Tableau Cloud Help

This topic describes how a Tableau data source owner can set up and update refresh schedules for data sources that connect to private network data. Refresh schedules for data sources that connect to private network data rely on Tableau Bridge. The tasks described in this topic assume Bridge has been set up and is being maintained by your site admin. Exceptions are noted.

This topic does not cover setting up refresh schedules for virtual connections. For more information about virtual connections, see Schedule Extract Refreshes for a Virtual Connection.

Notes:

• Bridge supports keeping data fresh for data sources embedded in workbooks. See Using Embedded Data Sources.
• To set up and configure refresh schedules for private cloud-based data sources, see Use Bridge for Private Cloud Data.

Bridge refresh schedules versus Bridge legacy schedules

For data sources that are set up to use extract connections, Bridge uses refresh schedules to keep data fresh.

There are two types of refresh schedules that you can configure for Bridge to use: 

• Bridge refresh schedules
• Bridge legacy schedules: Support for Bridge legacy schedules will be removed in the 2025.1 release. For more information about how to migrate to Bridge refresh schedules, see the section below, Migrate from Bridge legacy to Bridge refresh schedules.
  Note: Bridge (legacy) schedules do not support refreshes for virtual connections.

The schedule you use can depend on a couple of factors, including the version the original schedule was created on and the type of underlying data that the data source connects to. In summary, Bridge refresh schedules are designed to leave client management tasks to the site admin and enable you to perform all your data source management tasks directly on Tableau Cloud.

Version

Beginning with Bridge 2021.4.3, extract refreshes for file-based published data sources can use Bridge refresh schedules. Bridge refresh schedules for file-based data sources require at least one Bridge 2021.4.3 (or later) client be set up and added to the client pool by your site admin.

Beginning with Bridge 2024.2.1, extract refreshes for file-based embedded data sources can use Bridge refresh schedules. Bridge refresh schedules for file-based embedded data sources require at least one Bridge 2024.2.1 (or later) client to be set up and added to a Named Pool by your site admin.

By default, schedules created for file-based data sources that were created prior to Bridge 2021.4.3 use Bridge legacy schedules. Bridge legacy schedules can be converted to Bridge refresh schedules.

Compare schedules

The following table describes the differences between Bridge refresh and Bridge legacy schedules.

Manage schedules

Though the scheduling tasks are exactly the same, there are two primary entry points for setting up a Bridge refresh schedule for a data source that connects to private network data. The first entry point is during the data source publishing process, from Tableau Desktop. The second entry point is at any time after the data source publishing process.

Set up a schedule

In most cases, you will set up a schedule as you publish your data source from Tableau Desktop.

Note: Scheduled extracts of published data sources do not support multiple pools. Multiple pools may be necessary when you have a connection in a single data source to data sources that are located in two or more network locations.

1. In Tableau Desktop, create your data source.

2. Select Server > Publish Data Source to begin the publishing process. If you haven't already signed in to Tableau Cloud, you will be prompted to.

3. In the Publish Data Source to Tableau Cloud dialog box, configure the various options for your data source, and then click the Publish button. This opens a browser window to Tableau Cloud.

   Note: Depending on the data that the data source is connected to or how you've configured the data source, the dialog will default to publishing an extract or will give you the option to publish an extract. If you are provided options, select the option to publish an extract.

4. In the Publishing Complete dialog box, click the Schedule Extract Refresh button.

   

5. In the Create Extract Refresh dialog box, configure a schedule for the refresh. For more information about how to configure the schedule, see Schedule Refreshes on Tableau Cloud.

   

6. Click the Create button.

Add or update an existing schedule

For whatever reason you are unable to schedule a refresh during the data source publishing process, you can update or add a new schedule any time after.

1. Sign in to Tableau Cloud and navigate to your data source.

2. From the data source page, click the Extract Refreshes tab.

3. Do one of the following:

   1. To set up a new schedule, click the New Extract Refresh button and configure a schedule for your refresh.

   2. To update an existing schedule, select the tick box next to the schedule, click on the Actions menu, and then select Change Frequency to reconfigure the schedule for the refresh.

4. Click the Create button.

Change refresh connection type

By default, Tableau Cloud uses Bridge when a published data source has at least one public cloud and one on-premise connection.

For more information about how to edit the connection type, see Change the connection type of a refresh to use Tableau Cloud.

Alternative: Manage Bridge legacy schedules

Optionally, you can use the Bridge legacy schedule to keep your data fresh.

Notes:

• Important: Support for Bridge legacy schedules will be removed in version 2025.1. To ensure a smooth transition, we recommend you use Bridge refresh schedules. For more information, see Migrate from Bridge legacy to Bridge refresh schedules.

• Bridge refresh schedules have greater flexibility, support more data source types and offer much simpler administration of Tableau Bridge.

• Bridge legacy schedules can only be completed successfully if you embed your database credentials in the connection through the Bridge client. For more information, see Embed or update database credentials.
• When you use a Bridge legacy schedule, the time that appears on the client and the time that appears on Tableau Cloud correspond to the time zone of the machine from which the client is running.

Migrate from Bridge legacy to Bridge refresh schedules

Refresh schedules for file-based data sources that were created before Bridge 2021.4.3 use Bridge legacy schedules by default. You can migrate Bridge legacy schedules to use Bridge refresh schedules to keep your data fresh. Bridge refresh schedules run on Bridge clients managed by your site admin and take advantage of pools of available clients to perform the refreshes.

1. Ensure that you have a named pool with at least one client assigned to it. Pools are used to distribute (or load balance) data freshness tasks among the available clients. Pools also give you the ability to dedicate clients to keeping specific data fresh and centrally maintaining security.

2. In that pool, provide the domains of the private network locations that you want to make accessible to Bridge on behalf of Tableau Cloud. For more information, see Configure Pooling.

3. Validate that the client is configured to run in Service mode and not Application mode. (More information: Linux(Link opens in a new window) | Windows(Link opens in a new window)).
4. In the legacy schedule, go to the published data source and click the Extract Refreshes tab to display the Bridge (legacy) schedule.

   

5. Use the action menu to delete all legacy schedules.

   

6. On the Connections tab, click Edit Connection, and then enter the username and password for the connection.

   

7. For all Published Data Sources, Embedded password in connection and Private network must be selected.

   

8. On the Extract Refreshes tab, click New Extract Refresh to schedule a refresh for the named pool.

   

9. Click Create to add the replacement scheduled refresh. The new schedule is listed as Schedule rather than Bridge legacy schedule.
10. Continue this process for any Bridge legacy schedules that you have running on your site. You can find a list of all current Bridge legacy schedules by signing in to the Bridge Client on the client’s machine. All active Bridge legacy schedules will be displayed on the client.

Set up a Bridge legacy schedule

Important: Support for Bridge legacy schedules will be removed in version 2025.1. To ensure a smooth transition, we recommend you use Bridge refresh schedules. For more information, see Migrate from Bridge legacy to Bridge refresh schedules.

Just like with a Bridge refresh schedules workflow, in most cases, you will set up a Bridge legacy schedule as you publish your data source from Tableau Desktop.

1. In Tableau Desktop, create your data source.

2. Select Server > Publish Data Source to begin the publishing process. If you haven't already signed in to Tableau Cloud, you will be prompted.

3. In the Publish Data Source to Tableau Cloud dialog box, configure the various options for your data source, and then click the Publish button. This opens a browser window to Tableau Cloud.

4. In the Publishing Complete dialog box, click the Schedule Extract Refresh button. The Create Extract Refresh dialog box, where you configure the Bridge legacy schedule, is displayed.

5. In the Create Extract Refresh dialog box, follow each step to configure the schedule.

   

   Notes: 

   • To refresh during a specific time period on selected days: Select Hourly, specify the time range during the day using the From and To drop-down lists, and then select the days of the week.

     To optimise performance on the server, refresh tasks are distributed within a range of up to five minutes of the time of day you specify. For example, if you set an hourly schedule, the occurrence set to run at 1:00 AM could run any time between 1:00 and 1:05 AM.

   • Full or incremental refresh: If available, you specify whether you want a full or incremental refresh. By default, Tableau Cloud runs a full refresh. Incremental refresh is available only if you configured the data source for an incremental refresh in Tableau Desktop before publishing. For information, see Refreshing Extracts(Link opens in a new window) in the Tableau Help.
     

6. Click the Create button.

Add a new or update an existing Bridge legacy schedule

Important: Support for Bridge legacy schedules will be removed in version 2025.1. To ensure a smooth transition, we recommend you use Bridge refresh schedules. For more information, see Migrate from Bridge legacy to Bridge refresh schedules.

If you're unable to schedule a refresh during the data source publishing process, you can add a new or update a Bridge legacy schedule at any time after. New (for sites that have been migrated)

1. Sign in to Tableau Cloud and navigate to your data source.

2. From the data source page, click the Extract Refreshes tab.

3. Do one of the following:

   1. To set up a new Bridge legacy schedule, in the data source's actions menu, select Schedule with Bridge legacy, configure the schedule and then click the Schedule Refresh button.

      

   2. To update an existing Bridge legacy schedule, select the tick box next to the existing schedule, click the data source's actions menu and then select Change Schedule. In this workflow, you can't change the client that performs the refresh. If you need to change the client that performs the refresh, see Change the client that performs the Bridge legacy schedule. When finished, click the Change Schedule button.

Other Bridge legacy schedule management tasks

Add a new or update an existing schedule from the client

If you, not your site admin, are managing the "named" clients, you can add a new or update an existing Bridge legacy schedule directly from the Bridge client.

1. Open the Windows system tray and click the Bridge icon to open the client.

2. Hover over the data source and click the Schedule icon. This opens a browser window to the data source page in Tableau Cloud.

3. Repeat steps 2–3 from the above the Add a new or update an existing Bridge legacy schedule section to set up the schedule.

Add a new computer (client) to perform a scheduled refresh

As part of the scheduling process, in the scheduling dialog, you must specify a machine. The machine you specify is the Bridge client that performs the refresh.

The Bridge legacy schedule displays the clients that you signed into.

If the client you want to select is not available from the drop-down list, it can be one of a few reasons: 

• You're not signed in to the client.
• The client is not properly registered or connected to the site. Go to and open the client and make sure that it has a green or "Connected" status.
• Your site admin manages all clients in your organisation. When using Bridge legacy schedules, the data source owner and the user signed into the client must be the same. If your site admin is signed into the client, he or she must reassign ownership of the data source to him or herself in order to schedule a refresh.

Cancel an in-progress refresh

In some cases, you might need to cancel an in-progress refresh. You can cancel a refresh for a data source that uses the Bridge legacy schedule only.

1. Open the Windows system tray and click the Bridge icon to open the client.

2. Click the Cancel Refresh button. This action will cancel the in-progress refresh.

   

Note: A client can perform one Bridge legacy refresh at a time. If you need to run more than one Bridge legacy refresh at the same time, talk to your site admin about setting up additional clients on different machines to perform the extract refreshes.

Change the client that performs the Bridge legacy schedule

If you're working with a Bridge legacy schedule and want to change the location or machine that performs the refresh, you must set up a new refresh schedule. You can only schedule a refresh using a client that you are signed in to.

To set up a new Bridge legacy schedule, see Set up a Bridge legacy schedule. When you're done setting up a new refresh schedule, make sure that you delete the previous schedule identical to the new schedule.

Important: If the data source requires database credentials to access the underlying data, you must go back to the client and edit the connection information to re-embed the database credentials. You can use the Test Connection option in the client to check whether the data source can access the underlying data.

Remove a client from a site

After you change the client that performs the Bridge legacy schedule, consider permanently removing the client from the site if it's no longer being used for any other data freshness tasks.

1. Sign in to Tableau Cloud.

2. In the upper-right corner of the browser, click your profile image or initials and select My Account Settings.

3. Under Connected clients, click Delete next to the client you want to remove from the site.

Verify a previous or upcoming refresh

You can check when a previous refresh took place or find out when the next refresh will occur.

1. Sign in to Tableau Cloud and navigate to your data source.

2. From the data source page, click the Extract Refreshes tab.

3. Next to the schedule, review Last update and Next update columns.

Delete a refresh schedule

1. Sign in to Tableau Cloud and navigate to the data source whose refresh schedule you want to delete.

2. On the data source page, click on the Extract Refreshes tab.

3. Select the tick box next to the schedule that you want to delete and select Actions > Delete.