Tableau Reader

Tableau Reader is a free-to-use tool offered by Tableau which enables the end users to open the workbooks built in Tableau Desktop.
Tableau’s products offer a powerful way for organizations to visualize their data.

To see the data visualizations built on Tableau’s tool, you need to download the Tableau Reader. The setup and installation of the tool are easy and can be successfully completed following the onscreen installation instruction. Once downloaded, it will ask you to fill in your basic details like name, organization’s name you work for, your mail address etc. Then you can open any workbook shared to you and go through it.

You can perform various tasks on the workbook like a filter, drill down data, etc. but you cannot edit or make any changes in the original workbook. The Tableau Reader is purely for viewing the workbooks. With many amazing features, it is necessary to note down that the shared workbook can be opened by any user with the Tableau Reader. You virtually have no control over the data sent, so, ensure that no sensitive data is shared without proper encryption. Apart from that, it is necessary to use the same version of Tableau Desktop and Tableau Reader for making and viewing the workbook so that the end users can read the correct file version you made. If your files require frequent data updates, it will become a tedious task because you will have to keep refreshing the extract option.

Tableau Reader, as of now, is available for Windows and MAC operating systems. The tool supports devices like PC/laptops and is not compatible with tablets or smartphones. Apart from the few cons, Tableau Reader is undoubtedly a great tool for sharing your reports as it gives aesthetically good appeal to your presentation and makes it easier to understand.