11. CONTROL PARAMETER TOOL
Unlike the Dynamic
Input tool and the Macro
Input tool, the control
parameter allows you to
feed information into an
action tool.
14. Alteryx WDC for Tableau
The Alteryx Web Data Connector (WDC) for Tableau tool enables an
Alteryx app to be used as a web data source in Tableau (version 9.1 and
later). Place the tool at the end of a data stream in an app, publish it to
your Gallery, and connect to it from within Tableau to access data from
Alteryx.
15. Three Ways to use Alteryx and Tableau
Output Tool Write a Tableau Data
Extract (.TDE) with
the Output Tool
This is a 'push' option. Alteryx executes a workflow and creates an output
consumed in Tableau. The execution is triggered from Alteryx, either
manually or scheduled.
This tool comes with Alteryx.
Publish to
Tableau
Server
Publish a TDE as a
Data Source on the
Tableau Server
This is a scaled out version of the previous option. In this case the dataset
generated by Alteryx gets pushed to the Tableau Server where it can be
shared and consumed by a large audience. As before, the execution is
triggered from Alteryx, manually or scheduled.
This tool is available for download and installation from the Alteryx
Gallery
Web Data
Connector
Expose the Alteryx
workflow as a web
data connector for
Tableau
This is a 'pull' option. Without using Alteryx directly, Tableau end users can
get data from an Alteryx workflow with control over query parameters.
For example a date range, sales territory or product line.
This tool is available for downloaded and installation from the Alteryx
Gallery
16. WDC Use-Cases
• Fresh Data On-Demand – Interactively
• Consume Alteryx applications
• Scale data value chain maintenance
17. Fresh Data On-Demand - Interactively
• For this use case, users need the most up-to-date data at a
moment’s notice. As an example getting today's sales
update- this type of use case requires good interactivity,
read - the data needs to return fast.
• If the analytic process takes a while to execute, users will not
have a good interactive experience, nor get the insights
they’re looking for quickly.
18. Consume Alteryx applications
• Tableau is used as a visual and interactive way to
consume Alteryx applications - By application, I mean
an Alteryx workflow that offers some level of interaction
with the user.
• For example with the 2010 Census Demographic Report,
users select parameters, the application runs and
provides a personalized result. Running an Alteryx
application with the Tableau Web Data Connector offers
Tableau users the option to manipulate those
parameters without having to leave Tableau.
19. Scale data value chain maintenance
• Analysts who needed to deliver personalized results to
different groups of Tableau users need to duplicate the
Alteryx workflows and create a specific TDE output for each
group. With the Web Data Connector, and the parameters
capability described in the use case above, the same
workflow can serve different needs. There is no longer a
need to duplicate workflows, which simplifies workflow
maintenance.
20. What you’ll need
Alteryx Designer and Server 10.5+
Tableau Desktop 9.1+
The WDC for Tableau tool
Download WDC for Tableau (Alteryx Gallery)
21. Do’s and Don’ts
Use only the following tools from
the Interface category in your app:
• Date
• Drop Down
• List Box
• Numeric Up Down
• Text Box
• Check Box (note that nesting
relationships are ignored by
Tableau)
Avoid using the following interface
designer elements:
• Group Box
• Label
• Link
• Tab
Avoid using Blob and SpatialObj field types, as Tableau's
Web Data Connector API does not support them.
22. Create a WDC Step-by-Step
1. Create Workflow
2. Turn Workflow into an Analytical App
3. Add the WDC Tool to the end of the Workflow
– Only one WDC tool per application (workflow)
4. In the Workflow Meta Info tab, type in the tag
#TableauWDC in the Description box
5. Publish Analytical App to the Gallery
6. Obtain your API key and Secret (stored in Settings > Private
Studio
23. Connect to Alteryx Analytics Gallery
1. Launch Tableau
2. Connect to Data > Web Data Connector
• example: http://alteryx.schwab.com/gallery/tableau/alteryx-wdc.html
3. Enter Gallery API Credentials (Key | Secret)
24. Resources
• WDC for Tableau
– https://help.alteryx.com/current/index.htm#TableauWDC.htm
Editor's Notes
API
Key: 8D304AE879E4A5C2be2a823d6067dcdc2ca7cd0db03c3ce1c275d23
Secret: 71a4a0e7dd52ef1d53f0059b31d99f6909794b437f4ca72373bf31334c1e9308