6 min read
Connect Your Data in Tableau
Learn how to connect various data sources to Tableau
Data Sources in Tableau
Tableau can connect to many data sources:
File Types
- Excel (.xlsx)
- CSV (.csv)
- JSON
- Text files
Databases
- MySQL
- PostgreSQL
- SQL Server
- Oracle
Cloud Services
- Google Sheets
- Salesforce
- Amazon Redshift
How to Connect Data
Step 1: Open Tableau
Launch Tableau Desktop
Step 2: Choose Data Source
On the left panel, click your data type:
- "Microsoft Excel" for Excel files
- "Text file" for CSV
- "More..." for databases
Step 3: Select Your File
Browse and select your file
Step 4: View Your Data
Tableau shows your data preview
Live vs Extract
| Type | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Live | Real-time connection | Always need latest data |
| Extract | Snapshot of data | Faster performance |
Connecting to Excel
- Click "Microsoft Excel"
- Find your Excel file
- Click "Open"
- Drag sheet to canvas
- Done!
Connecting to CSV
- Click "Text file"
- Select your CSV
- Tableau auto-detects columns
- Ready to use!
Multiple Tables
You can join multiple tables:
- Drag first table
- Drag second table
- Tableau suggests join
- Adjust if needed
Common Issues
- File not found: Check file path
- Wrong data types: Edit in Data Source tab
- Missing values: Check original file
Summary
Connecting data is the first step. Tableau supports files, databases, and cloud services. Start with Excel or CSV files!