How to Save Tableau as JPEG

Need to save your Tableau dashboard as a static image? Saving a Tableau view as a JPEG file is a quick way to share your insights in presentations, emails, or reports. This article will walk you through the exact steps to export your worksheets and dashboards as JPEGs. We’ll also cover tips for controlling the image quality and choosing the best format for your needs.

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Why Save a Tableau View as a JPEG?

Tableau is powerful because it’s interactive, but sometimes you just need a simple, static image. Exporting your work as a JPEG, PNG, or another image format is incredibly useful for several common business tasks:

• Internal Communications: Easily drop a chart into a Slack message, Microsoft Teams chat, or email to make a point without sending a link or a complex file.
• Reports and Documents: Embed your visualizations directly into Word documents, Google Docs, or internal wikis to provide a visual summary of your data.
• Presentations: Add key dashboards and charts to your PowerPoint or Google Slides decks. An image gives you a crisp, clean visual that won't require a live data connection during your presentation.
• Archiving Data: Create a point-in-time snapshot of a dashboard. This is great for monthly or quarterly reviews where you want a record of what a specific metric looked like on a certain date.

While you lose interactivity, you gain portability. A JPEG is a universal format that anyone can open on any device without needing a Tableau license.

How to Export a Tableau View as a JPEG

The process is slightly different depending on whether you are using Tableau Desktop or the web-based Tableau Server/Cloud. We’ll cover both.

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Exporting from Tableau Desktop

This is the most direct method and gives you the most control over the format. You can export either a specific worksheet or an entire dashboard.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Open Your Workbook: First, open the Tableau workbook and navigate to the exact dashboard or worksheet you want to save.
2. Prepare Your View: Make any necessary adjustments. Apply filters, select marks, or change parameters to get the view exactly how you want it to appear in the final image. What you see is what you get, so this preparation step is important.
3. Access the Export Menu:
4. Select Export: From the dropdown menu, hover over Export and then click on Image....
5. Configure the Image Options: A dialog box titled "Export Image" will appear. Here you have a few options:
6. Save the File: After clicking "Save" in the Export Image dialog box, your system's file save window will open.

That's it! Your Tableau dashboard is now saved as a high-quality JPEG file in the location you chose.

Exporting from Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud

If you're viewing a dashboard on your company's Tableau Server or on Tableau Cloud (formerly Tableau Online), the process is even simpler, though it defaults to a different format.

1. Navigate to the View: Open the dashboard or view you want to save in your web browser.
2. Click the Download Button: Look for the Download icon in the toolbar at the top right of the dashboard view. It usually looks like a downward arrow pointing to a line.
3. Select "Image": In the dropdown menu that appears, click on Image.
4. The Image is Generated: Tableau will generate an image of the current view and automatically download it to your computer.

Important Note About Server and Cloud Exports:

By default, when you select "Image" from Tableau Server or Cloud, it saves the file as a PNG (.png), not a JPEG (.jpg). This is an intentional design choice by Tableau, as PNGs handle sharp text and lines common in data visualizations better than JPEGs.

If you absolutely need a JPEG, your easiest option is to open the downloaded PNG file in a basic image editor (like Paint on Windows or Preview on macOS) and re-save it as a JPEG. This adds an extra step but only takes a few seconds.

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Tips for Controlling Image Quality and Layout

Getting a perfect-looking image often requires a little prep work before you export. The most common issues users face are images that are blurry, improperly sized, or cut off. Here’s how to fix that.

Adjust Your Dashboard Size

The size of your exported image is directly controlled by the dashboard's size settings in Tableau Desktop. On the left-hand Dashboard pane, you’ll see a "Size" setting.

• Fixed Size: This is your best option for predictable exports. If you set a fixed size (e.g., 1000 x 800 pixels), your dashboard will always have these dimensions, and your exported JPEG will match them. This helps avoid elements moving around or becoming distorted.
• Automatic: With this setting, the dashboard resizes to fit the screen it's being viewed on. When you export an image, it will be based on the size of your Tableau window at that moment. To get a bigger, higher-resolution image, maximize the Tableau window before exporting.
• Range: This gives the dashboard some flexibility to resize between a minimum and maximum size. Like "Automatic," the final export size depends on your current window size within that range.

For the highest quality and most consistent results, a Fixed Size layout is almost always the best approach.

Dealing with Scrollbars

What if your dashboard has a table or a chart with a scrollbar? When you export to an image, Tableau will only capture the visible portion of the view. It will not capture the content hidden by the scrollbar.

If you need to show the entire table, you have a few options:

1. Adjust the Fit: In the worksheet menu, try changing the fit from "Normal" to "Fit Width," "Fit Height," or "Entire View” to try and get everything to display without scrolling.
2. Remake the Dashboard View: Increase the height of the dashboard panel where the table is located until the scrollbar disappears. This is the surest way to get a full view in your image export.
3. Export to PDF: If the table is simply too long for an image, a better solution might be to use the Download > PDF option (on Server/Cloud) or File > Print to PDF (on Desktop). This can often handle longer content across multiple pages.

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Choosing the Right Image Format: JPEG vs. PNG

In the "Save as type" dropdown in Tableau Desktop, you have several format choices. JPEG and PNG are the most common, and choosing the right one matters.

• JPEG (.jpg): Uses "lossy" compression, which means it reduces file size by slightly reducing image quality. This is great for dashboards with photos or complex color gradients. JPEGs generally have a smaller file size, making them ideal for email or use on the web where load times matter. However, the compression can sometimes make sharp lines or text look a little blurry.
• PNG (.png): Uses "lossless" compression, which preserves all the original image data. This is typically the best choice for data visualizations. It keeps text, lines, and logos perfectly clean and sharp. The downside is that PNG files are often larger than JPEGs. PNGs also support transparent backgrounds, which can be useful if you're layering your chart over a colored background in a presentation.

A simple rule of thumb: In most cases for Tableau dashboards, start with PNG for the best quality. If the file size is too large, then switch to JPEG.

Final Thoughts

Exporting your Tableau dashboard as a JPEG is a straightforward process from the Worksheet or Dashboard menu. By configuring your view and dashboard size settings first, you can ensure a crystal-clear, perfectly formatted image every time. Understanding the difference between formats like JPEG and PNG also helps you make the right choice for how you plan to use the image.

Of course, creating reports shouldn't feel like a chore. That’s why we built Graphed to cut through the complexity of tools like Tableau. Instead of clicking through menus to export a single static chart, you can describe what you need in plain English and get a sharable, live dashboard in seconds. We connect to all your marketing and sales data, so you and your team can get real-time answers without getting bogged down by exporting outdated screenshots.