hi all, I've created several dashboards and used the embed code to insert into my Drupal page. The integration is all smooth and good on desktop but when I open the published page on mobile it keeps crashing after 5 seconds of viewing . They are visible on the screen and I can continue scrolling to view but then the web page crashes. Most of these dashboards are simple bar graphs (very minimal in interactivity) HOWEVER I do have an interactive map dashboard and I'm wondering if that one is causing the crash for it being too data heavy for processing. anyone encountered this before or how to resolve in Drupal? I tested on both chrome and safari and cleared cache also....
When you embed a Tableau dashboard, it loads inside an iframe. On desktop browsers, there’s plenty of memory available, so even large dashboards (with maps, bar charts, interactivity) usually perform fine. However, mobile browsers like Chrome and Safari have much stricter memory limits. If the dashboard is too heavy — especially if it includes an interactive map (which can be GPU/memory intensive) — it can cause the mobile browser to crash or reload the page after a few seconds.
In your case, it sounds like the map dashboard is probably the issue, even if the other dashboards are lightweight.
Here are some suggestions to fix or improve it:
- Create a Mobile Layout in Tableau:
- In Tableau, under Dashboard > Device Preview, you can create a custom layout for phones. This allows you to simplify the dashboard specifically for mobile users — for example, you can remove the map or reduce the amount of data shown. Once published, Tableau will automatically display the mobile version to mobile users.
- Use Tableau’s JavaScript API Instead of Basic Embed Code:
- Instead of embedding using the standard iframe, consider using the Tableau JavaScript API. It provides better control over loading behavior, sizing, and performance. You can also delay when the dashboard loads, which can reduce the initial page load stress on mobile.
- Reduce or Remove Heavy Elements for Mobile:
- If the map isn’t essential on mobile, consider hiding it in the mobile layout or replacing it with a static image or simplified version.
- Lazy Load the Dashboard:
- Set up lazy loading so that the Tableau dashboards only load when a user scrolls near them. This can significantly reduce initial memory use and help prevent mobile crashes.
- Optimize the Data Behind Your Visuals:
- Even simple charts can be heavy if they are processing a lot of underlying data points. If possible, filter or aggregate the data to minimize what’s being sent to mobile devices.
Naman Shah
