Tableau

Tableau is a widely-used business intelligence and data visualization platform that enables data analysts to build interactive dashboards and reports. MotherDuck supports both Tableau Cloud (via the Tableau Cloud Bridge) and Tableau Server.

Tableau Cloud

How to use Tableau Cloud with MotherDuck via Tableau Bridge

Setup

This guide assumes you have a Tableau account and a Tableau Cloud Site. If you don't, sign up or ask your organization to purchase a plan, or sign up for a free trial.

Setup Bridge client

Use instructions here to install and setup Bridge client.

1. Make sure the machine where the Bridge client is installed has access to the Database used in the above steps.

   Important notes:

   Network access - Because Bridge facilitates connections between your private network data and Tableau Cloud, it requires the ability to make outbound connections through the internet. After the initial outbound connection, communication is bidirectional.

   Required ports - Tableau Bridge uses port 443 to make outbound internet requests to Tableau Cloud and port 80 for certificate validation.

2. Install Bridge client and make sure the Bridge client is logged in to the Tableau Cloud site. You can download the installer here.

3. Install the driver and taco files as outlined here.

   • [Windows Server] The driver also needs to be installed here: C:\Program Files\Tableau\Tableau Bridge\Drivers
   • [Windows Server] The connector also needs to be installed here: C:\Program Files\Tableau\Connectors

Note: Tableau Bridge can be deployed on both Windows or Linux.

Tableau Cloud Bridge Pool setup

1. In Settings → Bridge page, make sure the Bridge client is connected in the connection Status.
2. Add a new Pool and assign the Bridge Client to a Pool.
3. Click on the edit button of the Bridge client and select the pool created.
4. In the "Private Network Allowlist" add the domain of the database and select the pool.

Create Embedded Data Source (Live) and Workbook

1. Open Tableau desktop and login to a Tableau Cloud site.

2. Create new Workbook and select the database connector.

3. Connect to the database.

   

4. Setup Datasource to use live connectivity.

5. Create a worksheet with the data.

   

Publish the Workbook to Tableau Cloud

1. Click on "Server > Publish Workbook".

2. Select "Publish Separately" under Publish Type and "Embedded password" under Authentication. Select "Maintain connection to a live data source".

3. Click "Publish Workbook & 1 Data Source".

(Important step!) Update Tableau Bridge client in data source

1. Navigate to the newly published data source in Tableau Cloud (in your browser) and click on the "i" icon to open Data Source Details.

2. Click on "Change Bridge Client..."

3. Change the bridge client from "Site client pool" to your bridge client (the one you set up in the previous section). Click "Save" and close the dialog.

4. Check that the data source now shows up in your Tableau Bridge status dialog. This dialog is located in the Windows Start bar (in the Icon panel).

   

5. You can now access your Published Workbook on your Tableau Cloud Site, or you can create a new Tableau Workbook using the Published Data Source.

   

Tableau Desktop & Server

Tableau Desktop DuckDB/MotherDuck Setup

1. Download a recent version of the DuckDB JDBC driver and copy it into the Tableau Drivers directory:

   • MacOS: ~/Library/Tableau/Drivers/
   • Windows: C:\Program Files\Tableau\Drivers
   • Linux: /opt/tableau/tableau_driver/jdbc

2. Download the signed tableau connector (aka "Taco file") file from the latest available release and copy it into the Connectors directory:

   • Desktop Windows: C:\Users\[YourUser]\Documents\My Tableau Repository\Connectors
   • Desktop MacOS: /Users/[YourUser]/Documents/My Tableau Repository/Connectors
   • Server Windows: C:\ProgramData\Tableau\Tableau Server\data\tabsvc\vizqlserver\Connectors
   • Server Linux: [Your Tableau Server Install Directory]/data/tabsvc/vizqlserver/Connectors

Connecting

Once the Taco is installed, and you have launched Tableau, you can create a new connection by choosing "DuckDB by MotherDuck":

Local DuckDB database

If you wish to connect to a local DuckDB database, select "Local file" as DuckDB Server option, and use the file picker:

In-Memory Database

The driver can be used with an in-memory database by selecting the In-memory database DuckDB Server option.

The data will then need to be provided by an Initial SQL string e.g.,

CREATE VIEW my_parquet AS
    SELECT *
    FROM read_parquet('/path/to/file/my_file.parquet');

You can then access it by using the Tableau Data Source editing controls.

MotherDuck

To connect to MotherDuck, you have two authentication options:

• Token -- provide the value that you get from MotherDuck UI.
• No Authentication -- unless motherduck_token environment variable is available to Tableau at startup, you will then be prompted to authenticate when at connection time.

To work with a MotherDuck database in Tableau, you have to provide the database to use when issuing queries. In MotherDuck Database field, provide the name of your database. You don't have to prefix it with md::

Additional information

• Tableau Documentation
• Tableau Exchange Connector DuckDB/MotherDuck
• DuckDB Tableau Connector