Connect to and Visualize Live SingleStore Data in Tableau Prep

Tableau is a visual analytics platform transforming the way businesses use data to solve problems. When paired with the CData Tableau Connector for SingleStore, you can easily get access to live SingleStore data within Tableau Prep. This article shows how to connect to SingleStore in Tableau Prep and build a simple chart.

The CData Tableau Connectors enable high-speed access to live SingleStore data in Tableau. Once you install the connector, you simply authenticate with SingleStore and you can immediately start building responsive, dynamic visualizations and dashboards. By surfacing SingleStore data using native Tableau data types and handling complex filters, aggregations, & other operations automatically, CData Tableau Connectors grant seamless access to SingleStore data.

NOTE: The CData Tableau Connectors support Tableau Prep Builder 2020.4.1 or higher. If you are using an older version of Tableau Prep Builder, you will need to use the CData Tableau Connector for SingleStore. If you wish to connect to SingleStore data in Tableau Cloud, you will need to use CData Connect Cloud.

Install the CData Tableau Connector

When you install the CData Tableau Connector for SingleStore, the installer should copy the TACO and JAR files to the appropriate directories. If your data source does not appear in the connection steps below, you will need to copy two files:

1. Copy the TACO file (cdata.singlestore.taco) found in the lib folder of the connector's installation location (C:\Program Files\CData\CData Tableau Connector for SingleStore 20XX\lib on Windows) to the Tableau Prep Builder repository:
   • Windows: C:\Users\[Windows User]\Documents\My Tableau Prep Repository\Connectors
   • MacOS: /Users//Documents/My Tableau Prep Repository/Connectors
2. Copy the JAR file (cdata.tableau.singlestore.jar) found in the same lib folder to the Tableau drivers directory, typically [Tableau installation location]\Drivers.

Connect to SingleStore in Tableau Prep Builder

Open Tableau Prep Builder and click "Connect to Data" and search for "SingleStore by CData." Configure the connection and click "Sign In."

The following connection properties are required in order to connect to data.

• Server: The host name or IP of the server hosting the SingleStore database.
• Port: The port of the server hosting the SingleStore database.
• Database (Optional): The default database to connect to when connecting to the SingleStore Server. If this is not set, tables from all databases will be returned.

Connect Using Standard Authentication

To authenticate using standard authentication, set the following:

• User: The user which will be used to authenticate with the SingleStore server.
• Password: The password which will be used to authenticate with the SingleStore server.

Connect Using Integrated Security

As an alternative to providing the standard username and password, you can set IntegratedSecurity to True to authenticate trusted users to the server via Windows Authentication.

Connect Using SSL Authentication

You can leverage SSL authentication to connect to SingleStore data via a secure session. Configure the following connection properties to connect to data:

• SSLClientCert: Set this to the name of the certificate store for the client certificate. Used in the case of 2-way SSL, where truststore and keystore are kept on both the client and server machines.
• SSLClientCertPassword: If a client certificate store is password-protected, set this value to the store's password.
• SSLClientCertSubject: The subject of the TLS/SSL client certificate. Used to locate the certificate in the store.
• SSLClientCertType: The certificate type of the client store.
• SSLServerCert: The certificate to be accepted from the server.

Connect Using SSH Authentication

Using SSH, you can securely login to a remote machine. To access SingleStore data via SSH, configure the following connection properties:

• SSHClientCert: Set this to the name of the certificate store for the client certificate.
• SSHClientCertPassword: If a client certificate store is password-protected, set this value to the store's password.
• SSHClientCertSubject: The subject of the TLS/SSL client certificate. Used to locate the certificate in the store.
• SSHClientCertType: The certificate type of the client store.
• SSHPassword: The password that you use to authenticate with the SSH server.
• SSHPort: The port used for SSH operations.
• SSHServer: The SSH authentication server you are trying to authenticate against.
• SSHServerFingerPrint: The SSH Server fingerprint used for verification of the host you are connecting to.
• SSHUser: Set this to the username that you use to authenticate with the SSH server.

Discover and Prep Data

Drag the tables and views you wish to work with onto the canvas. You can include multiple tables.

Data Cleansing & Filtering

To further prepare the data, you can implement filters, remove duplicates, modify columns and more.

1. Start by clicking on the plus next to your table and selecting the Clean Step option.
2. Select the field values to filter by. As you select values, you can see how your selections impact other fields.
3. Opt to "Keep Only" or "Exclude" entries with your select values and the data changes in response.

Data Joins and Unions

Data joining involves combining data from two or more related tables based on a common field or key.

1. To join multiple tables, drag a related table next to an existing table in the canvas and place it in the Join box.
2. Select the foreign keys that exist in both tables.

Exporting Prepped Data

After you perform any cleansing, filtering, transformations, and joins, you can export the data for visualization in Tableau.

1. Add any other needed transformations then insert an Output node at the end of the flow.
2. Configure the node to save to a file in the format of your choice.

Once the output data is saved, you can work with it in Tableau, just like you would any other file source.

Using the CData Tableau Connector for SingleStore with Tableau Prep Builder, you can easily join, cleanse, filter, and aggregate SingleStore data for visualizations and reports in Tableau. Download a free, 30-day trial and get started today.