# Ingestion routes, batch transforms and federation costs

*Tableau Next Consultant Study Guide · Data Setup · Last updated November 13, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-next-consultant/data-setup/ingestion-routes-batch-transforms-and-federation-costs*

How to pick a Tableau Next ingestion route (file upload, Salesforce Connections, Google Drive, accelerated database connections), the file limits and refresh rules for each, what Tableau Next batch data transforms can and can't do, how DLOs relate to data spaces, and which processing is unmetered or consumes credits.

- Certification: Salesforce Tableau Next Consultant
- Exam section: Data Setup
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-next-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a scenario, determine the appropriate data architecture or data processing approach.

## What the exam expects

- Choose an ingestion route for a source: local Excel or CSV upload, Salesforce Connections (Beta), Google Drive, or an external database connection with or without acceleration.
- Predict processing mode and limits for uploads and refreshes, and how file and accelerated connections refresh.
- Design Tableau Next batch data transforms within their input, output, definition, currency and Append rules.
- Place DLOs in data spaces and use Data Monitor to track referenced assets.
- Classify processing as unmetered or metered and name the usage types federation and caching consume.

Key terms:
- **Asynchronous processing (Beta):** queued processing for uploads above the standard thresholds.
- **Acceleration:** caching external data in a Data 360 DLO instead of querying the source live.
- **Batch data transform:** a repeatable series of node operations writing results to a data object.
- **Data space:** a logical partition of data, metadata and processes.
- **Unmetered usage:** usage that doesn't consume credits.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Excel standard mode | Under 10 MB and under 95 columns | [Upload Modes and Limits](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_upload_limits.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Column ceiling | 800 per data type | [Upload Modes and Limits](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_upload_limits.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Refresh file size | 10 MB Excel, 100 MB CSV | [File Refreshes](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_refresh.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Salesforce Connections | Beta; standard and custom CRM objects to DLOs | [Salesforce Connections](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_add_salesforce_connections.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| File-based refresh | Full refresh replaces cached data | [File-Based Connections](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_file_based_cache.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Incremental acceleration | As often as every 15 minutes | [Turn on Acceleration](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_enable_acceleration.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Snowflake Unload | On by default; turn off by editing the connection | [Caching or Acceleration](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_accelerated_data_lake_objects.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Transform definitions | One per Tableau Next transform; no Merge Records | [Transform Limitations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_transform_builder_limitations.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| DMO inputs | Same data space; no mixing with DLOs | [Add Input Data](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_transform_add_input_node.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Transform currency unset | Data remains unchanged | [Set a Currency](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_transform_set_currency.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| New DLO data space | Default | [Adding Assets to a Data Space](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_add_assets_to_data_space.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |
| Cache queries | Consume Data Queries | [Federation Billing](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_billing_considerations_for_data_federation.htm&type=5&language=en_US) |

## Check yourself

- What is the largest sample a batch transform preview shows for a node?
- When can a DLO and a DMO be inputs to the same batch data transform?
- Why can a DLO created through a zero copy connector contain no rows?
- Which field type can't be chosen as the primary key of a DMO output node?

## Sources

- [Tableau Next Overview](https://help.tableau.com/current/tableau-next/en-us/tableau_next_overview.htm)
- [Data to Decisions: Data 360 and Tableau Next](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_datacloud_tableaunext.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Upload Data to a Tableau Next Workspace That Use an Excel File](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_add_excel.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [File Upload Processing Modes and Limits](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_upload_limits.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Update Data Lake Objects with Excel and CSV File Refreshes](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_refresh.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Upload Salesforce CRM Data Directly into Tableau Next (Beta)](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_add_salesforce_connections.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [View and Use Google Drive Data in Your Workspace](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_add_google_drive.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Keep File-Based Connections Current](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_file_based_cache.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Turn on Acceleration for Data Connections](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_enable_acceleration.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Caching or Acceleration in Data Federation](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_accelerated_data_lake_objects.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Zero Copy Data Federation](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_byol_data_federation.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Monitor Your Data in Tableau Next](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_monitoring.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Batch Data Transforms in Tableau Next](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_transform_builder.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Batch Data Transforms Limitations in Tableau Next](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_transform_builder_limitations.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Add Input Data to a Batch Data Transform](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_transform_add_input_node.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Write the Batch Data Transform Results to a Data Model Object Output Node](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_batch_transform_output_node_dmo.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Combine Rows from Different Data Sources by Using the Append Node](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_transform_append.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Set a Currency for a Batch Data Transform](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_transform_set_currency.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Preview Results in a Batch Data Transform](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_batch_transform_preview_results.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Adding Assets to a Data Space](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_data_add_assets_to_data_space.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [About Unmetered Tableau Next](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_about_unmetered_usage.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Billing Considerations for Tableau Next](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=analytics.tua_usage_types.htm&type=5&language=en_US)
- [Billing Considerations for Data Federation](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_billing_considerations_for_data_federation.htm&type=5&language=en_US)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 20 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Tableau Next Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams