#Tableau prep pivot aliases update
#Tableau prep pivot aliases download

Thank you in advance for any suggestions/advice! I’m fairly new to Tableau Online so not entirely sure if I’m not taking advantage of some key functionality that would help in this case. Should I be doing something different? I don’t have Tableau Server but I do have Tableau Online and Tableau Prep. I built my workbook using the first/original data source but now, when trying to replace/update the data source, I’m encountering an error because I created a combined field that doesn’t exist in the new data source (columns, etc.

#Tableau prep pivot aliases download

My process has been to download the CSV and add the date to the end of the file to help keep track. Unfortunately, the data source isn’t live but instead is a static CSV file that I download/export from a third-party system.

#Tableau prep pivot aliases update

Thanks for sharing this useful post! I have a scenario where I will frequently have to update a data source. It will save a lot of time on maintaining and updating your dashboards. In light of all these loose ends, it’s best to avoid having to replace data sources entirely and just connect your workbook to a live data source that is updated via Tableau Server. Some other areas to pay attention to are sets, the format of quick filters on your dashboard, and groups. When you replace your data sources, make sure you pay attention to the potential changes outlined above.

In my own experience, I’ve typically seen it happen with Grand Total columns that sum up your rows, but be mindful of this as well if you have Grand Total rows that some up your columns

Although it didn’t change in this instance, I have seen “Grand Total” fields disappear.

Aliases: If you look at the Segment Profitability bars, you’ll notice that the bar that was initially called “Self-Employed” has reverted to its original non-alias, “Home Office”.

Tableau has reverted to an alphabetical sort

Default sort: My sales by subcategory initially had a default sort that put technology at the top.

Legend arrangement: In addition to the colour change, Tableau has also rearranged my legend so it is no longer a single row.

When you replace your data source with new field names, Tableau will revert to its default colour scheme

Colour: The most obvious change is the colour that I had initially used for my different categories.

What has changed? Well there are a couple of things: This is my dashboard after I replace my data source This is my dashboard before I replace my data source To fix this, you just right click on the field, select replace references, and point it to the new renamed field: This is because Tableau thinks the fields are no longer in the data. The first thing you will notice when you replace the data source is that your fields that were renamed now have a red ! exclamation mark next to them. For this example, I’ve renamed Category as category and Subcategory as subcat. Then you decide that you need to replace the data source and for whatever reason (maybe a different person pulled the data this time, maybe the fields were renamed as part of a new policy, maybe you wore the wrong kind of socks that morning, whatever the case may be), some of the fields were renamed.

However, if anything has changed, even if it’s just removing a hyphen or changing a field so that it’s capitalised, you will break a few things.įor example, let’s say you build a dashboard with an initial data source (in my case, Sample Superstore). If the new data source has EXACTLY the same field names, you should generally be fine. Right click on original data source, select “Replace data source”.The usual process to replace a data source is as follows: open your workbook, click the add data source icon, add the new data source, and then replace your original data source: If for whatever reason you cannot update or refresh a live data source connected to your workbook, there are some things you need to bear in mind. However, sometimes you will have to replace the original data source with a new one. In the ideal scenario, especially if you have your workbook on Tableau Server, your workbook would be connected to a live data source and you would just update your data source (without changing the name of the data source or field names) and your workbook would update automatically. not one-time, static infographics), there may come a time when you have to either refresh the data in your dashboard or replace is with another data source. When creating workbooks that will have future iterations (i.e. 11 June, 2017 Things to Watch When Replacing Data Sources