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Tableau Software
Tableau is easy-to-use data analytics software for exploring and visualizing data. Tableau places an emphasis on visual analytics, allowing you to move quickly from question to insight.
Use Tableau Desktop authoring software to create dashboards, workbooks, and analyses using the University Data Warehouse, local databases, spreadsheets, text files, and more. This work can then be shared with University faculty and staff via the Tableau server available at analytics.pitt.edu. All Pitt faculty and staff members have access to the Tableau Server. However, they will only be able to see dashboards and data for which they have permission.
Tableau Desktop users at Pitt meet monthly to share tips, techniques, and their work. If you receive a Tableau Desktop license, you’ll automatically be added to the invitation list for those meetings.
Tableau Products for Student, Instructor, Faculty, and Administrative/Staff Use
|
User Type |
Product(s) |
Cost |
Where to Purchase |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Students |
Tableau Desktop and Tableau Prep |
FREE |
|
|
Instructors (for classroom and/or non-commercial research use) |
Tableau Desktop and Tableau Prep |
FREE |
|
|
Staff, Faculty administrators (for administrative purposes) |
Tableau Desktop and Tableau Prep |
$315/year* |
* The Department pays $315 of the $630 cost; the remaining $315 is absorbed by Pitt IT.
Getting Started with Tableau is Easy
1. Choose one of the following options:
- Students, visit Tableau for Students>, fill out the eligibility form, and download the software.
- Instructors, visit Tableau for Teaching>, fill out the eligibility form, and download the software.
- Faculty and staff administrators, request a departmental software purchase for Tableau through the Software Store on PantherExpress.
2. Get started with Tableau by exploring sample Tableau data visualizations
More Ways to Get the Most from Tableau
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I try out Tableau Desktop?
Yes, download the 14-day free trial from Tableau. If you are a student or instructor, you are eligible for a free Tableau license.
Why do licenses for Tableau Desktop for staff and faculty administration now have a $315 annual cost associated with them?
The $315 charge for administrative licenses reflects recent changes to the vendor's license pricing structure for Tableau. The actual cost per license is $630. However, Pitt IT will absorb $315 of this amount.
When does the price change for administrative licenses for Tableau take place?
Immediately for new purchases of administrative licenses. Existing administrative licenses are eligible for renewal annually.
How can I access Tableau Server content?
All faculty and staff members at the University of Pittsburgh have access to the Tableau Server at analytics.pitt.edu. Visitors to analytics.pitt.edu will only see dashboards and worksheets to which they have been granted access by a Tableau Desktop author.
Who has access to view a dashboard on Tableau Server?
Tableau Desktop authors publish dashboards and worksheets to the Tableau Server. These authors are also responsible for granting access to those dashboards. If you would like access to a particular dashboard, contact the author of the dashboard to request access.
What kinds of data can Tableau use?
Tableau Desktop users can take advantage of several data sources connected directly to the University Data Warehouse. In addition, Tableau can ingest data from almost any database or format. It can easily connect to Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL and other databases, as well as CSV and Microsoft Excel files. These data sources can then be joined together to create unified datasets for analysis.
I’d like to have Tableau Dashboards in my school, department, or business unit. Who can help me?
Your school, department, or business unit may already have someone working with Tableau. If not, Pitt IT Business Intelligence provides consulting for analytics and dashboards. Contact the 24/7 IT Help Desk to find out more.