Tableau Output Nodes

There are three Tableau nodes that can be used to output your data into a Tableau format.

1. TDE Output - The TDE Output allows for a standard .tde file to be created. These files can be created without the Tableau desktop application on your machine. However, you will need the desktop application to view these created files.
2. Tableau Online - The Tableau Online node allows users to update or append new data to an existing Tableau data source file within Tableau Online.
3. Tableau Publish - The Tableau Publish node allows users the ability to create new or overwrite a Tableau data source file within Tableau Server. This node will overwrite the existing Tableau data.

TDE Output

The TDE Output is a node that allows Construct to store data in a proprietary file format called a Tableau Data Extract (.tde). This format facilitates the use of the resulting file as a data source for the wide-range of visualization programs offered by Tableau Software Inc. Configuration of the TDE Output is relatively simple. Users only need to specify the .tde file name and destination path.

Tableau Online

The Tableau Online node allows users the ability to update a Tableau data source file within Tableau Online. In order for this node to be used, there must already be an existing Tableau data source file in Tableau Online. This node has the ability to refresh an existing Tableau data source file, or append new data to an existing Tableau data source file. Once all values are entered, the Tableau Online node will behave just like any other Construct Output node.

There are six required parameters for this node:

1. URL – The destination site for the data source. This does not include your personal site name, but rather the Tableau Online site name and this value should already be entered and should not change.
2. Site – This is specific to your institution's online account. If you are unsure what your site name is, this can be found in the web address to Tableau Online.
3. User name – The user name that you use to access Tableau Online. This is generally an email.
4. Project – The name of the project that the data source was originally published to. This is also available in the Data Sources tab in Tableau Online.
5. Password – The password that you use to access Tableau Online.
6. Data Source Name – The name of the data source as listed in your Tableau Online account. If you go to the Data Sources tab in Tableau Online this will be the value that is listed under Name. The original data source file within Tableau Online must be previously saved as a .csv file format.

For this node to work the original data source has to be a .csv file. The value entered into the node should contain the file extension .csv. If you are unsure of the original file this is also available in the Data Source tab in Tableau Online; from there select the drop down option labeled View and select Connections.

Note: In order to publish data to Tableau Online, Tableau Desktop always needs to be installed on the machine. This includes using the Tableau Online node. This may need to be taken into consideration when changing your Construct license to a new machine that doesn't yet have Tableau Desktop installed.

Tableau Publish

The Tableau Publish node allows users to create new or overwrite a Tableau data source file within Tableau Server. This Construct Output will overwrite the existing Tableau data source file if the Overwrite option is set to "Yes" within the node. Once all values are entered, the Tableau Publish node will behave just like any other Construct Output node.

There are seven required parameters for this node:

1. Host – The destination site for the data source. It will be the first location listed in the project/ data source file path.
2. Site – This is specific to your institution's account.
3. User name – The user name that you use to access Tableau Server. This is generally an email.
4. Project  – The name of the project that the data source was originally published to. This is also available in the data source tab in Tableau Online.
5. Password – The password that you use to access Tableau Server.
6. Data Source Name – The name that you would like your .TDE extract to be called.
7. Overwrite – Select "Yes" to allow overwriting of extracts or "No" to not allow overwriting.

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