Tableau Desktop and Web Authoring Help

The Web Data Connector 3.0 is the latest version of the web data connector, Tableau’s solution for connecting to data in web applications and services that are exposed through APIs rather than ODBC or JDBC drivers.

The Web Data Connector 3.0 SDK provides the tools that you must build your own custom connector to web data. Additionally, partner-built connectors can be used from the Tableau Exchange.

Note: The Web Data Connector 3.0 was part of the 2022.3 Tableau release.

About Web Data Connector 3.0

In a departure from previous iterations of web data connector, and analogous to the Tableau Connector SDK, Web Data Connector 3.0 allows you to build a custom connector to web data and package the connector as a .taco file. WDC 3.0 connectors can be used like any driver-based connector built using the Tableau Connector SDK and don’t require you to host the connector on your own web server.

Like other .taco connectors, WDC 3.0 connectors are packaged and signed .jar files containing a set of XML and Javascript/TypeScript files. These files define the look and behavior of the connector including:

• A web-based connector UI
• API calls to retrieve data from your application or service endpoint
• Instructions to map the retrieved data into Tableau extracts

Note: Web Data Connector 3.0 remains extract-only, but otherwise allows you to visualize your data and publish your analysis just like any other data source.

Build your own connector

To get started building your own custom connector, refer to the official Web Data Connector 3.0 documentation.

Use a connector built with the Web Data Connector 3.0 SDK

After you build a connector with the Web Data Connector 3.0 SDK, follow these steps to use it with Tableau:

1. Download the connector file, [connector name].taco.
2. Place the .taco file in the following directory (default location):

   For Tableau Desktop	For Tableau Prep Builder	For Tableau Server, Tableau Prep Conductor, Tableau Prep Flow Authoring
   Windows - C:\Users\[Windows User]\Documents\My Tableau Repository\Connectors macOS - /Users/[user]/Documents/My Tableau Repository/Connectors	Windows: C:\Users\[Windows User]\Documents\My Tableau Prep Repository\Connectors MacOS: /Users//Documents/My Tableau Prep Repository/Connectors	Windows: C:\Program Files\Tableau\Connectors Linux: /opt/tableau/connectors

Note: After you've installed the connector, it will appear in the list of connectors in Tableau.

If you find an issue with the WDC library, the simulator, or any of the developer samples, submit an issue on Github(Link opens in a new window).

Connect Tableau to the data

1. Start Tableau, and under Connect, select the name of the connector you jusinstalledor a complete list of data connectors, select More under To a Server.
2. Enter the information that you’re prompted for, and then select Sign In.
3. Wait while the connector retrieves your data into Tableau.
4. Select the sheet tab to start your analysis.

Load order for connectors

Connectors loaded first have precedence when two connectors share class names. If a connector has the same class as a connector that has already been registered, the new connector will be rejected.

Tableau loads connectors by directory in the following order:

1. Built-in Tableau connectors
2. Connectors located in C:\Program Files\Tableau\Connectors (Windows) or/opt/tableau/connectors (Linux)
3. Connectors located in My Tableau Repository/Connectors
4. (Optional) Connectors in the dev path specified by -DConnectPluginsPath

See also

• Set Up Data Sources – Add more data to this data source or prepare your data before you analyze it.
• Build Charts and Analyze Data – Begin your data analysis.

• Tableau Connector SDK(Link opens in a new window) - Find information and tools to build and test your own customized connector.
• Use Partner-Built Connector from the Tableau Exchange - Find and install a connector from the Tableau Exchange.