# Adding and importing users with site roles

*Tableau Server Administrator Study Guide · Install & Configure · Last updated November 13, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-server-administrator/install-and-configure/adding-and-importing-users-with-site-roles*

Add users to Tableau Server one at a time or by CSV import: the positional CSV columns, how license level, admin level and publishing capability combine into a site role, what changes between a site-level and a server-level import, and how Active Directory imports and group synchronization set roles.

- Certification: Salesforce Tableau Server Administrator
- Exam section: Install & Configure
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/tableau-server-administrator

**Official exam objective:**

> 2.3 Adding Users: 2.3.1 License type and site role; 2.3.2 Admin level; 2.3.3 Publisher level; 2.3.4 Importing via Active Directory or Local.

## What the exam expects

- Build a user-import CSV whose license level, admin level and publishing columns produce the intended site role.
- Predict the result of the same CSV imported on a site's Users page versus the server-level Server Users page.
- Prepare CSV rows for local and Active Directory identity stores, including blank and domain-qualified fields.
- Explain how Active Directory import and group synchronization apply the minimum site role, and how to run a sync on demand.
- Distinguish Explorer from Explorer (can publish) when a user wants to save content.

Key terms: **site role** (the maximum capabilities a user has on one site); **admin level** (the CSV value System, Site or None); **publishing capability** (the CSV value that separates Explorer from Explorer (can publish)); **Server Users page** (the server-level user list a multi-site server shows only to server administrators); **minimum site role** (the role an external directory group applies during synchronization).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Column order | username, password, display name, license level, admin level, publishing, email | [CSV Import File Guidelines](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/csvguidelines.htm) |
| Headings | Not supported; every line is a user | [CSV Import File Guidelines](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/csvguidelines.htm) |
| Active Directory rows | Password and display name ignored; domain-qualify duplicate usernames | [CSV Import File Guidelines](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/csvguidelines.htm) |
| System admin level in a site import | Becomes Site Administrator Creator | [CSV Import File Guidelines](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/csvguidelines.htm) |
| Server Users import | No site affiliation; Unlicensed or Server Administrator only | [Import Users](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/users_import.htm) |
| Site import role change | Applied even if more restrictive, except for server administrators | [Import Users](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/users_import.htm) |
| Existing users on a Site Users import | Password and Display Name must match or be blank | [Import Users](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/users_import.htm) |
| Directory import or sync | Promotes but never demotes a site role | [Set Users' Site Roles](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/users_site_roles.htm) |
| Minimum Site Role | Applied at each sync; does not run one | [Synchronize External Directory Groups in a Site](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/groups_create_adsync.htm) |
| Save a Copy | Needs Administrator, Creator or Explorer (can publish) | [Permissions](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/permissions.htm) |

## Check yourself

- When does a group synchronization add new users as Unlicensed?
- Why leave the password blank when a site import may include users who already exist on another site?
- What happens to CSV users who would push the server past its licensed user count?
- When did Tableau Server start enforcing the CSV password field for local authentication?

## Sources

- [CSV Import File Guidelines](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/csvguidelines.htm)
- [Import Users](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/users_import.htm)
- [Add Users to Tableau Server](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/users_add.htm)
- [Set Users' Site Roles](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/users_site_roles.htm)
- [Synchronize External Directory Groups in a Site](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/groups_create_adsync.htm)
- [Permissions](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/permissions.htm)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 10 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Tableau Server Administrator pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams