Test and Consume Your Semantic Model

Learning Objectives

After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:

• Explain why it's important to test your semantic model.
  
• Recognize the different ways to use your semantic model.
  

Test Your Semantic Model

It’s important you test your semantic model to make sure that it works as expected. You can test the semantic model at any point during ‌model creation. Tableau Semantics runs your model through the Tableau Semantics Query Generator to make sure your model works. All errors appear in the preview panel so you can easily troubleshoot and make required changes.

1. At the top-right corner of the Semantic Model Builder, click Test Model.
   
   The bottom panel opens. Here, you can configure the test by preparing the test outline, add filters, and configure other options.
   
   1. In the Test Semantic Model panel, under Outline search for and add your dimensions and measures under the proper header. You can only add dimensions and measures that have been added to your model.
      
   2. To hide totals from your test results, select Hide Total.
      
   3. Input the number of rows you want to see in your test results under Sample Size. The default is 100.
      
   4. To add a filter to increase the accuracy of the test results, select the Filters tab.
      
   5. To start the test, click Run.
      Tableau Semantics runs your model through the Tableau Semantics Query Generator and returns results on the right-hand side of the bottom panel.
      
   6. To clear the test results, click Reset. This also clears all the selected outline settings and filters.
      

Use the Semantic Model in Other Applications

You can use semantic models in other Salesforce applications. Currently, you can create and manage semantic models in these applications.

Data Cloud Reports

Build a standard Data Cloud report on a semantic model to discover actionable insights from up to 20 Data Cloud objects simultaneously. When you create a report on a semantic model, the Report Builder maintains the model’s objects, such as calculated fields, and logical views. It also maintains existing relationships and joins between the objects in the model. You can then easily visualize the data as a chart, group the report on fields, apply advanced filters, and add the report as a widget to a dashboard.

Tableau Next

Use Tableau Semantics within Tableau Next to create a semantic model and calculated dimensions and measures. With semantic models in Tableau Next and Data Cloud, your data is unified into a single source of truth within Salesforce. Tableau Semantics uses a Query Generator to use the data to answer key business questions by sending customizable semantic queries based on your semantic models. You can create new semantic definitions, or override and enrich semantics that originate from the data lake layer. For example, you can rename fields to provide more accessible terminology to business users, override relationship definitions to support a specific use case, or even create a metric.

Tableau Semantics Connector

Effortlessly visualize your trusted data by connecting Tableau Cloud and Tableau Desktop to Tableau Semantics to use it as a data source. The Tableau Semantics connector bridges governed data models in Data Cloud with Tableau's powerful visualizations. Connect seamlessly to reusable models, create compelling dashboards, and get meaningful insights without having to start from scratch.For more information see: Salesforce Help: Tableau Semantics Connector.

In this module, you explored the basics of Tableau Semantics. You learned how to create a semantic model, how to add relationships, how to create logical views, and how to add calculated fields. You also learned how to test your semantic model to make sure it works correctly and how to use Tableau Semantics in other applications. Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with Tableau Semantics, try it out for yourself and see how easy it is to define, govern, and query all your business metrics via the semantic layer.