Tableau 9

Tableau 9.x has been released a while, there are many users are asking about support this version with Apache Kylin. With updated Kylin ODBC Driver, now user could interactive with Kylin service through Tableau 9.x.

Apache Kylin currently doesn’t support query on raw data yet, some queries might fail and cause some exceptions in application. Patch KYLIN-1075 is recommended to get better look of query result.

For Tableau 8.x User

Please refer to Kylin and Tableau Tutorial for detail guide.

Install Kylin ODBC Driver

Refer to this guide: Kylin ODBC Driver Tutorial.
Please make sure to download and install Kylin ODBC Driver v1.2. If you already installed ODBC Driver in your system, please uninstall it first.

Connect to Kylin Server

Connect Using Driver: Start Tableau 9.1 desktop, click Other Database(ODBC) in the left panel and choose KylinODBCDriver in the pop-up window.

Provide your Sever location, credentials and project. Clicking Connect button, you can get the list of projects that you have permission to access, see details at Kylin Cube Permission Grant Tutorial.

Mapping Data Model

In left panel, select defaultCatalog as Database, click Search button in Table search box, and all tables get listed. With drag and drop to the right region, tables will become data source. Make sure JOINs are configured correctly.

Connect Live

There are two types of Connection, choose the Live option to make sure using Connect Live mode.

Custom SQL

To use customized SQL, click New Custom SQL in left panel and type SQL statement in pop-up dialog.

Visualization

Now you can start to enjou analyzing with Tableau 9.1.

Publish to Tableau Server

If you want to publish local dashboard to a Tableau Server, just expand Server menu and select Publish Workbook.

There are some limitations of Kylin ODBC driver with Tableau, please read carefully this instruction before you try it.

• Only support “managed” analysis path, Kylin engine will raise exception for unexpected dimension or metric
• Please always select Fact Table first, then add lookup tables with correct join condition (defined join type in cube)
• Do not try to join between fact tables or lookup tables;
• You can try to use high cardinality dimensions like seller id as Tableau Filter, but the engine will only return limited seller id in Tableau’s filter now.

For Tableau 9.x User

Please refer to Tableau 9.x Tutorial for detail guide.

Step 1. Install Kylin ODBC Driver

Refer to this guide: Kylin ODBC Driver Tutorial.

Step 2. Connect to Kylin Server

We recommended to use Connect Using Driver instead of Using DSN.

Connect Using Driver: Select “Other Database(ODBC)” in the left panel and choose KylinODBCDriver in the pop-up window.

Enter your Sever location and credentials: server host, port, username and password.

Click “Connect” to get the list of projects that you have permission to access. See details about permission in Kylin Cube Permission Grant Tutorial. Then choose the project you want to connect in the drop down list.

Click “Done” to complete the connection.

Step 3. Using Single Table or Multiple Tables

Limitation

• Must select FACT table first
• Do not support select from lookup table only
• The join condition must match within cube definition

Select Fact Table

Select Multiple Tables.

Then click Add Table... to add a fact table.

Select Look-up Table

Click Add Table... to add a look-up table.

Set up the join clause carefully.

Keep add tables through click Add Table... until all the look-up tables have been added properly. Give the connection a name for use in Tableau.

Using Connect Live

There are three types of Data Connection. Choose the Connect Live option.

Then you can enjoy analyzing with Tableau.

Add additional look-up Tables

Click Data in the top menu bar, select Edit Tables... to update the look-up table information.

Step 4. Using Customized SQL

To use customized SQL resembles using Single Table/Multiple Tables, except that you just need to paste your SQL in Custom SQL tab and take the same instruction as above.

Step 5. Publish to Tableau Server

Suppose you have finished making a dashboard with Tableau, you can publish it to Tableau Server.
Click Server in the top menu bar, select Publish Workbook....

Then sign in your Tableau Server and prepare to publish.

If you’re Using Driver Connect instead of DSN connect, you’ll need to additionally embed your password in. Click the Authentication button at left bottom and select Embedded Password. Click Publish and you will see the result.

Tips

• Hide Table name in Tableau

  • Tableau will display columns be grouped by source table name, but user may want to organize columns with different structure. Using “Group by Folder” in Tableau and Create Folders to group different columns.