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Get the Report →Visualize Live Salesforce Data Cloud Data in Tableau
Use CData Tableau Connectors and Tableau Desktop to visualize live Salesforce Data Cloud data.
Tableau is a visual analytics platform transforming the way businesses use data to solve problems. When paired with the CData Tableau Connector for Salesforce Data Cloud, you can easily get access to live Salesforce Data Cloud data within Tableau. This article shows how to connect to Salesforce Data Cloud in Tableau and build a simple chart.
The CData Tableau Connectors enable high-speed access to live Salesforce Data Cloud data in Tableau. Once you install the connector, you simply authenticate with Salesforce Data Cloud and you can immediately start building responsive, dynamic visualizations and dashboards. By surfacing Salesforce Data Cloud data using native Tableau data types and handling complex filters, aggregations, & other operations automatically, CData Tableau Connectors grant seamless access to Salesforce Data Cloud data.
NOTE: The CData Tableau Connectors require Tableau 2020.3 or higher. If you are using an older version of Tableau, you will need to use the CData Tableau Connector for Salesforce Data Cloud. If you wish to connect to Salesforce Data Cloud data in Tableau Cloud, you will need to use CData Connect.
Connect to Salesforce Data Cloud in Tableau
Open Tableau and click More under Connect -> To a Server. Select "Salesforce Data Cloud by CData," then configure the connection and click "Sign In."
Salesforce Data Cloud supports authentication via the OAuth standard.
OAuth
Set AuthScheme to OAuth.
Desktop Applications
CData provides an embedded OAuth application that simplifies authentication at the desktop.
You can also authenticate from the desktop via a custom OAuth application, which you configure and register at the Salesforce Data Cloud console. For further information, see Creating a Custom OAuth App in the Help documentation.
Before you connect, set these properties:
- InitiateOAuth: GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to avoid repeating the OAuth exchange and manually setting the OAuthAccessToken.
- OAuthClientId (custom applications only): The Client ID assigned when you registered your custom OAuth application.
- OAuthClientSecret (custom applications only): The Client Secret assigned when you registered your custom OAuth application.
When you connect, the driver opens Salesforce Data Cloud's OAuth endpoint in your default browser. Log in and grant permissions to the application.
The driver then completes the OAuth process as follows:
- Extracts the access token from the callback URL.
- Obtains a new access token when the old one expires.
- Saves OAuth values in OAuthSettingsLocation so that they persist across connections.
- Select CData from the Database pull-down menu.
- Select SalesforceDataCloud from the Schema pull-down menu.
- Drag the tables and views you wish to visualize onto the join area. You can include multiple tables.
- Select Update Now or Automatically Update. Update Now lets you preview the first 10,000 rows of the data source (or enter the number of rows you want to see in the Rows text box). Automatically Update automatically reflects the changes in the preview area.
- Click the tab for your worksheet. Columns are listed as Dimensions and Measures, depending on the data type. The CData Tableau Connector discovers data types automatically, allowing you to leverage the powerful data processing and visualization features of Tableau.
- Drag a field from the Dimensions or Measures area to Rows or Columns. Tableau creates column or row headers.
- Select one of the chart types from the Show Me tab. Tableau displays the chart type that you selected.
For other OAuth methods, including Web Applications and Headless Machines, refer to the Help documentation.

Discover Schemas and Query Data

Using the CData Tableau Connector for Salesforce Data Cloud with Tableau, you can easily create robust visualizations and reports on Salesforce Data Cloud data. Download a free, 30-day trial and get started today.