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Tableau Storyboards

Understanding Storyboards and Their Use

What Are Tableau Storyboards?

Tableau Storyboards are a powerful feature that allows you to create a narrative or a sequence of visualizations that guide the viewer through a specific data story. A storyboard in Tableau is essentially a collection of dashboards or sheets arranged in a sequence, where each step (known as a “story point”) highlights different aspects of the data or builds on the previous analysis. This functionality is particularly useful for presentations, where you need to convey insights in a structured and compelling manner.

Key Components of a Tableau Storyboard:

  1. Story Points:
    • These are individual steps or pages within the storyboard. Each story point can display a different dashboard, worksheet, or specific view of the data.
    • Story points can include annotations, captions, and interactive elements, allowing you to highlight key findings or prompt the viewer to explore the data further.
  2. Navigator:
    • The navigator allows users to move between different story points, either linearly or by jumping to specific points of interest.
    • This feature helps maintain the flow of the story and ensures that viewers can easily follow the narrative.
  3. Captions and Descriptions:
    • Each story point can be accompanied by a caption or description, which provides context or commentary on the visualization.
    • Captions are essential for guiding the audience through the story and emphasizing the most important insights.

Use Cases for Tableau Storyboards:

  1. Data-Driven Presentations:
    • Storyboards are ideal for presenting data in a meeting or conference setting. They allow you to structure your presentation logically, building the narrative step by step.
  2. Scenario Analysis:
    • Use storyboards to show different scenarios or what-if analyses. Each story point can represent a different scenario, allowing viewers to compare outcomes easily.
  3. Project Reporting:
    • Storyboards are useful for reporting on projects or campaigns, where each story point can represent a different phase, metric, or result.
  4. Educational Tutorials:
    • For training or educational purposes, storyboards can guide users through complex data analyses, helping them understand how different visualizations are connected.

Steps to Create a Tableau Storyboard:

  1. Step 1: Prepare Your Dashboards and Worksheets:
    • Before creating a storyboard, ensure that you have all the necessary dashboards and worksheets ready. Each one should represent a key part of the story you want to tell.
  2. Step 2: Create a New Story:
    • Go to the “Story” tab in Tableau and select “New Story.” This will open the storyboard canvas.
  3. Step 3: Add Story Points:
    • Drag and drop your dashboards, worksheets, or even other stories onto the storyboard. Each addition becomes a new story point.
    • You can adjust each story point to focus on specific filters, parameters, or views that are relevant to the narrative.
  4. Step 4: Add Captions and Descriptions:
    • Provide captions or descriptions for each story point to guide the audience through the narrative. Use these to explain what the viewer should focus on or what insights are being revealed.
  5. Step 5: Customize the Navigator:
    • Customize the navigator to allow users to move between story points as needed. You can set it to linear progression or allow more flexibility based on the user’s preference.
  6. Step 6: Review and Publish:
    • Review the entire storyboard to ensure it flows logically and effectively tells the intended story. Once satisfied, publish the storyboard to Tableau Server, Tableau Public, or export it for presentation.

Benefits of Using Storyboards in Tableau:

  1. Structured Storytelling:
    • Storyboards provide a structured way to tell a data story, making it easier to communicate insights and guide the audience through your analysis.
  2. Interactive and Engaging:
    • With interactive elements, storyboards can engage the audience, allowing them to explore different aspects of the data as they follow the narrative.
  3. Flexible Presentations:
    • Storyboards allow you to adjust your presentation on the fly, based on audience reactions or questions, by navigating to different story points.
  4. Effective Communication:
    • The combination of visualizations, captions, and interactive elements ensures that your message is clear and memorable, leading to more impactful presentations.
  5. Consistency in Reporting:
    • Using storyboards ensures that your reporting is consistent across different audiences, as the narrative remains the same while allowing for exploration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the primary purpose of a Tableau storyboard?

A: The primary purpose of a Tableau storyboard is to create a narrative-driven presentation of data, guiding viewers through a sequence of visualizations to highlight key insights and tell a cohesive story.

Q: Can I include interactive elements in a Tableau storyboard?

A: Yes, you can include interactive elements such as filters, parameters, and highlight actions in a storyboard, allowing viewers to explore the data within the narrative structure.

Q: How is a storyboard different from a dashboard in Tableau?

A: A dashboard displays multiple visualizations on a single canvas, often focused on a specific aspect of the data. A storyboard, on the other hand, arranges multiple dashboards or sheets into a sequence, guiding the viewer through a data-driven story.

Q: Can I use the same dashboard in multiple story points?

A: Yes, you can use the same dashboard in multiple story points, adjusting filters or views to focus on different aspects of the data in each point.

Q: How do I navigate between story points during a presentation?

A: Tableau provides a navigator within the storyboard, allowing you to move between story points sequentially or jump to specific points. You can also use keyboard shortcuts or a presentation clicker to navigate during a live presentation.

Q: Is it possible to export a Tableau storyboard for offline use?

A: Yes, you can export a Tableau storyboard as a PDF or PowerPoint file, or you can save it as an image. However, interactivity will be limited in these static formats. For full interactivity, consider publishing the storyboard to Tableau Server or Tableau Public.

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