# Packaged workbooks and publishing to Server or Cloud

*Tableau Desktop Foundations Study Guide · Sharing Insights · Last updated October 29, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-desktop-foundations/sharing-insights/packaged-workbooks-and-publishing-to-server-or-cloud*

How a .twb differs from a packaged .twbx, what a .twbx carries and what must be extracted first, and how the Publish Workbook dialog controls which sheets viewers see, tab navigation and the data source authentication a scheduled extract refresh needs.

- Certification: Salesforce Tableau Desktop Foundations
- Exam section: Sharing Insights
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-desktop-foundations

**Official exam objective:**

> View and share workbook data: Share a workbook (for example, twbx as a PDF or an image, publish to Tableau Server); View and export underlying data; Export to Microsoft PowerPoint.

## What the exam expects

- Choose between saving a workbook (.twb) and a packaged workbook (.twbx) given who will open it and what data they can reach.
- Predict which resources a .twbx includes on its own and which data sources must be extracted or copied locally first.
- Publish a workbook to Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud and use the Publish Workbook dialog to hide sheets, show sheets as tabs and set data source authentication.
- Know that PDF, image, PowerPoint and View Data exports are other ways to share; their mechanics are in the neighbouring unit.

Key terms:
- **.twb:** a regular workbook file that stores links to its data sources and images, not copies.
- **.twbx (packaged workbook):** the workbook plus copies of local file data sources, background images and other referenced files, no longer linked to the originals.
- **Publish Workbook dialog:** the Server > Publish Workbook dialog that sets project, name, permissions, data sources and sheet options.
- **Embed password / Allow refresh access:** the authentication choices that let a published extract refresh on a schedule.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Default save extension | .twb, in My Tableau Repository\Workbooks | [Save Your Work](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/save_savework.htm) |
| Packaged workbook | .twbx; copies local file data and background images | [Packaged Workbooks](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/save_savework_packagedworkbooks.htm) |
| Who can open a .twbx | Tableau Desktop or Tableau Reader users | [Packaged Workbooks](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/save_savework_packagedworkbooks.htm) |
| Packaged automatically | Background images, custom geocoding, custom shapes, Excel, Access, text, .hyper | [Packaged Workbooks](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/save_savework_packagedworkbooks.htm) |
| Database source (SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL) | Extract Data before saving as .twbx | [Packaged Workbooks](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/save_savework_packagedworkbooks.htm) |
| Published Tableau Server data source | Create Local Copy, extract, Replace Data Source | [Packaged Workbooks](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/save_savework_packagedworkbooks.htm) |
| .twbx privacy | Stored in plain text; all data readable | [Packaged Workbooks](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/save_savework_packagedworkbooks.htm) |
| Sheets published by default | All sheets; clear sheets in the Sheets section to hide them | [Publish a Workbook](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/publish_workbooks_howto.htm) |
| Hidden sheets | Not a security measure | [Publish a Workbook](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/publish_workbooks_howto.htm) |
| Scheduled extract refresh | Requires Embed password or Allow refresh access | [Publish a Workbook](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/publish_workbooks_howto.htm) |
| Include External Files | Packages local files on publish; a static snapshot | [Publish a Workbook](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/publish_workbooks_howto.htm) |

## Check yourself

- Why does a .twb opened on another computer still show changes made to the data?
- Why should sensitive filter values not be left in a .twbx you share?
- Why is hiding worksheets when publishing not a way to protect them?
- What does Show Sheets as Tabs change for viewers?

## Sources

- [Packaged Workbooks](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/save_savework_packagedworkbooks.htm)
- [Comprehensive Steps to Publish a Workbook](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/publish_workbooks_howto.htm)
- [Save Your Work](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/save_savework.htm)
- [Download Views and Workbooks](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/export.htm)
- [Create Dashboard Layouts for Different Device Types](https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/dashboards_dsd_create.htm)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 4 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Tableau Desktop Foundations pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams