Tableau supports a wide range of data sources, including:
- File-based sources: Excel, CSV, PDF, JSON, spatial files.
- Relational databases: Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL.
- Cloud databases: Amazon Redshift, Google BigQuery, Snowflake.
- Web data connectors: Data from web services, APIs.
- Live data streams: Google Analytics, Salesforce.
Connecting to these different types of data sources allows you to integrate various data points and create comprehensive dashboards.
Connecting to a File-Based Data Source
Steps to Connect to an Excel File:
- Open Tableau and go to the Start page.
- Under Connect, select Microsoft Excel.
- Navigate to the location of your Excel file and double-click it.
- Tableau will open the Data Source page, where you can see the sheets in your Excel file.
- Drag the required sheets into the canvas to create connections.
Connecting to CSV or Text Files:
- Follow the same steps as connecting to an Excel file, but select Text File instead.
- Browse for your CSV file and open it.
- Tableau will parse the file and display the data in the Data Source page.
Connecting to Relational Databases
Steps to Connect to a SQL Server Database:
- From the Start page, locate and select the SQL Server option under To a Server.
- Enter the server name and database credentials (username and password).
- Optionally, specify the database name.
- Click Sign In.
- Once connected, Tableau will list the tables and schemas available in the database.
- Drag the necessary tables onto the canvas to establish connections.
Connecting to Other Relational Databases: The process is similar to connecting to SQL Server, with slight variations in the input fields and connections settings specific to the database type.
Connecting to Cloud Databases
Steps to Connect to Snowflake:
- From the Start page, select Snowflake under To a Server.
- Provide the connection details including server, warehouse, role, and credentials.
- Click Sign In.
- Tableau will display the databases and schemas in Snowflake.
- Drag the necessary tables or views into the canvas to connect.
Connecting to Other Cloud Databases: The procedure aligns closely with that of Snowflake, adjusted for the specific fields required by each cloud service.
Connecting to Web Data Connectors
Using a Web Data Connector:
- Select Web Data Connector from the Start page.
- Enter the URL of the web data connector.
- Follow the prompts provided by the web service to authenticate and extract data.
- Tableau will load the data directly into the Data Source page.
Connecting to Live Data Streams
Example: Connecting to Google Analytics:
- Select Google Analytics from the Start page.
- Authenticate using your Google account.
- Select the desired account, property, and view.
- Tableau will import the metrics and dimensions, allowing you to drag them into the canvas.
Working with the Data Source Page
After connecting to a data source, Tableau’s Data Source page enables you to:
- Preview the data: See a snapshot of the imported data.
- Clean and prepare: Rename fields, change data types, and create calculated fields.
- Establish relationships: Define joins, unions, and relationships between tables.
