Data Visualization with
Tableau
Agenda
• Create the LIMS view
• Connect Tableau to the view
• Design the visualization
• Publish visualization to the Tableau web
server
• Determine the URL for the visualization
• Setup user access to the visualization within
Core
• End user functionality in LIMS
Why Tableau?
• Tableau is a functionally rich data visualization
package that enables an analyst to design
interactive reports that many users can share
• A competitive alternative to Spotfire, especially
for data that does not require structures to be
rendered within visualizations
• For an external tool evaluation see:
[Link]
Tableau is ranked highest for data integration and visual OLAP(online
analytical processing)…
Architecture Tableau Thick
Core LIMS Client
Server (where
visualization is
designed)
Core LIMS
Database
Tableau Server
Core LIMS Web (Visualizations are
Clients published and
(where db view is managed)
created and
visualization is
viewed)
Define a Report Format
•You can define a report format either from a query or from using the Create Report
Format menu
•The data fields you select here will be available for visualization
•For better performance do not select many unneeded columns
•You can create report formats for any entity type or for sample/lots/assay data
Report Formats Automatically Store Views
The report format automatically creates a view that is
stored in your Core schema
Note: This is a database view NOT a materialized view
Tableau Client Easily Connects to the View
•You can also join your view with other
tables/views to access data you can’t get
from a single report format
•Tableau will help you write the Join SQL
statement
•You could also build visualizations from
other data sources and display them in
the LIMS
Select the view name from
the report format record
you made
Tip: You can click on the
View data icon to peek at
the table
Design Your Data Visualization
•Dimensions are data fields that are categorical
(string)
•Measures are data fields that are continuous
(numeric)
•Dimensions and Measures can be dragged and
dropped into the main work area to create plots,
filters, etc.
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Create a Scatter Plot
Drag and drop fields to plot into the column and row
shelves
You may need to specify that the field should be
treated as a dimension directly (and not as an
aggregate measure like count or average)
Adjust Update Settings
If your dataset is large, you may not want to re-
run the database query every time you change
the visualization
Toggle off the auto updates if it slows down your
work
You can turn the auto update back on or
run an update manually whenever you
need it
Add Colors and Labels
Drag and drop fields to color by or
add to labels in mouseover tool
tips
Add Filters
•Drag and drop fields to filter by into the filter
shelf
•You can choose how filters are displayed
(range sliders, checkboxes, pulldowns,
textboxes, etc,)
•You can set multiple filters
•Filters do not have to be fields that are If you want to allow end
plotted users to use filters,
toggle on Show Quick
Filter
If you want to link filters
across multiple plots,
make them global
Create Histogram
•You can plots aggregate values of
measures (like average, sum, and
count) as well as the measures directly
•You can also bin values for histograms
Create each plot on a separate
worksheet
Create Dashboard
You can combine
plots on a single
dashboard
Drag and drop worksheets
into dashboard and
rearrange plots and filters
as desired
Publish Visualization
When the all your plots are
designed, publish the
workbook to the Tableau
server
Select the
plots you
want
Change authentication Click
to Embedded Publish
password so they don’t
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need to enter Oracle
Confidential
password
Find Design on Tableau Server
From the success window,
click on hyperlink to open
published visualization in
browser window
Find Design on Tableau Server
•Scroll down to the page that you
want to integrate into the LIMS
•You can see the analysis name
you need if you mouse over the
title
Find Design on Tableau Server
•You can also find the analysis
name in the URL if you open the
visualization you want
•The analysis name is the last 2
items in the URL path – they
should be the name you entered
when publishing and the name of
the worksheet in the workbook you
designed
Utility to Create URL
Currently this is a
stand alone utility
Enter the analysis name
you got from the Tableau
server and any other
settings
Click on the Encode
button to get a URL you
can paste into the LIMS
Create Menu Item or Function in LIMS
A function will display visualization
from a hyperlink on a record
Create a new menu item from
the Main Admin Panel to display
visualization from a selectable
menu
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Create New Menu or Function
Assign a database name
that explains what
visualization does
Label is what is displayed in the
menu
Paste URL generated from
utility
Give a category to help
find menu in a list of
items
Add Menu or Function To Application
You can add a menu under an existing
entity type or you can create a new super
type to add a separate menu bar for all
visualizations
Select Navigation on the Entity Type you
want to add a menu or function to in the
LIMS
Add Menu or Function To Application
Add the new visualizations to
the entity type to display them
End Users Can Access Visualization from Menu
Also Access Visualizations from Hyperlinks
You can also add a function with
Tableau URL to common record
pages
Visualizations Are Interactive
Users can change filter
settings
Mouseover tool tips are
interactive
Users Can Make Selections
Highlight points or bars or
legends to select data
Users Can View Underlying Data
Hover over axis to get View Data
Icon
Data opens in new
window
Users Can Save Changes
Save different personal views
and reapply them later
Users Can Share Views With Colleagues
Share exact personal views
by sending e-mails to
colleagues
Users Can Download Selected Columns
Can export selections as a text
file and paste list of barcodes
into List Functions page to get
reports with structures
Users Can Have Zoom Controls
…But you need to give zoom to
the worksheet before you
publish it
Conclusion
• Highly functional graphical interface can easily
be integrated into LIMS framework
• Interactive visualizations enable scientists to
more quickly drill down to key data for
decision-making