Exploring and Analyzing Data Flashcards

In Tableau, which analytics model is applied when you drag 'Forecast' from the Analytics pane onto the view?

Answer: Exponential smoothing

Tableau's built-in forecasting uses exponential smoothing (ETS) to model trends and seasonality.

What is the purpose of a 'Context Filter' in Tableau?

Answer: It creates a temporary data set that all other filters then act upon, improving performance and enabling top-N accuracy

A context filter pre-filters data first, making other filters (like top-N) operate on the already-filtered subset.

Which of the following is a valid use case for an EXCLUDE LOD expression?

Answer: Computing a category-level total to use as a denominator when the view is broken down by sub-category

EXCLUDE removes specified dimensions from the view's level of detail, allowing aggregate comparisons at a higher grain.

What does Tableau's 'Show Me' panel do?

Answer: Suggests appropriate chart types based on the fields currently selected

Show Me highlights valid chart types given the dimensions and measures selected, guiding visualization choice.

In Tableau, what is the result of using ATTR() in a calculated field?

Answer: It returns the dimension value if all rows in the partition share the same value; otherwise it returns an asterisk

ATTR() is an aggregation that acts like a check: single unique value → that value; multiple values → asterisk.

Which Tableau feature enables you to compare the distribution of a measure across a dimension using quartiles and outliers?

Answer: Box-and-Whisker Plot

A box-and-whisker plot shows median, IQR, and outliers, making distribution comparison across categories intuitive.

When should you use a table calculation instead of a LOD expression in Tableau?

Answer: When the calculation needs to reference other marks in the view, such as running totals or percent of total

Table calculations operate on the aggregated result set in the view, making them ideal for running totals, rankings, and percent-of-total.