How to Automate a Tableau Prep Flow

[@onenumbertableau]

Need help automating your Tableau Prep flow? Schedule an hour with Eric here: www.eventbrite.com/e/tableau-office-hours-with-eric-parker-tickets-42691995909 Ready to master Tableau? Check out our lineup of upcoming classes! www.eventbrite.com/o/onenumber-15678294163

[@paulwyatt8523]

Hi Eric, Thanks for the video. I love all of your One Number blogs and videos. Could I suggest that you might state the Tableau requirements up front in future videos if you're not using a 'basic' tableau server installation. Many established users will not have the Tableau Data Management (TDM) plug-in upgrade required to schedule a PREP flow which may come as a disappointment at the 8:00min mark of your video. Whilst there are alternative ways to automate PREP without TDM, they are not worth it in my opinion so I personally use PREP in the discovery phase and then use SQL in the DB to replace the PREP work for a production model. Take care Eric, I really look forward to your informative and inspiring videos dropping every week. Regards, Paul

[@onenumbertableau]

I hear you! I'm hopeful Tableau will unlock the capability at some point so it isn't an add-on you have to pay for. I'm not sure if that's realistic but that's my hope!

[@bibidi1868]

that solution is a best of best 😊

[@onenumbertableau]

We're so glad you found this helpful!

[@uismdoratamari9953]

At 2:17 What is that type of table called and how do you make it? I have been trying to do this but every time it would cross the variables and I could not just get a simple overview! Any help would be super appreciated. Thank you!

[@onenumbertableau]

Hi! I just call it a "Multi-axis bar chart". You can download the dashboard at the following link on Tableau Public to see how it's made. The second dashboard "Sales Dashboard - Detailed" should do the trick. public.tableau.com/app/profile/eric.parker/viz/DecisiveData-Restaurants-HallakBrewingDashboard/SalesDashboard

[@MuhammadAmanManj]

Big Fan Sir. Great Help.

[@onenumbertableau]

Thank you, you are welcome!

[@ksyoo9962]

Thanks, really solve my problem! Success by follow the steps, hoho~

[@onenumbertableau]

So glad to hear it, you're welcome!

[@shaq-wu4ql]

Hi your video is amazing and very helpful. Can you make a video using Tableau Server in place of Tableau Cloud with Tableau Prep and Google sheet ?

[@onenumbertableau]

Thank you! We don't have access to a Tableau Server site that would be appropriate to use for a demonstration like that. Let us know if you have any specific questions about this process on Tableau Server and we may be able to help.

[@DebayanKar7]

9:02 I want to create a custom schedule with 15 mins intervals, how to do that ?

[@onenumbertableau]

Typically only Server Admins can create or update schedules. You can find more details here: help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/schedule_manage_create.htm

[@hi-xy5hq]

Heyyy I connect my flow to Amazon Athena and published it with embedded cadential. I scheduled the flow but it fail to refresh I seem like i have to open the flow and log in to Athena again. Do you know how to fix that?

[@onenumbertableau]

You might need to embed your credentials in your Tableau Cloud/Server profile. Here's how you do that: -Click on Profile Icon (initials in top right corner) -Select "My Account Settings" -Scroll down until you find Amazon Athena and add credentials Good luck!

[@onenumbertableau]

Need help implementing this? Book an office hour to work with Eric here: www.eventbrite.com/e/tableau-office-hours-with-eric-parker-tickets-42691995909 Ready to take your Tableau skills to the next level? Check out our upcoming classes here! www.eventbrite.com/o/onenumber-15678294163

[@alamarridi711]

Hi Eric, I have external excel file connected to my Flow, but the flow wont automatically reads the changes I make in the excel file

[@onenumbertableau]

Hi! I would recommend saving that Excel file to an online location (e.g. OneDrive or Google Drive) so it's accessible. Alternatively, you could look at utilizing Tableau Bridge: www.tableau.com/products/tableau-bridge

[@alamarridi711]

Hi@@onenumbertableau , I tried to embed both oneDrive and google Drive to Tableau , but since both need kind of authentication , tableau wont take the new readings from the file, I would appreciate if you know how can we solve this issue.

[@onenumbertableau]

@@alamarridi711 You'll probably need help from your Tableau Server Admin to embed your credentials to your profile so you can authenticate via GoogleDrive or OneDrive. Here's a quick background: help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/examples_onedrive.htm Other options: -Put Excel file on the Tableau Server so it is accessible 24/7 (only works with on-prem Server) -Publish Excel file as a table in a database -Set up Tableau Bridge

[@juanguerrero6647]

Hello amazing video. Is there a way to use like python and reach any API to schedule the flows?

[@onenumbertableau]

Hi! Thank you! It looks like it may be possible but you will need the Data Management Add-On regardless. Here is some info on that: community.tableau.com/s/question/0D58b00009gXxWRCA0/running-flow-via-python

[@andrecsilveira]

Do I have to purchase a Data management license to have Tableau Prep Conductor? I do not have the schedule task option

[@onenumbertableau]

You might be able to get around that if you are a Tableau Server Administrator. Otherwise, I'm afraid the "Tableau Data Management" Add-On is the only way to provide scheduling to users at scale.

[@gkgk6393]

How would this be possible without the Data management add on as that is an additional cost?

[@onenumbertableau]

I've heard of people doing this on Windows Command Line locally, but on Tableau Online, the only current option is to purchase the add-on. I think with local Tableau Server it's a default option but I don't know that for sure.

[@gkgk6393]

@@onenumbertableau Thanks for you response, I do use command line but for the laptop has to be switched on or use sql then create extract. But I need to be thorough with SQL skills.

[@reyvincentalcantara5563]

HI. I have multiple flows for example, I have flow 1 and flow 2 then I will use flow 1 and 2 output to flow 3 how can I do the automated process of this one. I have to use the last output which is coming from flow 3 in dashboard

[@onenumbertableau]

Hi Rey, I think this should still work! You just need to schedule the flows so they happen in order. Maybe staggering them 30 minutes apart depending on how long each takes to run.

[@AbhilashRajagopal-gi8fm]

Can we remove duplicates from a column in prep ?

[@onenumbertableau]

Yes! I would recommend using the Aggregate tool to do so. More on how here: onenumber.biz/blog-1/2019/7/5/fixing-duplicate-records-in-tableau

[@pw2229]

Let's say we have created a data flow using live MySQL database connections and then we publish the data source using the data flow on server. Once we run the data flow on server, the newly created datasource will have a live connection to mysql or it is published as an extract? If the new data in available in MySQL database then how will that reflect in the datassource published using dataflow?

[@onenumbertableau]

I believe the output will still be published as an Extract which will still need to be automated. I'm guessing that a direct connection to the MySQL data from Tableau Desktop isn't possible?

[@kelechionyenachi3135]

When I run the flow in prep I get the pop up saying "Tableau prep output with the same name already exist. Do you want to replace them?" I click replace and the flow runs. The flow fails when running from the server and I believe that pop up is why. How do i automate around that or get the automation to automatically just overwrite

[@onenumbertableau]

Hi, I'd double-check the "Write Options" section of your Output step in your flow. I believe if it is set to "Create Table" or "Overwrite Table" this shouldn't be an issue.

[@yogeshhogale5675]

Hi if my input files get updated daily then by running flow in tableau prep how does new files get updated pls help

[@onenumbertableau]

When you say input files do you mean Excel or CSV? I think it would be best to put those in OneDrive or some similar online portal where they can be accessed on a regular basis. It's going to be tricky to access them routinely if they are only on your local PC. I suppose you could always use Tableau Bridge if you can't put them online.

[@karolinaroz1963]

I was trying to publish flow but I can't change an Authentication method :( What could be the prob;em?

[@onenumbertableau]

Hi Karolina. Can you tell me more about your setup? What are you trying to authenticate? What kind of data source are you using?

[@karolinaroz1963]

@@onenumbertableau I am using Tableau Prep +Tableau Cloud and data are from Salesforce former CDP (Data Cloud). I am connecting to CDP using my Salesforce credentials - So I am guessing that here could be the problem with publishing flow to Tableau Cloud - The only possibility in connection there is " Prompt user", I am looking for any hint where could be the problem :)