server:- The primary component of Tableau Architecture is the Data sources which can connect to it.
Tableau can connect with multiple data sources. It can blend the data from various data sources. It can connect to an excel file, database, and a web application at the same time. It can also make the relationship between different types of data sources.
2. Data connector:- The Data Connectors provide an interface to connect external data sources with the Tableau Data Server.
Tableau has in-built SQL/ODBC connector. This ODBC Connector can be connected with any databases without using their native connector. Tableau desktop has an option to select both extract and live data. On the uses basis, one can be easily switched between live and extracted data.
• Real-time data or live connection: Tableau can be connected with real data by linking to the external database directly. It uses the infrastructure existing database by sending dynamic multidimensional expressions (MDX) and SQL statements. This feature can be used as a linking between the live data and Tableau rather than importing the data. It makes optimized and a fast database system. Mostly in other enterprises, the size of the database is large, and it is updated periodically. In these cases, Tableau works as a front-end visualization tool by connecting with the live data.
• Extracted or in-memory data: Tableau is an option to extract the data from external data sources. We make a local copy in the form of Tableau extract file. It can remove millions of records in the Tableau data engine with a single click. Tableau’s data engine uses storage such as ROM, RAM, and cache memory to process and store data. Using filters, Tableau can extract a few records from a large dataset. This improves performance, especially when we are working on massive datasets. Extracted data allows the users to visualize the data offline, without connecting to the data source.
3. Components of Tableau server: Different types of component of the Tableau server are:
• Application server
• VizQL server
• Data server
A. Application server: The application server is used to provide the authorizations and authentications. It handles the permission and administration for mobile and web interfaces. It gives a guarantee of security by recording each session id on Tableau Server. The administrator is configuring the default timeout of the session in the server.
B. VizQL server: VizQL server is used to convert the queries from the data source into visualizations. Once the client request is forwarded to the VizQL process, it sends the query directly to the data source retrieves information in the form of images. This visualization or image is presented for the users. Tableau server creates a cache of visualization to reduce the load time. The cache can be shared between many users who have permission to view the visualization.
C. Data server: Data server is used to store and manage the data from external data sources. It is a central data management system. It provides data security, metadata management, data connection, driver requirements, and data storage. It stores the related details of data set like calculated fields, metadata, groups, sets, and parameters. The data source can extract the data as well as make live connections with external data sources.
4. Gateway: The gateway directed the requests from users to Tableau components. When the client sends a request, it is forwarded to the external load balancer for processing. The gateway works as a distributor of processes to different components. In case of absence of external load balancer, the gateway also works as a load balancer. For single server configuration, one gateway or primary server manages all the processes. For multiple server configurations, one physical system works as a primary server, and others are used as worker servers. Only one machine is used as a primary server in Tableau Server environment.
5. Clients: The visualizations and dashboards in Tableau server can be edited and viewed using different clients. Clients are a web browser, mobile applications, and Tableau Desktop.
• Web Browser: Web browsers like Google Chrome, Safari, and Firefox support the Tableau server. The visualization and contents in the dashboard can be edited by using these web browsers.
• Mobile Application: The dashboard from the server can be interactively visualized using mobile application and browser. It is used to edit and view the contents in the workbook.
• Tableau Desktop: Tableau desktop is a business analytics tool. It is used to view, create, and publish the dashboard in Tableau server. Users can access the various data source and build visualization in Tableau desktop.
So, this brings us to the end of blog. This Tecklearn ‘Different Tools of Tableau and Tableau Architecture’ blog helps you with commonly asked questions if you are looking out for a job in Tableau Desktop. If you wish to learn Tableau Desktop and build a career in Business Intelligence domain, then check out our interactive, Tableau Desktop Training, that comes with 24*7 support to guide you throughout your learning period. Please find the link for course details:

Tableau Desktop

Tableau Desktop Training

About the Course

Tecklearn’s Tableau Desktop Training teach you how to transform raw data into interactive and shareable dashboards using Tableau. Our Tableau Course covers the necessary analytical skills to Advanced data visualizations by incorporating real-world use-case scenarios, labs, and exercises. Some of the topics included are Data Blending, Data Mapping, Graphs, creation of charts, and LOD expression by using different versions of Tableau, such as Tableau Desktop, Tableau Reader, and Tableau Public.

Why Should you take Tableau Desktop Training?

• The average salary of a Tableau Professional ranges between $108,697 to $158,000 per annum -Indeed.com.
• Tableau has been positioned as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms – Gartner.com.
• Fidelity Investments, Capgemini, EY, Deloitte, EY, JP Morgan, Verizon, Facebook, Dell, General Motors, KPMG, Bank of America and 40,000 other MNCs worldwide across industries use Tableau.

What you will Learn in this Course?

Understanding Tableau
• Why Tableau
• Tableau Product Platforms
• Tableau Architecture
• Tableau Interface
Data Connection with Tableau Desktop
• Features of Tableau Desktop
• Connect to data from File and Database
• Types of Connections
• Data Blending
• Joins and Unions
• Tableau Desktop User Interface
• Basic project: Create a workbook and publish it on Tableau Online
Basic Visual Analytics
• Visual Analytics
• Basic Charts: Bar Chart, Line Chart, and Pie Chart
• Hierarchies
• Data Granularity
• Highlighting
• Sorting
• Filtering
• Grouping
• Sets
Advanced Visual Analytics
• Parameters
• Tool tips
• Trend lines
• Reference lines
• Forecasting
• Clustering
Calculations in Tableau
• Calculated Fields
• Numeric, String, Data, Logical, Addressing and Partitioning
• Table Calculations
Level of Detail (LOD’s) Calculations
Advanced Charts in Tableau
• Box and Whisker’s Plot
• Bullet Chart
• Bar in Bar Chart
• Gantt Chart
• Waterfall Chart
• Pareto Chart
• Control Chart
• Funnel Chart
• Bump Chart
Parameters
• What If Scenarios
• Parameter in CF (KPI control)
• Parameter in Filter (Top N)
• Parameter in reference line
Dashboards and Stories
• Introduction to Dashboards
• The Dashboard Interface
• Dashboard Objects
• Building a Dashboard
• Dashboard Layouts and Formatting
• Interactive Dashboards with actions
• Designing Dashboards for devices
• Story Points
Data Security in Tableau
Optimizations tips and tricks
Interacting with Tableau Server
Working with Tableau JavaScript API

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