ALTERYX RELEASES 2018.3

The following blog depicts the technique created by Alex Jones (@jusdespommes) blog about “How to… create a chart from an image in Tableau!”.

Show/Hide Containers

Tableau 2019.2 has introduced an option to show/hide containers (when the container is a floating type). Many experts have come up with different use cases such as hiding and showing the filters, parameters, or even a worksheet with a click which occupies much space in the dashboard using this feature.

This feature is pretty simple to use and comes in handy when we want to save some space in our dashboards.

How to Swap image in Bar Chart?

1.Create a simple bar chart in Tableau 2019.2. We have used “Top 5 Grossing Games Worldwide 2018” to create a bar chart and sorted based on the revenue.

2.Remove the label, header and export the worksheet to image. Worksheet > Export > Image (Choose ‘view’ in Export Image dialog box)

3. Open Photopea, which is an online photo editor and open the saved worksheet image.
File > Open > Image

4. Now, download 2 images from online which we are going to use for bar chart.

5.Copy and paste image 1 on top of the bar image. Now we will be having two layers of images one above another.
(We can even re-position, crop the image if needed)

6.Choose ‘Magic Wand’ from the tool bar at left side. Click on the image, and we can see the selection in dotted lines.

7.Choose the top layer (image 1) and click delete. Now we can able to get the below image.

8.The background of the image needs to transparent. So, delete the below layer (bar chart image) using delete icon at the bottom right corner.

9.Now, choose File > Export as > .PNG to save the image as .png format (this will retain the transparent layer)

10.Repeat the same steps with image 2 to get the same effect.
Note: Keep the same resolution and image size as the previous one.

10.1.Now, open Tableau Desktop and bring in the image as floating type.

11.We have to position the bar chart over the image. To make it easy, decrease the opacity of the bar chart and give border.

12. Add labels and tooltip to the bar chart.

13.Now the dashboard looks like this. We can able to hover on bars to see tooltip.

14.Now, comes the trick of using ‘Show/Hide Containers’ to swap image. Bring a container to floating and add image 2 to the container. (Set the padding to zero)

15.Next, we have to position the both images and the bar chart one above another. To make it easy, use x, y axes and size w, h to position accurately.

Note: Make sure the position of the 3 objects (Use Floating Order) follows the below order as all are in floating.

1. Image 1 (Below layer)
2. Image 2 inside container (Middle layer – where show/hide option is to be used)
3. Bar Chart (Top layer)

16.Choose the container and right click at the top right corner. Enable ‘Add Show/ Hide Button.’ Now we can see a floating button.

17.We can customize the button by adding image and tooltip to buttons.

18.We have used below customized images (created with PowerPoint) for buttons to swap between 2 images.

19.Another simple trick is that we can control the transparency of the image by adjusting the opacity of the bars.

20.Take a look at the final dashboard….

1. Snowpark Container Services:

This innovative feature allows you to deploy and manage containers directly within Snowflake. Imagine leveraging secure and scalable infrastructure, similar to Kubernetes, without leaving the Snowflake environment. Use containers to build and run data products like large language models and full-stack applications. You can even utilize containers from the Snowflake marketplace or create custom ones for sharing.

Getting started is simple. Create a Docker image with your code and dependencies, push it to a Snowflake registry, and then create a service, job, or function using the Snowpark API. Snowflake handles the rest, including provisioning, scaling, and monitoring your containers.

2. Snowpark Model Registry:

Data scientists and ML engineers require a secure and efficient way to manage and deploy machine learning models. Snowpark Model Registry, currently in public preview, addresses this need by providing a native solution within Snowflake. This integrated registry allows you to register, manage, and use models and their metadata directly in the platform.
The benefits of the Snowpark Model Registry are numerous:

3. Streamlit in Snowflake for Azure:

4. Security Enhancements in Snowflake Horizon:

Security is paramount for any data platform. Snowflake Horizon takes data security to the next level with a range of enhancements:

5. Snowflake Unistore:

Snowflake Unistore is a game-changer for working with both transactional and analytical data within a single platform, often referred to as Hybrid Transactional/Analytical Processing (HTAP). This feature introduces the 'hybrid' table type, supporting fast single-row operations.

Hybrid tables utilize a new row-oriented store within Snowflake, enabling functionalities typically associated with transactional data stores:

6. Snowflake Iceberg:

The Apache Iceberg format acts as a metadata layer for data files stored in open formats like Parquet and ORC. It enables querying this data using SQL, regardless of the specific query engine (Spark, Hive, Impala).

'Snowflake Iceberg' leverages this open format, allowing you to directly query data files stored in cloud storage services like S3 buckets. This eliminates the need to move or copy data into Snowflake while maintaining interoperability for users already working with that data location.

Snowflake Iceberg offers significant advantages over the existing external table type:

7. Document AI:

Typically, data systems struggle with unstructured data formats like PDFs. Snowflake's answer to this challenge is Document AI, a tool currently in private preview. It allows you to process any document and answer questions using natural language without requiring machine learning expertise.

Document AI draws power from Snowflake's first-party large language model (LLM) built on Applica's generative AI technology. This, combined with Snowflake's support for unstructured data (announced in June 2023), empowers you to store, query, and analyze all data types within the platform.

Document AI represents just one facet of Snowflake's vision for generative AI and LLMs, a dominant trend in 2023 that is poised to continue its dominance in 2024.

Looking Ahead

Snowflake started strongly in 2024 with exciting releases like Snowpark Model Registry, Streamlit in Snowflake for Azure, and security enhancements in Snowflake Horizon. These anticipated features position Snowflake as a frontrunner in the data cloud landscape, offering a comprehensive data management, analytics, and application development platform.

Beinex + Snowflake Partnership

Beinex is a Snowflake Services Partner Premier Tier, and the partnership reaffirms Beinex’s commitment to delivering exceptional data solutions and positions the company at the forefront of industry advancements. Harnessing the true potential of the data, partnership drives innovation and success in the digital era. Belonging to Snowflake Services Partner Premier Tier, Beinex leverages Snowflake’s advanced capabilities and seamlessly integrates them into its comprehensive data solutions.

Artificial intelligence has moved from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption. Today, organizations across industries are investing heavily in AI. Yet many still misunderstand one critical reality: high AI model accuracy does not automatically translate into measurable results.

AI models can achieve impressive technical scores during model accuracy testing and still fail to generate measurable outcomes after deployment. This paradox is becoming increasingly common. Enterprises should evaluate AI success beyond traditional model accuracy metrics. Understanding why this happens and how to address it is now a foundational competency for any entrepreneur serious about AI adoption.

Explore further: https://www.beinex.ai/generative-ai

What is the Tableau Blueprint Assessment?

The Tableau Blueprint Assessment is a powerful tool that evaluates your organisation's data practices, culture, and technology. It provides a clear picture of where you stand and offers actionable, personalised recommendations to help you advance your data journey. This assessment is vital for driving results through analytics by scaling the use of data and initiating cultural changes.

Key Components of the Blueprint Assessment

1. Blueprint Tracks: Adopt and evolve processes and best practices across four key areas:
• Agility • Proficiency • Community • Governance
2. Data Culture: Foster behaviors and beliefs that empower everyone in your organisation to create business value.
3. Personalised Recommendations: Tailored to your organisation's level and responsibilities spanning business and technical domains.

How Tableau Blueprint Helps You

1. Establishes Your Baseline: Measure where you are in your data journey compared to other data-leading organisations.
2. Tracks Your Progress: Revisit and update your results to see how you advance.
3. Accelerates Your Transformation: Receive actionable recommendations and examples of best practices based on your role and responsibilities.

The Assessment Process

1. Assessment: You answer questions about your organisation's data practices, culture, and technology.
2. Evaluation: The assessment analyses your responses and generates a maturity score across different dimensions of data management.
3. Recommendations: You receive tailored recommendations for improving your data strategy and implementation based on your assessment results.

Benefits of Using the Tableau Blueprint Assessment

1. Identify Strengths and Weaknesses: Understand your organisation's current data capabilities.
2. Prioritise Initiatives: Focus on areas with the highest potential impact.
3. Align Stakeholders: Create a shared vision for data-driven transformation.
4. Access Best Practices: Make the most of Tableau's expertise and industry insights.

Key Areas Covered in the Assessment

Blueprint Tracks and Participants

Each Blueprint track includes questions related to capabilities, commitment, and behaviors & beliefs: • Capabilities: 3-5 questions on processes and best practices. • Commitment: 5 questions on executive sponsorship, organizational structure, business value, and investment. • Behaviors & Beliefs: 15 questions on characteristics fostering a successful Data Culture.

Who Should Participate?

1. Capabilities: Tableau Server/Cloud Administrator
2. Commitment: Platform Manager

1. Capabilities: Data Visualization & Analytics Trainer, Tableau Champions
2. Commitment: Analytics Lead, Head of Learning & Development

1. Capabilities: Tableau User Group Leader
2. Commitment: Tableau User Group Leader, Analytics Lead

1. Capabilities: Data Steward, Tableau Site/Project Administrator
2. Commitment: Chief Data Officer, Governance Council Member

Next Steps: Completing the Tableau Blueprint Assessment

1. Identify Stakeholders: Gather a broad set of participants to gain a comprehensive view of your organisation.
2. Host a Kick-off Call: Discuss the assessment and outline expectations with all participants.
3. Complete the Assessment: Set a due date; each assessment will take no more than 20 minutes to complete.
4. Debrief: Host a meeting with all stakeholders to discuss results, recommendations, and next steps.