Types of Files in Tableau
In the last blog, we discussed different types of Tableau Components.
Today we will discuss about the types of files in Tableau.
In Tableau, we have 8 different types of files:
TWB – Tableau Workbook
Workbook contains worksheets, dashboards, stories and information about the data connection. When you save the file as .twb, it will not have any data but there will be a connection to the data source file.
Users can view TWB files in Tableau Server. To open the twb file, the user should have access to the twb file and the data source file or connection.
TWBX – Tableau Packaged Workbook
It is a zip or packaged file which contains a workbook and data source files used for the workbook.
Twbx contains all the information like background images, maps, worksheets and dashboards. We can save twb file as .twbx.
TWBX files can be viewed and opened using Tableau desktop, Tableau server and Tableau Reader.
TDS – Tableau Data Source
TDS files contain the data source connection information and the changes made to the metadata. The file will not have any data source, but contains all the information relating to the modifications made to the fields, Calculated Fields, changes made to default properties, groups and so on.
In Tableau desktop, connect to the data source and create required transformation. To create a TDS file, just right click on the datasource and “Add to saved data source”.
TDS files are reusable. Power users can use their saved datasource / TDS files to create their dashboards. Complexity of the data source will be hidden for them. Learn how to create relationships in Tableau.
TDSX – Tableau Packaged Data Source
TDSX file contains all the information that a TDS file contains and it will also contain a TDE/Tableau data extract file. TDSX is a zip file just like TWBX, but it will not have any worksheets or dashboards. It contains the data connection information and package with TDE data source file.
You can save the file as .tdsx similar to TDS file. While saving the datasouce, it will show you both options.
The advantage of using TDSX file is that it comes with the data so it can be used in offline mode.
TDE – Tableau Data Extracts
It is the data extract file which can import a subset of data by using filters or the complete snapshot of data. In simple words, the file contains a local copy of the data source. It can be a subset or the entire data.
The option to save data as TDE will display data as “connected as extract” in Tableau desktop. The TDE file doesn’t contain any information about worksheets or dashboards. It will only have the underlying data. Connecting to TDE files is faster compared to a live connection.
TBM – Tableau Book Mark
Bookmarks can be used to save the individual worksheet of a workbook. We can import a worksheet of one workbook into another workbook which includes data connections, formatting, color coding, etc.
The major benefit with bookmarks is reusability. In a team, if two or more developers are working on the same data, they can merge all the worksheets to create a single workbook. Bookmarks include data connection, visualizations and filters. It will not include parameters.
To save the file: Window > Bookmark > Create Bookmark and save it as .tbm file. Bookmarks will be saved in your My Tableau Repository/Bookmarks by default.
If we don’t save the bookmark in default “My Repository location” then it will not show up when you try to use it.
TMS – Tableau Map Source
We save this type of file when we load Tableau with images from WMS Server for plotting custom maps instead of default tableau maps.
To save the file as .tms file: Navigate to menu Map > Background Images > WMS Server > WMS Server Connections > Export the images. Save the file in default “My Tableau Repository” for sharing and future use.
TPS – Tableau Preferences File
Tableau provides multiple color palettes, but in case you have to create your own custom color palette, use Preferences.tps file.
TPS file is used to create custom color palettes and use them for consistent colors in Tableau. The file is saved in “My Tableau Repository” location. This file is used to maintain standardized colors across the Enterprise.
In the next section, I will cover how to add customized colors to your palette using Prefrences.tps file.
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