What are the most effective techniques you have used to optimize the performance of Tableau dashboards?
Another technique I have found useful is using Tableau's performance recording feature to identify bottlenecks and optimize workbook performance. This tool provides detailed insights into query times, rendering times, and data source utilization, helping me pinpoint areas for improvement.
In my experience, caching dashboards at the server level has significantly improved performance for frequent users. By storing the rendered image of a dashboard, subsequent requests can be served more quickly, reducing the overall load on the server and improving the user experience.
I prioritize the efficient use of Tableau's calculated fields. By carefully constructing calculations, I ensure that they are only evaluating the necessary data, minimizing unnecessary computations and improving performance.
One technique I have found effective is reducing the number of marks on a view by leveraging aggregation and LOD calculations. This helps to simplify the complexity of the data and improve performance. Additionally, I often use data source filters to limit the amount of data being loaded into Tableau, which can greatly speed up dashboard rendering.
I have had success with using appropriate data extracts instead of connecting directly to a live database. Extracts allow us to pre-aggregate the data and optimize its structure for Tableau's processing engine, resulting in faster load times and improved interactivity.