Want to improve your efficiency
in Tableau? One of the best pro-tips you can learn is how to properly utilize
mouse functions in the tool.
Contributor &
Author: Tiffany Spaulding
I know I know … your
first response was probably: “Really? We are going to discuss how to use a
mouse?” ABSOLUTELY YES! Most of us think we have our mice under control. I get
it. I thought I did, too.
Every week as I teach
new and experienced users about Tableau, there are always notable WOW moments.
These are moments when, as an instructor, I witness a light bulb of learning
illuminate for the first time and grin knowing I just added value.
We
each come into Tableau from different backgrounds and industries. For some
users, learning a few keyboard shortcuts can be their biggest efficiency
improvement. Others nearly scrape their jaw off the floor when they see
Tableau’s Excel add-in, the Tableau Data Reshape, for
the first time, realizing all the time they have wasted reshaping data manually
in Excel.
Even with those “Aha”
moments, the best improvement to my personal efficiency in the tool was
learning how to use my mouse. For laptop users dependent on a trackpad,
especially if you use two hands to operate your trackpad, break down and buy a
mouse. Your Tableau efficiency alone will be worth the minimal cost, effort and
miniscule weight in your computer bag.
Learning
to use a Right Click Drag makes selecting date parts and date
values much faster and easier. Learning to use a CTRL
drag will assist
in duplicating table calcs used in the view and Measure Names in blended
visualizations.
The Anatomy of
a Mouse:
Most basic mice have two
buttons and a scroll wheel. Depending on the number of clicks, duration or
combination of clicks and keys, varying actions and menus are available.
Note: Many mice now have a clickable
scroll wheel and sometimes even a rocking (left to right) scroll wheel. This
allows even further control to shortcut menus and horizontal scrolling. On many
laptops, you can also customize secret actions inside the track pad by pressing the left and right
buttons simultaneously. The list of mouse controls below is only aimed at left,
right and scroll functions.
Work
your way through the mouse controls below. Some focus on simply the click
(single click, double click, click & hold, click & drag) while others
add in either CTRL or SHIFT from your keyboard. Focus your attention to any bold Tableau functionalities listed in the
right-hand column for maximum impact to your efficiency.
