# Published data sources, subscriptions and embedding

*Tableau Consultant Study Guide · Establish Governance and Support Published Content · Last updated November 3, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-consultant/establish-governance-and-support-published-content/published-data-sources-subscriptions-and-embedding*

Map publishing requirements to Tableau features: published data sources and hidden fields, Include External Files and refresh options, the capabilities publishing needs, thumbnails, subscriptions, data-driven alerts and embedding through connected apps.

- Certification: Salesforce Tableau Consultant
- Exam section: Establish Governance and Support Published Content
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Map publishing requirements to features and capabilities of Tableau.

## What the exam expects

- Explain what publishing a data source gives a team, and what republishing with hidden fields does to connected workbooks.
- Choose between Include External Files, Tableau Bridge and direct refresh schedules when publishing to Tableau Cloud or Tableau Server.
- Name the site role and capabilities publishing, overwriting and subscribing require, and pick the user for thumbnails.
- Configure subscriptions and data-driven alerts that reach the right people.
- Recommend connected apps with direct trust or OAuth 2.0 trust for embedding.

Key terms:
- **Published data source:** a data model on Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud that many workbooks connect to.
- **Include External Files:** a publishing option that packages local files into the content as a static copy.
- **Subscription:** a scheduled email with an image or PDF snapshot of a view or workbook.
- **Connected app:** an explicit trust relationship between a Tableau Cloud site and an external application that embeds Tableau content.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Undo after publishing | Workbook reverts to the local data source; the published one stays | [Publish a Data Source](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/publish_datasources.htm) |
| Cube data sources | Can't be published to Tableau Cloud | [Publish a Data Source](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/publish_datasources.htm) |
| Include External Files | Packages a static copy of local files | [Comprehensive Steps to Publish a Workbook](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/publish_workbooks_howto.htm) |
| Cloud refresh timeout | 7200 seconds, not configurable | [Schedule Refreshes on Tableau Cloud](https://help.tableau.com/current/online/en-us/schedule_add.htm) |
| Same-content refreshes | Several refreshes of one item run serially | [Schedule Refreshes on Tableau Cloud](https://help.tableau.com/current/online/en-us/schedule_add.htm) |
| Overwrite | Republishing makes the user the owner | [Permission Capabilities and Templates](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/permissions_capabilities.htm) |
| Subscription suspension | After more than five failures | [Create a Subscription to a View or Workbook](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/subscribe_user.htm) |
| Group sets | Can't be subscribed | [Create a Subscription to a View or Workbook](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/subscribe_user.htm) |
| Alert axes | Continuous numeric axis; no Gantt charts or maps | [Send Data-Driven Alerts](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/data_alerts.htm) |
| JWT validity | At most 10 minutes | [Configure Connected Apps with Direct Trust](https://help.tableau.com/current/online/en-us/connected_apps_direct.htm) |

## Check yourself

- When is a subscription suspended, and who can resume it?
- Why does Tableau Cloud refuse a JWT from a server whose clock isn't on UTC?
- What does Undo after publishing a data source leave on the server?
- Which chart can't carry a data-driven alert, even with a numeric axis?

## Sources

- [Publish Data Sources and Workbooks](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/publish_overview.htm)
- [Comprehensive Steps to Publish a Workbook](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/publish_workbooks_howto.htm)
- [Publish a Data Source](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/publish_datasources.htm)
- [Schedule Refreshes on Tableau Cloud](https://help.tableau.com/current/online/en-us/schedule_add.htm)
- [Create a Subscription to a View or Workbook](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/subscribe_user.htm)
- [Send Data-Driven Alerts](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/data_alerts.htm)
- [Use Tableau Connected Apps for Application Integration](https://help.tableau.com/current/online/en-us/connected_apps.htm)
- [Configure Connected Apps with Direct Trust](https://help.tableau.com/current/online/en-us/connected_apps_direct.htm)
- [Permission Capabilities and Templates](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/permissions_capabilities.htm)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 7 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Tableau Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams