A user reports that a newly-published workbook runs slowly. What should you ask the user first to investigate the problem?

The most effective initial step in troubleshooting a slow workbook is to isolate the source of the problem. Asking if the workbook runs faster in Tableau Desktop versus Tableau Server/Cloud helps to quickly determine if the performance issue is inherent to the workbook's design (e.g., complex calculations, inefficient queries) or related to the server environment (e.g., server hardware, network latency, data source connectivity from the server). If it is slow in both environments, the workbook itself needs optimization. If it is only slow on the server, the investigation should focus on the server-side components.

B. Does the workbook always run slowly or does performance vary?

This is a valid diagnostic question, but it is a secondary step to determine if the issue is consistent or intermittent, which is best asked after isolating the problem's location (workbook vs. server).

C. How many times have you opened the workbook in Tableau Server?

This question probes caching behavior. While relevant, it's too specific for an initial query. The root cause might not be related to caching at all, making this a less effective starting point.

D. Did you enable caching on the workbook?

This is a configuration detail that the administrator should verify, not a question for a typical end-user who would likely not know the answer. The administrator should check server settings directly.

1. Tableau Help, "Optimize Workbook Performance": In the section "Identify the problem," the official documentation states, "The first step is to identify where the performance problem is happening. Is it slow in Tableau Desktop, or after you publish to Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud? ... By testing your workbook in both environments, you can narrow down the cause of the problem." This directly supports option A as the primary, initial troubleshooting step.

Source: Tableau Official Documentation. (Accessed via Tableau Help portal, specific article title: "Optimize Workbook Performance").

2. Tableau Blueprint, "Tableau Monitoring": The Tableau Blueprint, an official framework, emphasizes a structured approach to performance. The initial phase of any performance investigation involves understanding the scope. Comparing performance between the authoring environment (Desktop) and the published environment (Server/Cloud) is a fundamental technique for scoping the issue before diving into specific metrics like query execution or load times.

Source: Tableau Official Documentation. (Accessed via Tableau Help portal, specific section: "Tableau Blueprint - Monitoring").