Create Tableau Server Connections

This section describes the basics of creating Tableau Server connections from within the application.

Limitations

• This connection type only enables publication. 
  • You cannot read data from Tableau Server.
  • When created in the application, publish-only connections must be created through the Connections page.

Download and Install Tableau SDK

To enable generation of TDE files and publication to Tableau Server, the Tableau Server SDK must be licensed, downloaded, and installed in the Designer Cloud Powered by Trifacta platform.

Steps:

1. Navigate to the following:
   
   1. Centos/RHEL 6.x: https://help.tableau.com/v10.1/api/sdk/en-us/SDK/tableau_sdk_installing.htm#downloading
   2. All other operating system versions: https://onlinehelp.tableau.com/current/api/sdk/en-us/SDK/tableau_sdk_installing.htm#downloading
2. Complete any required licensing steps.
3. Download this version: Tableau SDK for C/C++/Java (64-bit).
4. Transfer the file to the Alteryx node.

   1. Extract it in a directory where the trifacta account has read and execute permissions.

      NOTE: The above directory should be located outside of the install directory for the platform software.

   2. Retain the path to this directory. This directory is assumed to have the following name: <tableau-extract-dir>. 
5. Platform configuration must be updated to point to this SDK. You can apply this change through the Admin Settings Page (recommended) or trifacta-conf.json. For more information, see Platform Configuration Methods.

6. Update the following property:

   "batch-job-runner.env.LD_LIBRARY_PATH" = "<tableau-extract-dir>/lib64/tableausdk/"

7. Add to the Batch Job Runner classpath to the current classpath (<current_classpath_values>). You must replace <tableau-extract-dir> with the path where you extracted the Tableau Server SDK: 

   "batch-job-runner.classpath" ="<current_classpath_values>:<tableau-extract-dir>/lib64/tableausdk/Java/tableaucommon.jar:<tableau-extract-dir>/lib64/tableausdk/Java/tableauserver.jar:<tableau-extract-dir>/lib64/tableausdk/Java/tableauextract.jar"

8. Save your changes and restart the platform.

Enable

Workspace administrators must enable workspace users to publish to TDE format. For more information, see Workspace Admin Page.

Create Tableau Server Connection

Create through application

Any user can create a Tableau Server connection through the application.

Steps:

1. Login to the application.
2. In the menu, select Settings menu > Connections. See Connections Page.
3. In the Connections page, click Create Connection. See Create Connection Window.
4. In the Create Connection window, click the Tableau Server connection card.

5. Specify the properties for your Tableau Server.

   Property	Description
   Server URL	The URL to the Tableau Server to which you are connecting. To specify an SSL connection, use https:// for the protocol identifier. NOTE: By default, this connection assumes that the port number is 80. To use a different port, you must specify it as part of the Server name value: http://<Tableau_Server_URL>:<port_number>
   Site	Enter the value that appears after /site/ in your target location. Example target URL: https://tableau.example.com/#/site/MyNewTargetSite Enter the following for the Site setting: MyNewTargetSite
   User Name	The username to use to connect.
   Password	The password associated with the username.
   Test Connection	Click this button to test the connection that you have specified.
   Connection Name	The name of the connection as you want it to appear in the user interface.
   Description	This description is displayed in the user interface.

   For more information, see Create Connection Window.

6. Click Save. 

Create through APIs

1. Acquire the vendor and type information. See Connection Types.
2. Create the connection through the APIs. See API Connections Create v4.