# Time series forecasting with Tableau

In another example I looked at performing time series [forecasting in excel](https://blog.dtucker.xyz/time-series-forecasting-in-excel). I like examining different tools or methods to perform similar tasks. For this example I am performing forecasting within Tableau using the same dataset.

This method is also pretty straightforward.

### Steps

1. Load the data into tableau. For this example I loaded an excel sheet with the mock data used in the excel example.
    
2. Create a line graph with a date value on the x axis.
    
    ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1705071212532/4c4d77b6-4b25-49bb-b351-d74ffbf7fcbc.png align="center")
    
3. On the left hand panel, select the 'Analytics' panel. Under 'Model', select 'Forecast' and drag it on the line chart. You will see a small pop up showing that it will add a forecast.
    
    ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1705071403966/74ce916d-72fd-45dd-8bc2-375b50b05818.png align="center")
    
4. The chart will update and add the forecast. Here it is the light blue line with the shaded confidence interval band.
    
    ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1705071414399/6ecff8cc-f6bf-4da4-bd1f-800ea9b416fb.png align="center")
    
5. You can view and change settings by right-clicking on the line chart.
    
    1. You can change the forecast timeframe, model, and confidence interval.
        
        ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1705071428396/9135e0e3-9bde-4143-bed7-0cd157c9952c.png align="center")
        
    2. There is also an option to view descriptive information about the model.
        
        ![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1705071434290/866a7aa2-7512-4f4a-809e-36314fb13b16.png align="center")
        

Overall, I found this very quick to produce. Compared to the excel visual, tableau produced what looks like a smaller confidence interval band around the forecast. Excel automatically created a table with the forecasted values. While this can be created and exported by creating another sheet in tableau, it wasn't created automatically for me. Tableau is more of a visual presentation tool so this not is a surprise, but helpful to know before getting started with one method.

[Time series forecasting in excel](https://blog.dtucker.xyz/time-series-forecasting-in-excel)