Adobe Implementation Playbook

Skills

Skill used throughout the build

Tableau for Adobe Data — Dashboards on CJA / Analytics Exports

many teams report Adobe data in Tableau alongside other sources. You connect exports from CJA or Analytics (or warehouse tables fed by Data Feeds / AEP), build calculated KPIs, and share dashboards. Publishing to Tableau Public also gives you a shareable portfolio link.

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Modules

Module 1

Connect to Adobe data

Concept
Tableau connects to files (CSV/Excel) or databases (Snowflake, BigQuery). Start with a CSV export.
Where it's used
CJA/Analytics Workspace > freeform table > Download CSV; or warehouse tables from Data Feeds/AEP.
Workspace table: Day | Channel | Visits | Orders | Revenue
→ Download CSV
→ Tableau: Connect > Text file

Practice: Export 30 days of visits, orders and revenue by channel and connect it in Tableau.

Tableau Data Source page
Screenshot Tableau Data Source pageAdd screenshots/tableau/module-01.png
Module 2

Prepare the data

Concept
Check field types, rename fields, set dimensions (categories) vs measures (numbers), pivot wide tables.
Where it's used
Making exported column names business-friendly.
Day        → Date
Channel    → Dimension (string)
Visits     → Measure (number)
Revenue    → Measure (currency)

Practice: Fix any field with the wrong type and rename fields to plain English.

Data pane with correct types
Screenshot Data pane with correct typesAdd screenshots/tableau/module-02.png
Module 3

First charts

Concept
Drag dimensions and measures onto Rows/Columns; use Show Me for chart types.
Where it's used
Trend and channel-mix views like a Workspace freeform.
Line: Date (Columns) × SUM(Revenue) (Rows)
Bar:  Channel (Rows) × SUM(Visits) (Columns)

Practice: Build a revenue trend line and a visits-by-channel bar chart.

Two worksheets
Screenshot Two worksheetsAdd screenshots/tableau/module-03.png
Module 4

Calculated fields

Concept
Create KPIs with formulas; use IF/CASE for groupings.
Where it's used
Conversion rate and AOV, matching your Analytics calculated metrics.
// Conversion Rate
SUM([Orders]) / SUM([Visits])

/ AOV
SUM([Revenue]) / SUM([Orders])

Practice: Add conversion rate and AOV; check they match Workspace for one day.

Calculated field editor
Screenshot Calculated field editorAdd screenshots/tableau/module-04.png
Module 5

Filters & parameters

Concept
Filters limit data; parameters let viewers switch values such as the metric shown.
Where it's used
Interactive views for stakeholders (date range, channel).
Parameter [Metric]: Visits / Orders / Revenue
CASE [Metric]
  WHEN "Visits" THEN SUM([Visits])
  WHEN "Orders" THEN SUM([Orders])
  ELSE SUM([Revenue]) END

Practice: Add a date filter and a metric-switch parameter.

Worksheet with filter and parameter controls
Screenshot Worksheet with filter and parameter controlsAdd screenshots/tableau/module-05.png
Module 6

LOD expressions

Concept
Level of Detail calcs compute at a set grain regardless of the view: FIXED, INCLUDE, EXCLUDE.
Where it's used
First-purchase cohorts, like Workspace cohort tables.
// First purchase month per customer
{ FIXED [Customer ID] :
    MIN([Order Date]) }

Practice: Build a cohort view of customers by first-purchase month.

Cohort chart
Screenshot Cohort chartAdd screenshots/tableau/module-06.png
Module 7

Build the dashboard

Concept
Combine sheets, add titles and KPI tiles, use filter actions so clicking one chart filters the others.
Where it's used
Executive dashboard mirroring the measurement plan KPIs.
Dashboard: KPI tiles (Visits, Orders, CR, AOV)
+ Revenue trend + Channel bar
Action: click channel → filters trend

Practice: Build a one-page KPI dashboard with one filter action.

Finished dashboard
Screenshot Finished dashboardAdd screenshots/tableau/module-07.png
Module 8

Publish & reconcile

Concept
Publish to Tableau Public (portfolio) or Tableau Server/Cloud; schedule refreshes for live sources.
Where it's used
Sharing results and proving numbers match Adobe reports.
Check: Tableau total revenue (yesterday)
   = CJA/Analytics total revenue (yesterday)
Difference > 1% → check date range, time zone, filters

Practice: Publish to Tableau Public and add the link to this board.

Public dashboard link + reconciliation note
Screenshot Public dashboard link + reconciliation noteAdd screenshots/tableau/module-08.png

Must know

  • Tableau connects to exports from CJA or Analytics, or to warehouse tables fed by Data Feeds or AEP.
  • Calculated fields create KPIs (conversion rate, AOV); aggregate correctly to avoid wrong ratios.
  • LOD expressions (FIXED, INCLUDE, EXCLUDE) compute values at a different level from the view.
  • Parameters let viewers switch metrics or thresholds.
  • Always reconcile Tableau numbers with Workspace before sharing.

Interview questions

From your board. Answer out loud before you reveal.

Dimension vs measure?

Dimensions are categories you group by (channel, date); measures are numbers you aggregate (visits, revenue).

What are LOD expressions?

Calculations at a fixed level of detail independent of the view — FIXED, INCLUDE and EXCLUDE — e.g. first purchase date per customer.

Live connection vs extract?

Live queries the source each time (always current, can be slower); an extract is a snapshot copy (fast, needs scheduled refresh).

Your Tableau numbers don’t match CJA — what do you check?

Date range and time zone, filters/segments applied, metric definitions, and whether the export was sampled or truncated.

How do you make a dashboard interactive?

Filters, parameters and dashboard actions (filter/highlight actions) so selecting one view updates the others.

How would you get Adobe data into Tableau at scale?

Use a warehouse fed by Analytics Data Feeds or AEP dataset exports, then connect Tableau live or via scheduled extracts.

Key terms and sources

TermWhat it is
Types of calculationsBasic, LOD and table calculations.
LOD expressionsLevel of Detail expressions overview.
FIXED LODFIXED Level of Detail expressions.
ParametersCreating parameters.
RelationshipsHow analysis works with related tables.