Plan and Prepare Data Connections22% of the exam
Connectors, ODBC, custom SQL and Hyper API
Recommend how to connect: named connectors first, then Other Databases (ODBC or JDBC), Connector SDK .taco connectors, Web Data Connector 3.0 for web APIs, the Hyper API with the REST API for scripted extracts, browser file upload, and custom SQL only when the canvas can't do the job.
Recommend an appropriate method to connect to data, such as Web Data Connectors, web extract APIs, custom SQL, or ODBC.
~8 min read · 9 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Recommend a connection method from the source: named connector, Tableau Exchange, Other Databases (ODBC) or (JDBC), a Connector SDK connector, or Web Data Connector 3.0.
- Configure ODBC for publishing: matching driver and DSN on every machine, 64-bit drivers only from Desktop 2023.3.
- Choose the Hyper API with the REST API or Tableau Server Client for extracts built by a script, and browser file upload for a one-off file.
- Decide when custom SQL is justified and explain why Tableau wraps it.
- Recognize Web Data Connector 2.0 as retired and dashboard extensions as a dashboard feature, not a data connection.
Key terms:
- Named (native) connector: a built-in connector optimized for its file or database type.
- DSN: a data source name that records the driver and settings for an ODBC connection.
- .taco file: a signed, packaged .jar of XML and JavaScript files that defines a Connector SDK or WDC 3.0 connector.
- Hyper API: Tableau's extract API for creating .hyper files programmatically.
- Custom SQL: a single SELECT statement used as a table in the data source.
Key facts
Generic and custom connectors
- Detail
- Tableau gives limited support
Web authoring Files tab
- Detail
- Uploads .xlsx, .csv, .tsv in the browser
ODBC driver bitness
- Detail
- Desktop 2023.3+: 64-bit drivers only
Published ODBC content
- Detail
- Same driver and DSN on the Server computer
JDBC driver
- Detail
- .jar in Drivers folder; JDBC 4.0+, Type 4
.taco contents
- Detail
- Signed .jar of XML and JavaScript files
WDC 3.0
- Detail
- Since 2022.3; extract-only; no self-hosting
WDC 2.0
- Detail
- Retired, no longer available
Scripted extracts
- Detail
- Extract API builds .hyper; REST API or TSC publishes
Custom SQL statement
- Detail
- A single SELECT; Tableau wraps it
Custom SQL on Excel or text
- Detail
- Legacy connection only; unsupported from 2020.2
Sources for this section (8)
- Connect to Your Datahelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- ODBChelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- JDBChelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- Connector SDKhelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- WDC 3.0help.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- WDC 2.0 retiredhelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- Extract Your Datahelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- Custom SQLhelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- Which JDBC driver versions and types does Other Databases (JDBC) require?
- Why should credentials not be kept in an ODBC DSN without care?
- When will Tableau Support help with an Other Databases (ODBC) connection?
- Why should custom SQL columns be aliased with AS?
- What does a dashboard extension show in a Tableau Cloud subscription image?
The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.
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