Build an Interactive Sales Dashboard

Combine 4 visualizations into a published Tableau Public dashboard.

Introduction

30 Second Summary

You have four great charts, but sending someone four separate images is not the same as giving them a single interactive page where they can click, filter, and explore your analysis themselves.

In this project, you will assemble your existing Tableau visualizations into a polished interactive dashboard with KPI cards, filter actions, and a year parameter. You will also build a Story Points narrative and publish everything to Tableau Public as a live portfolio piece.

What You'll Build

A professional multi-view Tableau dashboard that combines all 4 visualizations from Project 3-1 into a single cohesive, interactive view with headline metrics, cross-sheet filtering, a year parameter, a 3-slide data narrative, and a shareable public URL.

By the end of this project, you'll have:

KPI summary cards displaying headline metrics (Total Sales, Total Profit, Profit Ratio) formatted as clean, big-number displays.
An interactive dashboard with filter actions (click a state to filter all charts), a year selection parameter, and a Reset Filters mechanism.
A Story Points narrative that frames your analysis as a 3-point business case (overall picture, problem, recommendation).
A live Tableau Public workbook with a shareable URL that hiring managers can click and explore immediately.
Secret Mission: Add a highlight action and embed a Viz in Tooltip sparkline in your map.

Are there any prerequisites?

Yes. This project builds directly on Project 3-1, where you created a Tableau workbook with 4 visualizations (filled map, time-series line chart, bar/comparison chart, and scatter plot) plus calculated fields for profit margin %, YoY growth, average order value, and LOD expressions using the Superstore dataset.

You need that completed workbook open in Tableau Desktop Public Edition before starting this project.

Build KPI Summary Cards

Dashboards need headline numbers that tell the story at a glance. Before you assemble your visualizations into a single view, you need dedicated KPI cards that surface the metrics a stakeholder looks at first.

In this step, you will create three KPI summary card worksheets, each displaying a single large number with a descriptive label. These cards will sit across the top of your dashboard in the next step.

In this step, get ready to:

Create the KPI Sales worksheet with a formatted currency number.
Create the KPI Profit and KPI Profit Ratio worksheets.
Add descriptive subtitle labels to each card.

Create the KPI Sales worksheet

Tableau does not have a built-in KPI card widget. Instead, you build one by placing a measure on the Text mark and stripping away everything else until only the number remains.

At the bottom of your workbook, click the **New Worksheet** tab (the icon to the right of your existing sheet tabs).
Right-click the new tab at the bottom and select Rename.
Type KPI Sales and press Enter.

You now have a blank worksheet ready for your first KPI card.

Make sure no dimensions are on the Rows or Columns shelves. If anything is there from a previous copy, drag it off the shelf to remove it.
In the Data pane on the left, find the Sales measure.
Drag Sales to Text on the Marks card.
On the Marks card, click the dropdown that says Automatic and select Text as the mark type.

What is the Marks card?

The Marks card controls how data points are displayed in your view. By setting the mark type to Text and dragging a measure to the Text property, you tell Tableau to display the value as a number instead of drawing a shape or bar.

Now format the number so it reads as a clean currency value.

Right-click the SUM(Sales) pill on the Marks card.
Select Format.
In the Format pane that opens on the left, under Numbers, choose Currency (Custom).
Set Decimal places to 0.
Set Display Units to K or M (whichever makes your total readable at a glance).

Next, increase the font size so the number dominates the card.

On the Marks card, click the Text button.
In the dialog that appears, click the ellipsis (...) to open the text editor.
Select the text inside the editor.
Set the font size to 22pt or larger.
Click the Bold button.
Set the alignment to center.
Click OK to close the editor.

Finally, strip away all visual chrome so only the number shows.

Go to the toolbar and click Worksheet in the menu bar.
Uncheck Show Title to hide the worksheet title.
Go to Format in the menu bar and select Lines.
In the Format Lines pane, set Grid Lines to None for both Rows and Columns.
Set Zero Lines to None as well.
Go to Format in the menu bar and select Borders.
Set Row Divider and Column Divider to None.

Your worksheet should now display a single, large currency number in the center with nothing else visible.

Still seeing axes or headers?

If you see column or row headers, right-click them and uncheck Show Header. Make sure no fields are sitting on the Rows or Columns shelves.

help me remove extra elements from my Tableau KPI card worksheet

Create the KPI Profit and KPI Profit Ratio worksheets

The process is the same for the remaining two cards. Each one displays a single formatted metric.

Create a new worksheet and rename it KPI Profit.
Drag Profit to Text on the Marks card.
Set the mark type to Text.
Right-click the SUM(Profit) pill on the Marks card and select Format.
Under Numbers, choose Currency (Custom) with 0 decimal places.
Click the Text button on the Marks card, open the editor via the ellipsis, and set the font to 22pt+ bold, centered.
Hide the title, gridlines, zero lines, and dividers using the same steps as the KPI Sales card.

Now create the profit ratio card.

Create a new worksheet and rename it KPI Profit Ratio.
In the Data pane, find your existing Profit Margin % calculated field (created in Project 3-1).
Drag Profit Margin % to Text on the Marks card.
Set the mark type to Text.
Right-click the pill on the Marks card and select Format.
Under Numbers, choose Percentage with 1 decimal place.
Click the Text button on the Marks card, open the editor via the ellipsis, and set the font to 22pt+ bold, centered.
Hide the title, gridlines, zero lines, and dividers using the same steps as before.

You should now have three clean, single-number worksheets in your workbook tabs.

Can't find the Profit Margin % field?

This calculated field was created in Project 3-1. Look in the Data pane under the measures section. If you used a different name when you created it, search for it using the magnifying glass icon at the top of the Data pane.

help me find my calculated field in Tableau

Add subtitle labels to each KPI card

A big number on its own does not communicate what it represents. Adding a small descriptive label beneath the number gives each card instant clarity.

Switch to your KPI Sales worksheet.
On the Marks card, click the Text button.
Click the ellipsis (...) to open the text editor.
Place your cursor after the existing SUM(Sales) tag.
Press Enter to add a line break.
Type Total Sales on the new line.
Select just the Total Sales text you typed.
Set the font size to 10pt.
Set the font color to gray.
Click OK to close the editor.

Repeat for the other two cards.

Switch to KPI Profit and add the subtitle Total Profit in 10pt gray below the number.
Switch to KPI Profit Ratio and add the subtitle Profit Ratio in 10pt gray below the number.

Why add a subtitle inside the Text mark?

Embedding the label directly in the Text mark keeps it attached to the number. When this card goes into a dashboard container, the label travels with the value as a single unit. No extra text boxes to position or maintain.

Each KPI card now shows one bold metric with a gray descriptor underneath. No axes, headers, or gridlines are visible.

Your three KPI cards are ready. Next up, you will assemble these cards alongside your four visualizations into a single interactive dashboard.

Assemble the Multi-View Dashboard

Your KPI cards are ready. Now it's time to bring all seven worksheets together into a single, cohesive view that tells a complete story at a glance.

A dashboard in Tableau combines multiple worksheets onto one canvas, letting viewers compare metrics side by side without switching tabs. You will arrange the KPI cards across the top and your four visualizations in a grid below, creating a professional layout that fits neatly on screen.

In this step, get ready to:

Create a new dashboard and set it to a fixed size for consistent display.
Arrange KPI cards and visualizations using layout containers.
Add a title and clean up the design for a polished look.

Create a new dashboard and set its size

A fixed dashboard size ensures your layout looks the same on every screen and displays correctly when published to Tableau Public.

Click the New Dashboard tab at the bottom of your workbook (the icon with a grid and a plus sign, next to your sheet tabs).
In the Dashboard pane on the lower left, find the Size section.
Click the Size dropdown and select Desktop Browser (1366 x 768).
Confirm the sizing behavior is set to Fixed size.

Why fixed size?

A fixed size locks your dashboard to exact pixel dimensions. This prevents elements from reflowing unpredictably when the browser window changes size.

The 1366 x 768 resolution matches the most common laptop screen width, so your published dashboard will display without scrollbars for most viewers.

Build the layout structure with containers

Layout containers group related items so they resize together. You will use a Horizontal container for the KPI row and a combination of containers for the 2x2 visualization grid.

In the Dashboard pane, scroll down to the Objects section at the bottom.
Drag a Horizontal layout container onto the top area of the blank dashboard canvas.
From the Sheets list in the Dashboard pane (upper left), drag KPI Sales into the Horizontal container.
Drag KPI Profit into the same Horizontal container, to the right of KPI Sales.
Drag KPI Profit Ratio into the same Horizontal container, to the right of KPI Profit.

Look for the blue highlight

As you hover over the Horizontal container, a blue outline appears to confirm your sheet will land inside the container. If you drop it outside the blue zone, the sheet will be placed as a separate tiled object instead.

Right-click the Horizontal container's border (or click any KPI card inside it, then click Select Container from the dropdown menu on the container) and choose Distribute Evenly.
Below the KPI container, drag your filled map worksheet onto the left half of the remaining canvas space.
Drag your line chart worksheet to the right of the filled map.
Drag your bar chart worksheet below the filled map.
Drag your scatter plot worksheet below the line chart (to the right of the bar chart).

What is the 2x2 grid layout?

You are arranging four visualizations in two rows of two. The top row holds the filled map (left) and line chart (right). The bottom row holds the bar chart (left) and scatter plot (right).

Tableau may automatically create Horizontal and Vertical containers as you drop sheets. You can verify the structure in the Layout pane on the left, which shows the item hierarchy.

You should now see all seven worksheets on your dashboard: three KPI cards in a row across the top, and four visualizations arranged in a 2x2 grid below.

Sheets not lining up evenly?

If one sheet takes up more space than the others, click the edge of the sheet and drag to resize it manually. You can also right-click a container and select Distribute Evenly to reset the spacing.

If a sheet lands outside a container, undo with Cmd+Z (macOS) or Ctrl+Z (Windows), then try the drag again while watching for the blue highlight on the container.

Help me fix my dashboard layout in Tableau.

Add a title and clean up the design

A clear title tells viewers what they are looking at. Hiding redundant sheet titles and tightening padding gives the dashboard a polished, professional appearance.

In the Objects section of the Dashboard pane, drag a Text object to the very top of the dashboard (above the KPI container).
In the Edit Text dialog that appears, type Superstore Sales Performance Dashboard.
Highlight all the text, set the font size to 16pt, and apply Bold.
Click OK to close the Edit Text dialog.

Now clean up redundant sheet titles that duplicate what the KPI labels or the dashboard title already communicate.

Right-click the title area on the KPI Sales sheet in the dashboard and select Hide Title.
Repeat for KPI Profit and KPI Profit Ratio.
For each of the four visualization sheets, decide whether its title adds context. If the title simply repeats something obvious from the chart, right-click it and select Hide Title.
Select a container in the dashboard (click it so the blue border appears).
In the Layout pane on the left, find Outer Padding and set all sides to 2 to 4 px.
Repeat for other containers until the spacing between elements looks tight and uniform.

Why hide sheet titles?

Each worksheet has its own title by default. On a dashboard, these titles can become visual clutter when the dashboard title or the KPI labels already communicate the same information.

Removing redundant titles frees up vertical space and keeps the viewer's attention on the data.

Check that all elements fit within the 1366 x 768 fixed frame. If you see scrollbars on the dashboard canvas, resize containers or reduce padding until everything fits without scrolling.

Seeing scrollbars on the dashboard?

Scrollbars appear when content overflows the fixed frame. Try reducing the height of the KPI row by clicking its top or bottom edge and dragging inward.

You can also check for hidden legends or filters that are taking up space. Open the Layout pane and review the item hierarchy for any unexpected objects.

Help me fit my Tableau dashboard into the fixed frame.

Your dashboard layout is assembled. Next up, you will bring it to life by adding interactive filter actions and a year parameter that let viewers explore the data on their own.

Add Interactivity

Your dashboard layout is complete with KPI cards and a 2x2 visualization grid. Right now, though, it's a static display. Users can look at it, but they can't explore the data themselves.

Interactivity is what transforms a dashboard from a report into a tool. In this step, you'll wire up filter actions, a year parameter, and a reset mechanism so that users can drill into specific states and time periods with a single click.

In this step, get ready to:

Enable the filled map as a cross-sheet filter so clicking a state filters all other views.
Create a Year parameter that lets users control the time period displayed across the entire dashboard.
Add a reset mechanism so users can clear all filters by clicking empty space on the map.

Enable the map as a cross-sheet filter

A filter action sends data values from one sheet to filter all other sheets on the dashboard. The fastest way to set one up is with the Use as Filter shortcut built into every dashboard sheet.

On your dashboard, click on the filled map sheet to select it.
In the upper-right corner of the selected sheet, click the Use as Filter icon (it looks like a funnel).

What does Use as Filter do?

Enabling Use as Filter creates a filter action behind the scenes. Clicking any mark (a state, in this case) on the map sends that state's data values to every other sheet on the dashboard, filtering them to show only matching data.

This is equivalent to manually creating a filter action via Dashboard > Actions > Add Action > Filter, but with a single click instead of configuring a dialog.

Test the filter by clicking any state on the map.
Confirm that the KPI cards, line chart, bar chart, and scatter plot all update to show only that state's data.

KPI cards not updating?

Make sure you selected the filled map sheet itself (not one of the KPI sheets) before clicking the Use as Filter icon. The icon only appears when a sheet is actively selected on the dashboard canvas.

If the icon doesn't appear, try clicking directly on the sheet's border or title area to select it (rather than clicking on a mark inside it).

Why aren't my other sheets filtering when I click a state on the map?

Create a Year parameter and calculated field

A parameter gives users a dropdown control to select a value. You'll create one that lets users pick a specific year (or view all years at once) and then connect it to a calculated field that filters every sheet.

Switch to any worksheet tab (for example, your filled map worksheet).
In the Data pane, click the dropdown arrow in the upper-right corner.
Select Create Parameter.
Name the parameter Select Year.
Set Data type to Integer.
Set Allowable values to List.
Add the following values to the list: All, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.
Set Current value to All.
Click OK to create the parameter.

What is a parameter?

A parameter is a user-controlled input that you can reference in calculations, filters, and reference lines. Unlike a standard filter (which shows values from your data), a parameter lets you define a custom list of options.

On its own, a parameter does nothing. You need a calculated field to read the parameter's current value and act on it.

Now create the calculated field that connects the parameter to your data.

In the Data pane, click the dropdown arrow again and select Create Calculated Field.
Name the calculated field Year Filter.
Enter this formula:

[Select Year] = 'All' OR YEAR([Order Date]) = INT([Select Year])

Click OK to save the calculated field.

What does this formula do?

This formula returns True or False for every row in your data. If the user selects "All," the first condition ([Select Year] = 'All') is True for every row, so everything shows.

If the user picks a specific year like 2022, the second condition (YEAR([Order Date]) = INT([Select Year])) checks whether each row's order year matches. Only matching rows pass the filter.

Next, apply this calculated field as a filter on every worksheet that should respond to the year selection.

On each of your 4 visualization worksheets (filled map, line chart, bar chart, scatter plot), drag the Year Filter field from the Data pane to the Filters shelf.
When the filter dialog appears, check True only, then click OK.
Repeat for each of your 3 KPI worksheets (KPI Sales, KPI Profit, KPI Profit Ratio).

Speed up with copy-filter

After applying the filter on one worksheet, you can right-click the Year Filter pill on the Filters shelf, select Apply to Worksheets, and choose the relevant sheets. This saves dragging the field seven times.

Finally, display the parameter control on the dashboard so users can interact with it.

Switch back to your dashboard tab.
In the Data pane on the left, right-click the Select Year parameter.
Select Show Parameter.
A dropdown control appears on your dashboard. Test it by selecting different years and confirming all views update.

Year parameter not filtering views?

Make sure you applied the Year Filter calculated field to the Filters shelf on all 7 worksheets (4 visualizations + 3 KPI cards). If you missed one, that sheet will not respond to the parameter.

Also confirm you checked only True in the filter dialog. If both True and False are checked, no rows get excluded.

My Year parameter control appears but the views don't change when I select a year. How do I fix this?

Add a reset mechanism for filters

When a user clicks a state on the map, all views filter to that state. But how do they get back to the full view? You'll configure a reset action so that clicking empty space on the map clears all filters automatically.

On the dashboard, select Dashboard from the top menu bar.
Click Actions.
In the Actions dialog, click Add Action, then select Filter.
Name the action Reset All Filters.
Under Source Sheets, select your filled map sheet.
Set Run action on to Select.
Under Clearing the selection will, choose Show all values.
Click OK to close the filter action dialog, then click OK again to close the Actions dialog.

How does the reset work?

When "Clearing the selection will: Show all values" is set, clicking empty space on the map deselects all marks. This clears the filter action and tells all target sheets to show all values again.

It works because Tableau treats a deselected state as a cleared selection. No selection means no filter, so everything resets to the unfiltered view.

Now test the complete interaction flow to confirm all three features work together.

Click a state on the map. All views should filter to that state's data.
Click empty space on the map (an area without any state). All views should reset to show all data.
Change the Select Year parameter to a specific year. All views should update to show only that year's data.
Set the parameter back to All to confirm everything returns to the full dataset.

Clicking empty space doesn't reset?

Make sure you set Clearing the selection will to Show all values (not "Leave the filter" or "Exclude all values"). Open Dashboard > Actions and edit the Reset All Filters action to verify this setting.

Also make sure you're clicking truly empty space on the map (not a state boundary). If clicking near states, try clicking in the ocean or well outside any state shape.

My filter reset action isn't working when I click empty space on the map. What should I check?

Your dashboard is now fully interactive. Users can explore by state, by year, or both. Next up, you'll build a Story Points narrative that walks viewers through your key findings step by step.

Build the Story Points Narrative

Your dashboard now responds to clicks, parameter changes, and resets. But an interactive dashboard alone does not tell a story.

A hiring manager looking at your portfolio needs to understand your analytical thinking, not just your technical setup. Story Points in Tableau let you guide a viewer through a sequence of insights, just like slides in a presentation. Each story point is an independent snapshot where you can apply different filters and annotations without affecting the others.

In this step, get ready to:

Create your first story point showing the overall business picture.
Add a second story point that isolates a problem area.
Build a third story point with a forward-looking recommendation.

Create the story and set up your "Big Picture" story point

The first story point sets the scene. It shows your full dashboard with no filters applied, giving the viewer the complete picture before you zoom into problems.

Click the New Story tab at the bottom of your workbook (next to your dashboard tab).
In the lower-left corner of the screen, under Size, set a custom size of 1366 x 768 pixels to match your dashboard dimensions.
From the Story pane on the left, drag your completed dashboard (Sales Performance Dashboard) onto the first story point canvas.
Add a caption by editing the text in the gray box above the viz. Type something like: "The Big Picture: Superstore generated $2.3M in sales across 4 years with an overall profit ratio of 12.5%" (replace the numbers with your actual values from the KPI cards).

What is a story point caption?

The caption is the short text that appears in the navigator bar at the top of your story. Viewers click these captions to jump between points. Think of them like slide titles that summarize the insight on each page.

Each story point is independent. Changes you make to filters or parameters on one point do not affect the others.

Confirm your first story point shows the full, unfiltered dashboard with all KPI values reflecting the complete dataset.

Dashboard not appearing in the Story pane?

Make sure you are dragging from the Story pane on the left (which lists sheets and dashboards), not from the Objects section. Your dashboard should be listed by name under the sheets list.

If the dashboard appears cropped, check that the story size matches your dashboard size (both should be 1366 x 768).

Why isn't my dashboard showing in the story point?

Add the "Problem" story point

The second story point zooms into a specific problem area. You will filter to a single state to reveal where revenue is high but profitability is low.

Click Duplicate in the Story toolbar (the options above the navigator area that say Blank and Duplicate). This creates a new story point using your current point as a starting place.
On this duplicated story point, click a state on the map that has visible profitability problems. Texas is a good choice because it shows high revenue but mixed profitability across sub-categories. California also works as the highest-revenue state.
Watch the dashboard filter. Your KPI cards, line chart, bar chart, and scatter plot all update to show only that state's data.
Update the caption in the gray box above the viz. Type something like: "The Problem: Texas shows high revenue but low profitability in Furniture, suggesting discount-heavy strategies are eroding margins." Adjust the state name and sub-category to match what your filtered data reveals.
In the Story pane on the left, find Drag to add text and drag it onto the story point canvas.
Type 1-2 sentences explaining what the filtered view reveals. For example: "Filtering to this state shows that while total revenue appears healthy, the profit ratio drops significantly in specific sub-categories where heavy discounting is applied."
Click Update on the story toolbar above the navigator to save your changes to this story point.

Why click Update after making changes?

When you interact with a dashboard inside a story point (clicking filters, changing parameters), those changes are temporary until you click Update. This saves the current filter state as part of that story point's snapshot.

If you navigate away without clicking Update, Tableau will ask if you want to keep or revert your changes.

Filter changes affecting your first story point?

Each story point is independent. If your first point is also showing filtered data, you may have accidentally edited it instead of the duplicate. Click back to the first story point in the navigator and click Revert on the story toolbar to reset it.

Help me fix my story points so each one shows different filter states.

Build the "Recommendation" story point and preview your story

The final story point delivers your recommendation. You will isolate the most recent year to show current trends and suggest a path forward.

Click Duplicate again to create a third story point from the current one.
On this third story point, first click an empty area of the map to clear the state filter from the previous point.
Use the Select Year parameter control on the dashboard to isolate the most recent year (e.g., 2023).
Update the caption to: "The Recommendation: Reduce discounting in unprofitable sub-categories and focus growth investment on high-margin products in underperforming regions."
Drag another Drag to add text object from the Story pane onto the canvas.
Type a brief explanation. For example: "Focusing on the most recent year shows which sub-categories are currently underperforming. Reducing discounts in these areas while investing in high-margin products offers the clearest path to improved profitability."
Click Update on the story toolbar to save this story point.
Rename the story tab by double-clicking the tab name at the bottom of the screen and typing Superstore Profitability Analysis.
Preview your story by clicking the Presentation Mode button on the toolbar (or go to Window > Presentation Mode).
Step through your 3 story points using the arrow to the right of the navigator or the arrow keys on your keyboard. Press Esc to exit Presentation Mode.

What makes a strong 3-point narrative?

Your three story points follow a classic persuasion structure. Point 1 (The Big Picture) establishes the baseline so the viewer understands the scale. Point 2 (The Problem) creates tension by zooming into something unexpected or concerning. Point 3 (The Recommendation) resolves the tension with a data-backed suggestion.

This structure works in portfolio reviews because it shows a hiring manager you can identify problems, not just display data.

Confirm that stepping through all 3 story points in Presentation Mode shows different dashboard states: unfiltered, filtered to a state, and filtered to the most recent year.

Story points all showing the same view?

Make sure you clicked Update on the story toolbar after making filter or parameter changes on each story point. Without clicking Update, your changes are not saved to that point's snapshot.

If all three points show identical states, go back to each one individually, apply the correct filter or parameter setting, and click Update.

My story points all look the same even though I applied different filters.

Your analytical narrative is complete. Next up, you will publish everything to Tableau Public so hiring managers can interact with your dashboard through a shareable URL.

Publish to Tableau Public

Your 3-point Story narrative transforms raw charts into a persuasive business case. But right now, only you can see it on your local machine.

In this step, you'll publish your entire workbook to Tableau Public. This gives anyone with the link a fully interactive experience of your dashboard, parameter controls, filter actions, and story.

In this step, get ready to:

Save and publish your workbook to Tableau Public.
Add a professional description documenting your analysis.
Test the live URL in an incognito browser window.

Save and publish to Tableau Public

Tableau Public does not support live data connections. The publishing process creates an extract of your data automatically, but you may need to switch the connection type beforehand if Tableau prompts you.

Save your workbook locally first by clicking File > Save As.
Choose a location on your computer (your Desktop works well) and click Save.
Select Server > Tableau Public > Save to Tableau Public.
Sign in with your Tableau Public credentials.

✔️ I see the save dialog

You're signed in and ready to name your workbook. Move on to the next substep.

ⓧ I'm prompted about the data connection

Open the Data Source page (the tab at the bottom-left of your Tableau window).
In the top-right corner of the Data Source page, change the Connection type from Live to Extract.
Try again: select Server > Tableau Public > Save to Tableau Public.

Why does Tableau Public require an extract?

Tableau Public hosts workbooks on its own servers. It cannot maintain a live connection to your local data files. An extract packages your data into a portable snapshot that Tableau Public can serve to anyone who visits your dashboard.

ⓧ I don't have a Tableau Public account

In the sign-in dialog, click Create one now for free and follow the prompts to register.
After creating your account, return to Tableau Desktop and select Server > Tableau Public > Save to Tableau Public again.
Sign in with your new credentials.

What happens when you publish?

When you save a workbook to Tableau Public, the publishing process creates an extract of the data connection. Your workbook and data are then uploaded to Tableau Public's servers.

Workbooks and data published to your Tableau Public profile are not private and are freely accessible to anyone with the URL.

Name your workbook and add a description

In the save dialog, name your workbook Superstore Sales Performance Dashboard.
Click Save.

Tableau will create the data extract and upload your workbook. After publishing, your browser automatically opens to your Tableau Public profile page showing the workbook.

On your Tableau Public page, click Edit Details.
In the description field, write a brief README that covers four things:
Click Save to apply your description.

Write for hiring managers

Your description is the first thing a recruiter reads before interacting with the dashboard. Lead with the business question, not a list of tools. This signals that you think like an analyst, not just a tool operator.

Publishing seems stuck or fails?

The upload can take a minute depending on your internet speed. If it fails, confirm you saved locally first, check your internet connection, and try Server > Tableau Public > Save to Tableau Public again.

Help me troubleshoot publishing to Tableau Public

Test the shareable URL

A published dashboard means nothing if the link doesn't work for others. Testing in an incognito window simulates a first-time visitor with no cached login.

Copy the shareable URL from your browser's address bar.
Alternatively, click Share at the bottom of the viz and copy the link from there.
Open an incognito or private browser window.
Paste the URL and press Enter.

Confirm these three things work in the incognito window:

The dashboard loads and all 4 visualizations plus KPI cards are visible.
Clicking a state on the map filters all other views. Clicking empty space resets it.
The Story tab is accessible and you can step through all 3 story points.

What about the Year parameter?

Your Select Year parameter control should also appear on the published dashboard. Change the value to confirm the KPI cards and charts update accordingly.

Dashboard not loading for others?

If the incognito window shows an error or blank page, wait 1-2 minutes for Tableau Public's servers to propagate. Refresh the page. If interactivity doesn't work, confirm you republished after adding your filter actions and parameter.

Help me fix my Tableau Public dashboard that isn't loading correctly

This URL is now ready for your LinkedIn, resume, or portfolio. Anyone who clicks it can interact with your full analysis.

Secret mission

Add a Highlight Action and Viz in Tooltip

Your dashboard already filters on click. But what about hover? In this extension, you'll add cross-sheet highlighting that dims unrelated marks when you hover over a bar, and embed a mini sparkline chart directly inside your map's tooltip. These are the kinds of polish details that separate a student project from a portfolio piece.

Clean Up Your Resources

This project runs entirely on Tableau Public, which is free and does not incur any ongoing charges. Decide whether to keep your resources running, pause them to come back later, or delete them entirely.

Resources you used:

Tableau Public workbook ("Superstore Sales Performance Dashboard") hosted at your public URL.
Local workbook file saved on your computer.

Keep everything running

No action needed. Choose this if you are still actively building or want your portfolio piece to remain accessible.

Your Tableau Public workbook remains live indefinitely at no cost.
Anyone with the URL can view and interact with your dashboard.
You can republish updated versions anytime from Tableau Desktop Public Edition using the same Server > Tableau Public > Save to Tableau Public workflow.

Pause - I'll come back to this later

Since Tableau Public is free, there is nothing to shut down to save costs. Your workbook stays live with no charges.

Keep your local workbook file so you can reopen and edit it later.
When you are ready to resume, open the local file in Tableau Desktop Public Edition and continue working.
Republish any changes using Server > Tableau Public > Save to Tableau Public.

Delete - I don't want to use this again

Remove all project resources completely.

Delete the Tableau Public workbook: log in to your Tableau Public profile, navigate to your viz, click the ellipsis menu, and select Delete.
Delete your local workbook file. On macOS, move it to the Trash. On Windows, right-click the file and select Delete.

Nice Work!

You just built a professional, interactive sales dashboard and published it live to Tableau Public as a portfolio piece. Anyone with the link can now click, filter, and explore your analytical thinking in action.

You've learned how to:

Assembled a multi-view interactive dashboard with KPI summary cards, cross-sheet filter actions, a year parameter, and a reset mechanism that lets users explore data on their own terms.
Built a 3-point Story Points narrative that frames your analysis as a business case with an overall picture, a problem, and a recommendation.
Published a live, shareable portfolio piece to Tableau Public with a README description that hiring managers can click and interact with immediately.
Secret Mission: Added cross-sheet highlight actions on hover and embedded a Viz in Tooltip sparkline for advanced interactivity.

Ready to quiz yourself?