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Extensions let you add unique features to dashboards or directly integrate them with applications outside Tableau. Adding extensions is easy; you incorporate them into dashboard layouts just like other dashboard objects.

Extensions expand dashboard functionality with the help of web applications created by third-party developers. If you're a developer and want to create your own extensions, see the Tableau Extensions API documentation(Link opens in a new window) on GitHub.

Note: Tableau administrators can turn off dashboard extensions for Tableau Desktop(Link opens in a new window), Tableau Server(Link opens in a new window), and Tableau Cloud(Link opens in a new window).

Add an extension to a dashboard

1. In a Tableau workbook, open a dashboard sheet.

2. From the Objects section, drag Extension to the dashboard.

   

3. In the “Add an Extension” dialog box, do either of the following:

   • Search for and select an extension.

   • Click Access Local Extensions, and navigate to a .trex file you previously downloaded.

4. If prompted, allow or deny the dashboard extension access to data in the workbook. For more information, see Data security, Network-enabled, and Sandboxed extensions.

   If you allow access, follow any on screen instructions for configuring the extension.

   Note: If you're using Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud, Extension objects will appear blank in prints, PDFs, and images of dashboards (including images in subscription emails).

Configure a dashboard extension

Some dashboard extensions provide configuration options that let you customize features.

1. Select the extension in the dashboard, and from the drop-down menu in the upper-right corner, choose Configure.

2. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure the extension.

   

Reload a dashboard extension

If a dashboard extension becomes unresponsive, you might need to reload it, which is similar to refreshing a web page in a browser.

1. Select the extension in the dashboard, and from the drop-down menu in the upper-right corner, choose Reload.

   The dashboard extension is refreshed and set to its original state.

2. If reloading the extension fails to return it to a useable state, try removing it from the dashboard and adding it again.

Data security, Network-enabled, and Sandboxed extensions

Dashboard extensions are web applications that come in two forms:

• Network-enabled extensions run on web servers located outside of your local network.
• Sandboxed extensions run in a protected environment without access to any other resource or service on the web.

Before adding a Network-enabled extension or viewing a dashboard with one, be certain that you trust the website that hosts it. By default, dashboard extensions use the HTTPS protocol, which guarantees an encrypted channel for sending and receiving data, and ensures some privacy and security.

For more information about data security when using dashboard extensions, see Extension Security - Best Practices for Deployment(Link opens in a new window).

Allow or deny data access to a Network-enabled extension

Depending on how an extension is designed, it can access either visible data in a view, or full underlying data, table and field names from data sources, and information about data source connections. When you add an extension, or view a dashboard with one, you're given an opportunity to allow or deny the extension to run and access this data.

If you're viewing a dashboard with an extension that requires full data access, and that access has been denied, a message appears in place of the extension. If you trust the extension and want to use it, you can reset permissions and allow the extension to run.

1. Select the extension in the dashboard, and from the drop-down menu in the upper-right corner, choose Reset Permissions.

2. Click either Allow to let the extension run and access data, or Deny to prevent the extension from running.

Ensure that JavaScript is enabled in Tableau Desktop

Dashboard extensions interact with data using the Tableau Extensions API library, a JavaScript library. If you want to use extensions, be sure that JavaScript is enabled in the dashboard security settings:

Choose Help > Settings and Performance > Set Dashboard Web View Security > Enable JavaScript.

Ensure that extensions run on Tableau Cloud or Tableau Server

You can add extensions to workbooks you publish from Tableau Desktop or directly in the web-authoring mode of Tableau Cloud and Tableau Server. A Tableau administrator must allow extensions to run on a site and add Network-enabled extensions to a safe list. Administrators should only allow extensions that you have tested and trust.

If you want to use a dashboard extension on Tableau Cloud or Tableau Server, direct your administrator to Manage Dashboard Extensions in Tableau Cloud or Manage Dashboard Extensions in Tableau Server(Link opens in a new window).

Supported web browsers for Sandboxed extensions

Sandboxed extensions run in all browsers supported Tableau Server(Link opens in a new window) and Tableau Cloud(Link opens in a new window) except Internet Explorer 11.

Supported versions of Tableau Server for Sandboxed extensions

You can use Sandboxed extensions in Tableau Server 2019.4 and later.

Get support for dashboard extensions

To get help for an extension, you'll need to contact the developer or company who created it.

1. Select the extension in the dashboard, and from the drop-down menu in the upper-right corner, choose About.

2. Click Get Support to go to the support page of the extension developer.

   

   Note: Tableau doesn't provide support for extensions or for other programs that interface with the Extensions API. However, you can submit questions and ask for help in the Tableau developer community(Link opens in a new window).