Esri Connector

Applies to: Tableau Desktop

In Tableau, you can connect to an Esri (ArGIS) Server and ArcGIS Online. The connector calls the Esri Services Directory REST API to find all MapServer and FeatureServer services. You can choose individual layers from those discovered services that are downloaded and stored in an extract.

Note: In Tableau 2022.1, the Esri connector replaced the Esri ArcGIS Server connector. The workbooks you created with the Esri ArcGIS Server (including published ones) will continue to function normally. All of those workbooks are built on extracts that are valid indefinitely. You can create new workbooks with the Esri connector.

Download the required driver

The Esri connector requires a driver to be installed. If the driver isn’t installed on the host computer, the connection dialog box displays a link to the Driver Download(Link opens in a new window). All Tableau Cloud sites already have the driver installed.

Connect to Esri Services

There are two ways to connect to Esri services with the Esri connector: To an unauthenticated (public-facing) ArcGIS server, or to ArcGIS Online using OAuth authentication.

Unauthenticated ArcGIS server

You can use this method if your Esri server is publicly accessible. There are thousands of such endpoints, many of which are listed here. You can set up layers on your Esri server to be publicly accessible.

Follow along with this example:

  1. From Tableau Desktop or Tableau Server, install the driver.
  2. Start Tableau and under Connect, select Esri.

    If authoring in Tableau Cloud or Tableau Server, Select New Workbook > Connectors > Esri.

  3. Change the value under Connect to to A public-facing ArcGIS server.
  4. For the ArcGIS Server URL in this example, you can use https://services.arcgis.com/P3ePLMYs2RVChkJx/ArcGIS/rest/services/AGOL_Base_2018_Final/FeatureServer
  5. Select Sign In (Don’t worry, you aren’t actually signing in.)
  6. You’ll see layers representing geographic levels of detail. Double-click County.
  7. Navigate to Sheet 1. (Tableau creates an extract from the layer.)
  8. Drag (or double-click) the Shape field onto the canvas. A map of counties in the US appears.
  9. Drag the Median Age Cy field onto color on the Marks card. A choropleth of Median Age from the 2018 census renders.

OAuth (Tableau Desktop and Tableau Cloud)

Use the OAuth method if you have an account and data saved on ArcGIS Online. You can retrieve layers from your account by entering your credentials in the Esri connector dialog.

  1. From Tableau Desktop, install the driver (see above).
  2. Start Tableau and under Connect, select Esri.

    If authoring in Tableau Cloud or Tableau Server, select New Workbook > Connectors > Esri.

  3. Select Sign In.
  4. Provide your Esri credentials in the browser and select Sign In again.
  5. A list of services available in your account appears.

OAuth (Tableau Server)

To use the OAuth mode to connect from Tableau Server to ArcGIS Online, you must first configure both the ArcGIS Online account and Tableau Server.

Configure ArcGIS Online

  1. Obtain an ArcGIS Developer account.
  2. Register a new OAuth application following the instructions found on the arcGIS website.
  3. Specify the Redirect URL as https://<your Tableau Server Host>/auth/add_oauth_token
  4. Make note of the Redirect URL, Client ID, and Client Secret, as you need them to configure Tableau Server.

    OAuth 2.0 Credentials box with client ID, Client Secret, Temporary Token, and redirect URLs fields

Configure Tableau Server

  1. From Settings, scroll to OAuth Clients Registry.
  2. Select Add OAuth Client.
  3. In Connection Type, select Esri.
  4. Fill in the Redirect URL, Client ID, and Client Secret from the ArcGIS Online configuration step mentioned previously.
  5. Save your Settings changes.

    create OAuth client box with connection type, provider, instance URL, client ID, Client Secret, and Redirect URL fields

Troubleshoot Esri connections

Note: It’s important to have the current driver (version 0.73.0 or later).

ArcGIS Server layers with large geometries may not successfully download, or the download may take a long time.

Known limitations

  • When you use an OAuth connection, only items in the Owner’s user account display.
  • The Esri connector doesn’t support definition queries. Thus, the selected layer downloads in its entirety.
  • The Esri connector doesn’t support live connections, and always creates an extract. A packaged workbook with an ArcGIS connection can be opened in versions of Tableau older than 2022.1, but you can't refresh the extract.
  • The connector searches only for MapServer and FeatureServer service types.
  • The connector ignores the esriFieldTypeBlob and esriFieldTypeRaster types.
  • Esri geometry types are limited to the following:
    • esriGeometryPoint
    • esriGeometryMultipoint
    • esriGeometryLine
    • esriGeometryPath
    • esriGeometryPolyline
    • esriGeometryPolygon
    • esriGeometryEnvelope
  • If the ArcGIS Server contains multiple layers or tables with identical names within a service, only one displays.

See also

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