For convenience, you can export and save frequently used data connections. Data connections are saved as .tds (Tableau Data Source) files and appear in the Datasources folder in My Tableau Repository with a silver cylinder icon. The connections saved in this folder become accessible from the “Saved data sources” section of the Connect to Data page (in version 6.1 and earlier, the TDS file is accessible from the Select Saved Connection tab in the Connect to Data dialog box).
You can also share a TDS file with colleagues who have access to the same data source, and publish it as a Tableau Server data source to make it available to others who do not have access to the same data source.
Note: If you want to use a TDS file as a template for future workbooks, but also want to maintain custom formatting, such as text size, color, and orientation, creating a bookmark is a better option. Refer to the Using a Bookmark to Copy a Sheet to Another Workbook article.
Export a data connection
Step 1
For Tableau Desktop 7.0 and later, select the data source on the Data menu, and then select Add to Saved Data Sources.
For Tableau Desktop 6.1 and earlier, select Data > Data Connection > Export.
For Tableau Desktop 6.1 and earlier, select Data > Data Connection > Export.
Step 2
For Tableau Desktop 7.0 and later, in the Add To Saved Data Sources dialog box, give the connection a descriptive name.
For Tableau Desktop 6.1 and earlier, in the Export Connection dialog box, give the connection a descriptive name.
For Tableau Desktop 6.1 and earlier, in the Export Connection dialog box, give the connection a descriptive name.
Step 3
Click Save to save the TDS file to the Datasources folder.
Update a data connection (TDS file)
When you change the data connection by adding custom fields, you can make the updated connection available to other workbooks by exporting the connection again, overwriting the original data connection. If you connect to an existing TDS file and add any custom fields, such as a calculated field, the calculated field is not saved as part of the TDS. To ensure that your changes are preserved, you must export the TDS again.
To update a data connection, follow the steps outlined in the above section, "Export a data connection". Then, when prompted, in the Confirm Save As dialog box, click Yes to confirm that you want to replace the current TDS file.
Note: Workbooks that use that data connection must open the TDS file to update their data connection so that it includes the calculated field that was added from your workbook as described below.
Connect to the updated data connection
Step 1
Open another workbook that uses this data connection.
Step 2
Select File > Open.
Step 3
In the dialog box, browse to My Documents\My Tableau Repository\Datasources.
Step 4
Select the TDS file that this workbook uses, and click Open.
The latest exported version of the data connection file replaces the one the workbook was using. Changes for groups, bins, calculations, field types and field default changes, and the like, are updated. Anything in the workbook that is not in the data connection file is erased.
Important: Data connection names of all the workbooks and the TDS file must be identical.
Publish a Tableau Server data source
If you want to make the data connection available to users who do not have access to your Datasource folder, you can publish it to Tableau Server as a Tableau Server data source.
Step 1
In a workbook that uses the data connection you want to publish, for Tableau Desktop 7.0 and later, select the data source on the Data menu, and then select Publish to Server (for 6.1 and earlier, select Server > Publish Data Source).
Step 2
In the Publish Data Source to Tableau Server dialog box, under View Permissions, specify the users to whom you want to grant access to this data connection.
Step 3
Click Publish.
A message appears informing you when the data connection has been successfully published.
Use a published data connection
For Tableau Desktop 7.0 and later:
Step 1
From the workbook in which you want to use the published data connection, select Data > Connect to Data to open the Connect to Data page.
Step 2
Select Tableau Server.
Step 3
Type the name of the Tableau Server along with your username and password.
Step 4
Select the data source in the list of published data sources. Tableau Server data sources are shown in the Data window with a Tableau icon.
For Tableau Desktop 6.1 and earlier:
For Tableau Desktop 6.1 and earlier:
Step 1
Tableau Desktop 6.1 and earlier, select Server > Import Data Source.
Step 2
In the Import Data Source from Tableau Server dialog box, in the Find list, select the search criterion you want to use to locate the data source.
Step 3
In the list, select the data connection you want, and click Import.