A very useful tool in Tableau Public is the Show Me tool, which is available as a floating window when you click on the Show Me button on the upper-right hand side of the Tableau Public interface.

This tool, as shown in the following screenshot, is a helpful aid when you wish to select various chart types that can be used with your data:

The Show Me tool also contains a list of tips to add data to shelves and cards, such as the number of dimensions and measures necessary to create the desired chart type.

The Show Me tool also suggests graph types based on the view that the user has created and/or the fields that the user has selected from the Data window. Based on the selections and the chart type selected in Show Me, the tool also instructs the user what field types are needed to create a certain graph type.

For example, selecting a continuous date field will make the Show Me tool prompt the suggestion of a line graph. Selecting a geocoded or latitude/longitude field will make it prompt the selection of a geographic map.

In Chapter 4, Visualization - Tips and Types, we will discuss the Show Me tool in detail and have an overview of the chart types that are available in Tableau Public. Many of these chart types are covered by the Show Me tool suggestions.