Connect Microsoft Excel to Tableau - Your Data. Instant Insights. Everywhere.
Drive faster decisions with live Excel data in Tableau.
Certified Data Connectivity
Why CData for Excel Tableau Data Connectivity
Empower your teams to make faster, data-driven decisions with live access to Excel — no ETL, no code. Reduce integration overhead, streamline analytics, and extend insights across your organization with high-performance SQL-based connectivity.
Comprehensive Excel Data Access and Discovery
Make Excel Data Tableau-Ready Instantly
Many SaaS and NoSQL sources don't support SQL-like queries, often requiring complex transformation before use in Tableau. The Excel Connector simplifies this by exposing rich metadata for automated data discovery, with intelligent row scanning, type detection, and relationship mapping. It also supports unstructured data, letting you explore your Excel data natively within Tableau's familiar interface—no prep work required.
Powerful Query Capabilities With Native SQL Support
The CData connector enables you to interact with Excel using standard SQL—the language Tableau speaks natively. Whether you're using Tableau's visual query builder or writing Custom SQL, the connector translates your queries to retrieve real-time data from Excel. With comprehensive ANSI-92 SQL support including filtering, GROUP BY, JOINs, and aggregations, you can perform complex analytical queries even in Live Connection mode, joining Excel data with other data sources seamlessly.
Tableau
Excel Connected Everywhere in Tableau
Cloud-based Excel Analytics & Reporting with Tableau Cloud
Connect directly to Excel from Tableau Cloud using CData Connect AI. Create workbooks, build dashboards, and schedule automatic data refreshes—all without on-premises infrastructure. CData Connect AI seamlessly integrates with Tableau Cloud's native capabilities while maintaining the security and governance your organization requires. Learn more: build Excel visualizations with Tableau Cloud.
Native Tableau Desktop & Tableau Server Integration
CData Tableau Connector enable seamless collaboration between Excel, Tableau Desktop and Tableau Server. As Tableau-certified connectors, they provides optimal performance and reliability for enterprise deployments. Available for both Windows and Mac, the connector appears directly in Tableau's native connector gallery for streamlined access to your Excel data.
Learn more:
Publish Connected Excel Reports via Tableau Bridge
Use the CData ODBC/JDBC Driver for Excel to connect from Tableau Desktop, then publish your workbooks and data sources to Tableau Cloud. Our Excel drivers support both Windows and macOS, ensuring consistent connectivity regardless of your platform. Unlike third-party Tableau connectors, ODBC/JDBC drivers fully support publishing to Tableau Cloud.
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Clean, shape, and combine Excel Data with Tableau Prep
Build repeatable data preparation flows that connect directly to Excel for consistent, reliable data pipelines. Clean, shape, and combine Excel data using Tableau Prep with the same CData connectors available for Tableau Desktop.
High-Performance Excel Data Connectivity. No ETL Required
Mitigate security & compliance risks vs. other integrations
CData's live Tableau connectivity for Excel overcomes the challenges associated with traditional integration methods like ETL and local data replication. Unlike data replication, live querying enhances security and compliance by eliminating risks such as data staleness, inconsistency, and corruption. It also reduces exposure from overprivileged access and delayed revocation while minimizing the attack surface created by duplicate copies. Additionally, live connectivity simplifies regulatory compliance by ensuring better adherence to data residency, retention policies, and auditability requirements.
Flexible Connection Options: Live or Extract
Tailor your data connection to match your analytics needs:
Extract Mode
- High-speed performance using in-memory processing
- Minimizes load on Excel with scheduled data refreshes
- Access data anytime, even when offline or on the go
Live Mode
- Instant access to real-time data for up-to-the-second insights
- Scales effortlessly, regardless of your local hardware
- Maintains a single source of truth with no data replication, simplifying governance and compliance
Connect Tableau to Excel
Watch the video overview for a first hand look at how easy it is to connect Tableau to live data from Excel with CData.
- Leverage embedded server side push down capabilities to enhance analytics performance for large data sets.
- Extensive schema discovery capabilities for every data source. Explore tables, columns, keys, and other data constructs based on user identity.
- Easily connect Tableau directly with complex data structures through flexible and extensible flattening.
- Deploy Tableau reports that automatically refresh on-prem or to the cloud.
- And more!
Frequent Excel Tableau Connectivity questions
Common questions about integrating Excel with Tableau.
How do I connect Excel to Tableau?
Tableau and Excel integration doesn't have to be difficult. The Excel Tableau Connector enables real-time Excel connectivity, eliminating the need for complex data movement or ETL processes.
How It Works
- Install the Tableau Excel connector and open Tableau.
- Access live data, run SQL queries, and build dynamic dashboards.
- Publish reports to Tableau Server for seamless sharing.
That's all there is to it. With secure, high-performance Tableau Excel integration, CData simplifies Excel bi, analytics and reporting.
Getting Started
Where can I find the Tableau Excel connector download?
All of the CData Tableau Connectors for Excel integration are freely available for download online. A 30-day trial of the Tableau Excel download can be found alongside other supported Tableau Excel integration technologies like ODBC, JDBC, ADO.NET, SQL Server SSIS, and more.
What is the difference between a Tableau Excel Driver and the CData Excel Tableau Connector?
Unlike a Tableau Excel driver, CData offers a native Tableau Excel connector for a seamless and optimized experience. Tableau drivers typically rely on an ODBC or JDBC layer, requiring separate tableau add ins, installation and configuration. A Excel Tableau driver delivered this way can introduce latency due to external driver dependencies. In contrast, CData connectors provide native Tableau analytics connectivity, delivering optimized performance through direct integration.
Ready to get started? Try CData for free today!
Do you want to learn more about how you can use CData to connect Tableau with real-time data from anywhere? Contact us below, and let's talk.
