Tableau Server interview Questions

If you are in search of material that could help you in cracking the Tableau Server interview, then you are in right place. In this blog, we are going to discuss the most frequently asked questions in the tableau Server interview. Having a good grip over these questions would boost your confidence and then you can easily crack the interview. Let's get into the question and answers part. 

Today, many MNCs are looking for Professionals who can work on Tableau. This Best of Tableau Server interview questions and answers for 2024 will help you gain expertise in Tableau Server and clear interviews successfully.

Frequently Asked Tableau Server Interview Questions in 2024

1. What Is Data Visualization? 
2. What Are the User Roles Available in Tableau Server? 
3. What Is Meant by Data Blending?
4. What Is the Difference Between TWB and TWX? 
5. How to View Underlying SQL Queries in Tableau?
6. Is Tableau Software Good for a Strategic Acquisition?
7. How Is Performance Testing Done in Tableau? 

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Top Tableau Server Interview Questions 

1. What is Data Visualization? 

Data visualization is a process of converting data into a graphical format that can be understood by everyone. Visualization of data can be done by using various formats such as charts, maps, and graphs. It is quite challenging to understand the hidden insights or trends in data when it is in text format. 

There are many data visualization tools available in the market, and they enable us to see trends, outliers, and patterns in data. Data visualization tools help big data in leveraging its full potentiality. 

2. For what Tableau Server is used for?

Tableau server is used for achieving self-service capabilities for your organization.  It is mainly helpful for protecting access to published content. This enables the managers to set up groups and user permissions in projects

3. what are the user roles available in the Tableau server? 

We have various types of user roles available in the Tableau server. Each level differs in terms of accessibility to sensitive data. Below mentioned are the different types of user roles

• Server Administrator 
• Site Administrator 
• Publisher 
• Interactor 
• Viewer 
• Unlicenced 

4.  Explain various filters in the tableau server?

Filters help in restricting the data from the database. In the tableau server, we have three types of filters which are 

Normal filter: it is used to restrict the data from the database based on the dimensions that have been laid. This filter can be created by simply dragging a filter onto the filter shelf. 

Quick filter: the name itself states that it is used to filter the reports dynamically. Using Quick filter one can filter the data on the Dashboards in real-time. You are required to define the range to filter the values during run-time. 

Context filter: It is used to filter the data that resides in individual worksheets.  Whenever a sheet queries data, it creates a flat temporary table that contains all the values. This temporary table then used to filter the data.

5. Explain the limitations of Context filters? 

There are few limitations associated with Context filters in the tableau server, which are 

• Tableau takes time to place a filter in context 
• It creates a very long for executing and building empty tables.
• It contains a lot of data that has not yet been filtered by SQL or the context filter and takes a lot of time to filter data.  

 

Tableau Interview Questions & Answers for 2021

 

6. What is meant by data blending? 

Data blending is a process of bringing the data into one tableau view from multiple sources without writing any special codes. Below mentioned are the areas where Data blending is used.

• To filter the data in the secondary dimension field.  
• To view the data in a secondary dimension view. 

7. Explain what the file extensions in the tableau are. 

We have various types of file extensions in tableau which are 

• Tableau data extract (.tde) 
• Tableau packaged datasource (.tdsx) 
• Tableau bookmark  (.tdm) 
• Tableau data source (.tds) 
•  Tableau map source (.tms) 
• Tableau  packaged workbook (.twbx) 
• Tableau Workbook (.twb) 
• Tableau preferences (.tps) 

For more info: Visit here for Complete Tableau File Extensions

8. What is the difference between TWB and TWX? 

TWB: it is an XML document that is made ready for you for the Tableau workbook. Which contains no data.  

TWX: it is a Zipped’ one that contains the data like background images, file extracts, etc.  

9. what are the Platforms that tableau can run on? 

Tableau can run on Mac and Windows. 

10. Do parameters contain a drop-down list? 

Yes, the parameters do have the drop-down list.

11. How to view underlying SQL Queries in Tableau?

There are two ways for it -

Option1 - By using the performance recording feature

Create a performance recording for Tableau Server and Tableau Desktop to interpret the performance recording workbook for Tableau Desktop

Option 2 -

In Tableau Desktop:

• Go to the Logs folder in the My Tableau Repository folder. 
• My Tableau Repository is present in the My Documents folder on Windows or the Documents folder on a Mac by default.
• In the case of a live connection data source, you can check the tabprotosrv.txt and log.txt files.
• Also, you can check the hyperd.log or tdeserver.txt file.

In Tableau Server: 

• Generate a snapshot of Server logs.
• Unzip the archive logs.zip file.
• Go to the vizqlserver folder.
• Find lines containing begin-query in the .txt files.

For more information: Visit Tableau Server Tutorial

12. What is the Tableau data engine?

The data engine is an analytical database designed to receive instant query responses, integrate into existing data infrastructure, achieve predictive performance. Tableau data engine does not really follow in-memory technology. If you are handling a large amount of data, it may take time to import, create indexes and perform actions. Here, RAM is hardly utilized.

13. What is the difference between embedded data sources and published data sources in Tableau?

The basic difference between the embedded data source and the published data source is as follow -

• The published data source contains connection information that can be used by multiple workbooks and is independent of any workbook.
• The embedded data source contains connection information related to a workbook.

14. What is the primary functionality difference between Tableau Server and Tableau desktop?

• Tableau Desktop - This is the place where dashboards and reports are created connecting it to the data sources

• Tableau Server - This is a platform where reports and dashboards are published for other members to see

15. What are the schedules and data extracts in the Tableau server?

Data extracts are the first copies of the actual data fetched from the original data source. Tableau engine uses these data extracts rather than live DB connections to speed up the performance because extracted data is already imported, unlike live DB.

Learn How to Customize Date Functions in Tableau

16. What do you mean by aggregation and disaggregation?

Aggregation and disaggregation are used to develop a scatterplot to compare and measure data values. Aggregation is the calculated form of a group of values that return a single numeric value. It is also possible to set a default aggregation for the values. Disaggregation of data refers to viewing each data source row and analyzing it dependently and independently.

17. What is the serialization of a binary tree?

Serialization is a process where an object or data structure is converted into a sequence of bits in order to store them in a file or memory buffer. It can also be transmitted across a network link in the same or another computer environment.

Recursive map: {value: [serialize(left), serialize(right)]}, where serialized leaf is null.

18. What are the different types of user authentications in the Tableau server?

There are two types of user authentications in the Tableau server -

• Local authentication
• Active directory 

19. Is it possible to change the user authentication in a single installation?

No, it is not possible.

20. What are the ways to manage cache in a Tableau server?

In a Tableau server, the cache is handled in three ways -

• Refresh less often
• Balanced
• refresh more often

21. List out the different server processes available in the Tableau server?

Following are the different server processes available in Tableau -

• VIZQL Server
• Application Server
• Background Server
• Data Server
• Data Engine
• Repository
• File Store
• Cache
• Search and Browse
• Gateway

22. What is the minimum RAM required to install the TABLEAU Server? 

•   32 GB (PRODUCTION)
•   8 GB (NON-PRODUCTION)

23. What is an Alert and how they are configured?

A process of knowing the Tableau server-status automatically through an email whenever the server gets down is called an alert. To configure it, we require an SMTP server.

24. Name the different site roles available in TABLEAU Server

The different Site roles that are available in Tableau Server are as follows -

• Interactor
• Viewer
• Un Licensed
• Un Licensed (Can Publish)
• Viewer (Can Publish)
• Publisher (Interactor+ Can Publish)
• Server Admin
• Site Admin   

25. What is SSL and how to configure SSL?

SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer that secures information. During data transfer, it encrypts the data, and once data reaches the destination, it will automatically decrypt it. To configure SSL, we need to obtain an SSL certificate file from the third hosting company.

26. Can the Viewer user perform filtering or not?

 No, Viewers cannot perform filtering.

27. Can the interactor publish the visualization or not?

No, interactor site role users cannot publish the visualization.

28. What is a page shelf?

Page shelf is a powerful tool used to control the output display. It fragments the view into a series of pages, each having a different view. A user can also flip through pages using specific control to analyze view and analyze data. 

29. What is the difference between groups and sets?

Grouping is a collection of multiple members in a single dimension whereas set refers to a collection of members from multidimensional into a dynamic or constant group.

30. What do you mean by continuous and discrete in Tableau?

Two of the data roles in Tableau are - discrete and continuous dimensions.

31. What is a Tableau server?

Tableau server is used for publishing the dashboard, stories, and worksheet that are created by the Tableau desktop. After uploading the workbook on the server, you need not have a Tableau server installed in your system. You can simply work with the login credentials. 

32. What is a hierarchical field?

A hierarchical field drills down data and is used to view data in a more granular level and analyze the data better.

33. How is performance testing done in Tableau?

Performance testing can be done with TabJolt, which is a load generator to perform QA. TabJolt is not directly supported by Tableau; users need to install it from other open sources.

34. What are the different Tableau files?

Different Tableau files include:

• Bookmarks: It contains a single worksheet and allows you to share your work quickly
• Workbooks: It can hold single or multiple worksheets and dashboards
• Data Extraction Files: These files can be a local copy of a subset of the entire data source
• Data Connection Files: It is a small XML file containing connection information
• Packaged Workbooks: It contains a workbook, background images, and supporting local file data.

35. Is Tableau software good for a strategic acquisition?

Yes, Tableau is good for strategic acquisition. It is used to get data insight to a great extent that other tools can’t. Also, it allows you to plan and point out the anomalies and improvise processes for the betterment of the organization. 

36. What do you understand about the blended axis?

A blended axis is helpful in comparing two measured values against the same axis. There is no need to add columns and rows to the view because when you blend measures, values for each measure is shown along one continuous axis. Multiple measures can be blended by dragging one measure and then dropping it onto an existing axis.

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