Creating an interactive dashboard in Tableau doesn’t have to be complicated. If you're just getting started, here's a simple step-by-step guide to build your first functional and interactive dashboard.

1. Prepare Your Data

Start by connecting Tableau to your data source (Excel, Google Sheets, SQL, etc.). Make sure your data is clean and structured — for example, use consistent headers and avoid merged cells.

2. Create Your Worksheets

Build a few basic visualizations, such as:

A bar chart to show category performance
A line chart for trends over time
A map (if your data includes geographic info)

Each worksheet should focus on one key metric or dimension.

3. Combine Worksheets into a Dashboard

Go to the “Dashboard” tab and drag your worksheets onto the canvas. Adjust layout and sizing to make the view clean and easy to follow.

4. Add Interactivity

Use filters, highlighters, or actions to let users interact with your visuals. For example:

Set a chart as a filter to update other views when clicked
Add dropdown menus for dynamic filtering

5. Preview and Publish

Before sharing, preview your dashboard in different screen sizes. Once ready, publish it to Tableau Public or your organization’s Tableau Server.

With just a few elements, you can create a dashboard that’s not only visually appealing but also user-friendly and insightful. 🚀

Basic interactive dashboard in Tableau