Tableau- Data Sources
Tableau software connects to all types of popular data sources. It can link to text files, excel files, PDF files, etc. Tableau has the ability to connect to various servers and web connectors. It can also connect to multiple databases using its ODBC connector. Tableau’s essential connectors can associate to the different types of data sources which are given below:
- File Systems- CSV, Excel, etc.
- Relational Systems or Databases- Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, etc.
- Cloud Systems- Windows Azure, Google BigQuery, etc.
- Other Source- unlike ODBC
Connection to Text File
- Click on the "Text File" option given in the tableau data tab.
- A dialogue box will appear and select your text file. Click on the "Open" Option.
- This will automatically connect your text file into the Tableau. And the following screen will open:
Connecting to Excel File
- Click on the "Microsoft Excel" option given in the second tableau data tab.
- Select your excel file and click on the "Open" Option.
- It connects the excel file into Tableau. The below-given sheets will open presenting your excel file data.
Connection to PDF File
- Tableau can connect to PDF by clicking on the "PDF File" option given in the tableau data tab.
- Select your PDF file and click on “Open”.
- This will automatically connect your PDF file into the Tableau. And the following screen will open:
Connection to Database
Click on the required database connection given in the data tab. For example, if you want to connect to a MySQL database, click on the "MySQL" Option.
This will open the MySQL connection window.
- You can enter the MySQL server name and also can edit the "Port" if it is needed.
- Enter your username and password to connect with the database.
- Click on the "Sign in" button to connect to the database.
The above procedure connects the database into the Tableau. You can also select the tables from the database and import it into Tableau. You can join multiple tables by creating a relationship between them.
