# Tableau

## Tableau

Paradime integrates with Tableau in two ways:

1. **Lineage & Catalog** — extract Tableau metadata to power column-level lineage and the asset catalog
2. **Bolt Refreshes** — trigger Tableau [data source](https://docs.paradime.io/app-help/documentation/bolt/creating-schedules/command-settings/tableau-data-source-refresh) and [workbook](https://docs.paradime.io/app-help/documentation/bolt/creating-schedules/command-settings/tableau-workbook-refresh) refreshes a as part of your dbt pipelines

***

### Prerequisites

#### Enable the Tableau Metadata API

For Tableau Server, make sure to enable the Tableau Metadata API. Check [Tableau's documentation](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/docs/meta_api_start.html#enable-the-tableau-metadata-api-for-tableau-server). Metadata API is always enabled for Tableau Online.

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Required version:** Ensure you are running Tableau Server or Tableau Online 2020.1 or higher.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** Paradime will only extract **published** Tableau assets from the Metadata API.
{% endhint %}

#### Whitelist Paradime IP

If using Tableau Server, allow traffic from the relevant Paradime IP in your firewall. See: [Paradime IP addresses](https://docs.paradime.io/app-help/developers/ip-restrictions).

#### Update Cloudflare Browser Integrity Check (BIC) rules

If you're using Cloudflare, your firewall may block Paradime's requests to the Tableau Metadata API. Create a firewall skip rule for the [Paradime IP address](https://docs.paradime.io/app-help/developers/ip-restrictions).

See [Cloudflare Browser Integrity Check docs](https://developers.cloudflare.com/waf/tools/browser-integrity-check/).

***

### Step 1 — Create a dedicated Tableau user

{% hint style="info" %}
We advise creating a new Tableau user, in order to grant the correct access required to connect using the Tableau Metadata API.
{% endhint %}

Add a user with the **Site Administrator Explorer** role to the site you want to connect.

* 👉 [How to create users in Tableau](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/sites_addusers.htm)
* 👉 [How to grant the Site Administrator Explorer role](https://help.tableau.com/current/online/en-us/users_site_roles.htm)

***

### Step 2 — Generate API credentials

Paradime connects to Tableau via Personal Access Tokens. You'll need:

* **Host name**
  * Tableau Cloud: `https://xxxx.online.tableau.com/#/site/your_site/`
  * Tableau Server: `https://xxxx.tableau.com/`
* **Token Name**
* **Token Secret**

To generate a Personal Access Token in the Tableau UI:

1. Click your avatar (top right) → **My Account Settings**
2. Go to the **Settings** tab → scroll to **Personal Access Tokens**
3. Enter a token name (e.g. `paradime`) → click **Create new token**
4. Save the **Token Name** and **Token Secret** — you'll need both below

<figure><img src="https://2337193041-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FHET0AD04uHMgdeLAjptq%2Fuploads%2FwwJhAasks4tsN9K41bk8%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=72456674-8495-4710-878d-a596e54d2622" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="danger" %}
If you delete this token from Tableau, all Paradime integrations using it will stop working.
{% endhint %}

👉 [Tableau docs: Personal Access Tokens](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/security_personal_access_tokens.htm)

***

### Connect to Lineage & Catalog

This integration powers Tableau asset metadata in Paradime's Lineage and Catalog features.

The integration is configured by the **Admin user**. Go to **Account Settings → Integrations**, find Tableau, and click **Connect**.

1. Enter your **Host Name**, **Token Name**, and **Token Secret**
2. Click **Test Connection** to validate

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="https://2337193041-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FHET0AD04uHMgdeLAjptq%2Fuploads%2F0HrgDLchUla1KPgo5yV0%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=b5bfb559-294f-4eed-807a-04a04486109f" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

#### What metadata does Paradime extract?

Paradime uses the following Tableau Metadata API endpoints:

* [Dashboard](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/dashboard.doc.html)
* [Flows](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/flow.doc.html)
* [Sheets](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/sheet.doc.html)
* [Data sources](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/datasource.doc.html)
* [Fields](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/field.doc.html)
* [Calculated fields](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/calculatedfield.doc.html)
* [Database](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/database.doc.html)
* [Metric](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/metric.doc.html)
* [Tables](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/table.doc.html)
* [Database table](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/databasetable.doc.html)
* [Workbook](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/workbook.doc.html)
* [Site](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/tableausite.doc.html)
* [User](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/tableauuser.doc.html)
* [View](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/view.doc.html)
* [Tag](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/metadata_api/en-us/reference/tag.doc.html)

***

### Connect to Bolt (Tableau Refreshes)

Bolt can trigger Tableau data source refreshes at the end of your dbt pipeline runs — so your Tableau extracts are always in sync with your freshest data.

#### 1. Generate API credentials

Use the same credentials generated in Step 2 above. If you haven't done that yet, follow the instructions there first.

#### 2. Configure data source credentials

For Paradime to trigger a data source refresh, credentials must be embedded within the extract in Tableau.

1. Open the data source in Tableau
2. Click **Publish**
3. Select **Embed credentials**

#### 3. Set environment variables

Add the following environment variables to your Bolt schedule:

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="https://2337193041-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FHET0AD04uHMgdeLAjptq%2Fuploads%2FH6vfqBrmH5yJgQp5qvXO%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=8650d6a7-1277-4198-b7be-c070d8e2e819" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

| Variable                               | Required | Description                               |
| -------------------------------------- | -------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| `TABLEAU_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN_NAME`   | ✅        | Token name from Step 2                    |
| `TABLEAU_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN_SECRET` | ✅        | Token secret from Step 2                  |
| `TABLEAU_HOST`                         | ✅        | Your Tableau host URL                     |
| `TABLEAU_SITE_NAME`                    | ✅        | The site name you want to connect to      |
| `TABLEAU_TIMEOUT`                      | Optional | Request timeout in seconds (default: 300) |

👉 [How to set environment variables in Bolt](https://docs.paradime.io/app-help/bolt/environment-variables)


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