# Tableau 2020.2: The new data model in Ask Data

> This is content from just-tim, the data-and-analytics channel by Tim Ngwena (formerly 'Tableau Tim'). Tim has 12+ years of hands-on BI experience and covers Tableau most of all, plus Power BI, Looker, Hex, SQL and data modelling, the analytics industry, and the craft of doing the job — always tool-agnostic and honest about the trade-offs.

- **Author:** Tim Ngwena (just-tim, https://just-tim.com/about)
- **Published:** 2020-05-06
- **Format:** Video · 4 min watch · transcript available
- **Topics:** Data visualisation, Data prep, Analytics
- **Tools:** Excel; Tableau (ask data, data modelling, relationships, server)
- **Canonical:** https://just-tim.com/posts/tableau-2020-2-the-new-data-model-in-ask-data
- **Watch:** https://www.youtu.be/OoFQZ5sU_h0

I walk through how Tableau 2020.2 lets you use data sources built with the new data model inside Ask Data. Starting from scratch, I connect to the Superstore Excel file, build a relationship between Orders and Returns, take an extract, publish to Tableau Server, and then query the data in Ask Data.

## Key takeaways

- Tableau 2020.2 lets data sources built on the new data model be used inside Ask Data with full functionality
- The new data model uses relationships (the 'noodle') rather than physical joins, keeping Orders and Returns as separate logical tables on a single connection
- Tableau auto-suggests matching fields like Order ID when you relate two tables, with optional performance settings you can usually leave alone
- Taking an extract before publishing lets you optimise the file ahead of pushing it to Tableau Server
- Ask Data preserves dimension and measure distinctions per table, but natural-language questions about relationships may need rewording to get the view you expect

## Chapters

- 0:12 Connecting to the Superstore file
- 0:40 Building the relationship with the data model
- 1:29 Extracting and publishing to Server
- 2:20 Querying the data model in Ask Data

Watch the full video, read the transcript and use chapter deep-links on the page: https://just-tim.com/posts/tableau-2020-2-the-new-data-model-in-ask-data

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just-tim — Data and analytics, with a point of view. · https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7HYxRWmaNlJux-X7rNLZyw · https://twitter.com/TableauTim · https://www.linkedin.com/in/timngwena