A place where I keep notes on some of the things I'm learning. Tableau is one of those things right now, along with Python and ETL development. Latest Posts...
When I get back into GitHub, I often find myself searching for reminders on how to set up the credentials, manage your branches, etc. Sometimes a step-by-step tutorial is overkill when all you want is a reminder of the essential commands. I found some cheat sheets that look helpful, so sharing here: Git Cheat Sheet at GitHub Git Cheat Sheet at git-scm.com Git Cheat Sheet at rcs.bu.edu (PDF)
I have a project that needs to get out of the world of volatile CSV files and into a data source that Tableau can connect to. To that end, I installed PostgreSQL on my computer. That's the easy part-- the hard stuff involving Python, pandas, and setting up a professional environment comes later. For now, the steps for installing PostgreSQL on Windows 11: Go to postgresql.org and select Download .…
Most of the time the Windows Snip tool works just fine when I need a quick screenshot in Windows 11. However, it's not enough if the screenshot you want requires your mouse cursor to be in a certain spot. That's when you need the Print Screen key to work. Here's how: Press Fn + Windows + Print Screen . Find your screenshot in the Pictures > screenshots folder. Alternatively, use Ctrl+V to paste it…
Sometimes when you hide something in Tableau, it's a pain to figure out how to turn it back on again. For example, headings (or "field labels") for columns and rows in a table. Hiding them is easy: Right-click the headings and select Hide Field Labels for Rows . Great. But now if you want to bring them back, there's nothing to right-click. The solution is in the "Analysis" menu. Select Analysis >…
It's time for me to get back into Python, but I don't necessarily want to go back to Python kindergarten. Which is to say I don't need to learn what a loop or a function or a float is, because basic coding isn't new to me. Mostly I need to refamiliarize myself with Python syntax and get back into the swing of it. So I looked around for Python cheat sheets and found a nice one on QuickRef.Me . And…
About a week ago I finally decided to learn Python, and I started the Udemy course 100 Days of Code: The Complete Python Pro Bootcamp . I figure if I can come close to creating 100 Python projects, I'll have a pretty good handle on the language. What I've completed so far: Day 1: Worked with variables, captured user input, and used multiple methods for printing text. My favorite is printing…
For a few years I've been using Everdo to manage my to-do lists. I've abandoned it a few times to try other options, but I keep coming back to it for the following reasons: Separate areas for work and home: I like using the same to-do software for everything, but I don't necessarily want my work and personal stuff mixed together. Everdo lets you create separate areas that you can switch to, so if…
Yesterday I took the Tableau Desktop Specialist exam. Many of the questions were tricky; it's one thing to know how to use a tool and another thing to know how to pass a test. I second-guessed a lot of my choices, but I passed with a score of 954 out of 1,000. For anyone planning to take the test, here are some things worth knowing: It helps to be very familiar with the Tableau interface. Make…
Today I learned that if you have Tableau Desktop, you don't have to Google around to find the sample Superstore data. It comes with your Tableau installation by default. To access it: Open the folder where you've installed Tableau (e.g., C:\Program Files\Tableau\Tableau 2023.1 ). Navigate to help > Workbooks , and then open the folder that matches the language and country you want (e.g., en_US ).…
As much as possible, I want all my dashboards to be easy to understand and maintain--not only for my future self, but also for anyone else who might have to work on them. If a workbook is full of unused fields, unused worksheets, and complicated calculated fields with no comments to explain what's going on, then you'll waste time struggling to figure things out before you can make a simple change…