Tableau Desktop vs Public vs Server vs Cloud - Formula Comparison Trace

Sample Data

Comparison table of key features for Tableau Desktop, Public, Server, and Cloud editions.

Cell	Value
A1	Feature
B1	Desktop
C1	Public
D1	Server
E1	Cloud
A2	Cost
B2	Paid License
C2	Free
D2	Paid License
E2	Subscription
A3	Data Privacy
B3	Private
C3	Public (no privacy)
D3	Private
E3	Private
A4	Data Sources
B4	Many types
C4	Limited types
D4	Many types
E4	Many types
A5	Sharing
B5	Save locally or publish
C5	Publish to web only
D5	Share via server
E5	Share via cloud
A6	Use Case
B6	Authoring and analysis
C6	Public sharing
D6	Enterprise sharing
E6	Enterprise cloud sharing

Formula Trace

IF([Cost] = "Free", "Public Edition", IF([Sharing] = "Share via server", "Server Edition", IF([Sharing] = "Share via cloud", "Cloud Edition", "Desktop Edition")))

Step 1: Check Cost value in row 2 for each edition

Step 2: IF Cost = Free then 'Public Edition' else next condition

Step 3: For others, check Sharing method

Step 4: IF Sharing = 'Share via server' then 'Server Edition'

Step 5: IF Sharing = 'Share via cloud' then 'Cloud Edition'

Step 6: Else 'Desktop Edition'

Cell Reference Map

    A           B               C           D               E
1 | Feature | Desktop       | Public    | Server       | Cloud       |
2 | Cost    | Paid License  | Free      | Paid License | Subscription|
3 | Data Privacy | Private | Public (no privacy) | Private      | Private     |
4 | Data Sources | Many types | Limited types | Many types | Many types |
5 | Sharing | Save locally or publish | Publish to web only | Share via server | Share via cloud |
6 | Use Case | Authoring and analysis | Public sharing | Enterprise sharing | Enterprise cloud sharing |

Arrows:
- From B2, C2, D2, E2 (Cost) to formula
- From B5, C5, D5, E5 (Sharing) to formula

The formula uses Cost (row 2) and Sharing (row 5) columns from each edition to decide the edition type.

Result

    A           B               C           D               E
1 | Feature | Desktop       | Public    | Server       | Cloud       |
2 | Cost    | Paid License  | Free      | Paid License | Subscription|
3 | Data Privacy | Private | Public (no privacy) | Private      | Private     |
4 | Data Sources | Many types | Limited types | Many types | Many types |
5 | Sharing | Save locally or publish | Publish to web only | Share via server | Share via cloud |
6 | Use Case | Authoring and analysis | Public sharing | Enterprise sharing | Enterprise cloud sharing |
7 | Edition | Desktop Edition | Public Edition | Server Edition | Cloud Edition |

The final row 7 shows the edition type identified by the formula for each column based on Cost and Sharing.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

Which edition is identified as 'Public Edition' by the formula?

A The edition with Data Privacy = Private

B The edition with Sharing = 'Share via server'

C The edition with Cost = Free

D The edition with Use Case = Authoring

Key Result

IF Cost = 'Free' THEN 'Public Edition' ELSE IF Sharing = 'Share via server' THEN 'Server Edition' ELSE IF Sharing = 'Share via cloud' THEN 'Cloud Edition' ELSE 'Desktop Edition'