# Tableau Catalog lineage and impact analysis

*Tableau Consultant Study Guide · Evaluate Current State · Last updated November 3, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-consultant/evaluate-current-state/tableau-catalog-lineage-and-impact-analysis*

Use Tableau Catalog lineage to trace upstream inputs and downstream dependents of a lineage anchor, run impact analysis and email owners, explain lineage gaps and count mismatches, and enable Catalog on Tableau Server through the Metadata API.

- Certification: Salesforce Tableau Consultant
- Exam section: Evaluate Current State
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Evaluate lineage of existing data structures.

## What the exam expects

- Read a lineage from its anchor: which assets are upstream inputs and which are downstream dependents.
- Run an impact analysis for a column or field change and contact the affected owners, with the capability that requires.
- Explain where lineage is incomplete (custom SQL, cubes, flows with parameters) and what an embedded external asset is.
- Explain why lineage counts and content tab counts differ.
- Enable Tableau Catalog on Tableau Server and contrast it with Tableau Cloud, including the Metadata API's role.

Key terms:
- **Lineage anchor:** the asset whose Lineage tab you opened; dependencies are shown relative to it.
- **Downstream / upstream assets:** assets that depend on the anchor, and assets the anchor depends on.
- **External asset:** a database, file or table used by Tableau content.
- **Initial ingestion:** Catalog's first index of existing content after the Metadata API is enabled.
- **Metadata API:** the GraphQL API that indexes content and powers Catalog.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Catalog licensing | Licensed through Data Management | [About Tableau Catalog](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/dm_catalog_overview.htm) |
| Possible lineage anchors | Database, table, workbook, published data source, virtual connection, virtual connection table, flow | [Use Lineage](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/dm_lineage.htm) |
| Downstream assets | Below the anchor; depend on it | [Use Lineage](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/dm_lineage.htm) |
| Email owners | Requires Overwrite (Save) on the lineage anchor | [Use Lineage](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/dm_lineage.htm) |
| Flows with parameter values | Lineage data won't show | [Use Lineage](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/dm_lineage.htm) |
| Cube data sources | Not supported by Catalog | [Use Lineage](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/dm_lineage.htm) |
| Enable on Server | tsm maintenance metadata-services enable | [Enable Tableau Catalog](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/dm_catalog_enable.htm) |
| Enable on Cloud | No action unless upgraded from Standard | [About Tableau Catalog](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/dm_catalog_overview.htm) |
| Repository disk for metadata | Up to half the current repository usage again | [Enable Tableau Catalog](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/dm_catalog_enable.htm) |
| Stop indexing | tsm maintenance metadata-services disable | [Enable Tableau Catalog](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/dm_catalog_enable.htm) |

## Check yourself

- Why might an admin turn off Catalog capabilities before enabling the Metadata API?
- What happens when the command that turns on the Metadata API is rerun?
- When did data source lineage pages gain field search and filtering?
- Which tool explores and tests Metadata API queries in the browser?

## Sources

- [Use Lineage for Impact Analysis](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/dm_lineage.htm)
- [About Tableau Catalog](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/dm_catalog_overview.htm)
- [About Data Management](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/dm_overview.htm)
- [Enable Tableau Catalog](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/dm_catalog_enable.htm)
- [Introduction to Tableau Metadata API](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/index.html)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 8 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Tableau Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams