FAQS
Q. What is Tableau?
A.Tableau is a data software product which allows users to create a wide variety of graphical representations of their data. Tableau also allows persons who visit a Tableau site the opportunity to interact with the visualizations and customize them to answer questions they may have about the underlying data. Some common Tableau visualizations include bar graphs, line charts, data tables, and various types of maps. Visualizations that are grouped together onto one sheet are known as dashboards.
Q. How do I access the SEOW’s Tableau dashboards?
A. Accessing the SEOW’s Tableau dashboards is easy. Simply navigate to:
the SEOW Data Portal and select the button for the drug category you wish to explore.
Q. What kinds of dashboards can I expect to find on the site?
A. The dashboards you can expect to find on the site vary according to the data currently available to the SEOW. Most dashboards will contain line graphs depicting over time trends in substance use and consequences of use. Data tables are also available that describe consumption rates and the rates of various substance use consequences. Maps of substance use patterns and consequences are provided for data which are available at the county level.
Q. Where does the data for the dashboards come from?
A. The data for the dashboards comes from the data sources used to create the SEOW’s annual report and includes data from the National Household Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS), the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS), the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), fatal and non-fatal alcohol crash data available from the Indiana State Police, methamphetamine lab seizure data available from the Indiana State Police, and criminal justice data from the Uninform Crime Reporting system (UCR).
Q. How do I use the dashboards to change the data presented on the graphs and/or maps?
A. Based on the data set being used, drop down lists, slider bars, radio button lists, or checkbox lists are available that can help you narrow the data so you can explore different aspects of it.
- Drop down lists are fields that when pressed will present a list of options from which a user can only pick one at a time (e.g., a drop down list for dates will show a list of dates and when one date is selected the chart/graph/map will reflect only that year’s data)
- Slider bars generally show choices for date ranges. By moving the slider, you can narrow or expand the range of data presented in a chart or graph (e.g., see only data from 2008-2017).
- Radio buttons represent a list of choices from which you can select only one choice at a time (e.g., a radio button for demographics will let you select gender or race or education) and a chart/graph will change to reflect that choice.
- Check box lists allow you to select multiple choices and apply these to a chart or graph. For example, if you are looking at data by race but only want to see data for persons who are white and persons who are black, you can use the checkbox to select both white and black and then click apply. The visualization will change to represent only data for the selected two groups.
Q. How do I navigate in a map?
A. Maps have a set of special tools that appear when you hover over the map:
- A plus and a minus button which will allow you to zoom in (+) or zoom out (-)
- A magnifying glass which allows you to type in a search term for the map
- A + and – sign which allow you to zoom in (-) or out (+)
- A home button (shaped like a house) which will rest the map’s size
- An arrow button which will show additional functionality as follows:
- A square with a magnifying glass that will change the cursor to look like a magnifying glass and when positioned over a part of the map and clicked, will zoom to that specific point on the map
- A pan button (shaped like a cross – the default option) which when pressed and panned over the map will look like a finger. The pan button allows you to click on different counties to see additional information if available and if you click and hold, you can drag the map on the page.
- Various tools to allow you to select groups of counties—these are a dashed square, a dashed circle, and a dashed free-form shape. Clicking on any of these tools and then holding your right mouse button and dragging will allow you to select multiple counties on the map and get aggregated totals for the counties selected. To reset the counties, navigate to white space outside the map and click your right mouse button one time.
- Whenever you use the selection buttons or the zoom button, to return to the ability to just select one county, you must choose the pan button.
Q. If I see or have modified a graph, table, or map and want to put it into my document, can I download it?
A. Yes, you can download any of the dashboards that are presented on the site either before or after your make any changes. If you look about each dashboard, you will notice a number of options, the one to download data is labeled download. Click on the download button and select from the choices presented.
Q. Can I e-mail myself a link to a specific dashboard or share the link with someone?
A. Yes, you can select the share button and copy and paste the URL provided into your e-mail.
Q. Can I embed a dashboard into my website?
A. Yes, by clicking the share button, Tableau will generate JavaScript code that can be selected and then pasted into your website’s code. The JavaScript may need to be modified by your website’s manager in order for it to work properly.
Q. If I have additional questions about the dashboards and the data, can I call someone for help?
A. Yes, for questions about the dashboards or if you have issues/problems, please call Harold Kooreman at 317-278-3362 or e-mail him at hkoorema@iu.edu. For questions about data or how to interpret the counts/rates presented, please contact Dr. Marion Greene at 317-278-3247 or e-mail her at msgreene@iu.edu.