This repo contains Python source and example files for the Tableau Document API. We're just getting started and have plans to expand what you find here. Help us by submitting feedback, issues, and pull requests!
The Document API provides a supported way to programmatically make updates to Tableau workbook (.twb) and datasource (.tds) files. If you've been making changes to these file types by directly updating the XML--that is, by XML hacking--this SDK is for you :)
Currently only the following operations are supported:
- Modify database server
- Modify database name
- Modify database user
We don't yet support creating files from scratch. In addition, support for .twbx and .tdsx files is coming.
###Getting Started To use this SDK, you must have Python installed. You can use either 2.7x or 3.3x.
Download the .zip file that contains the SDK. Unzip the file and then run the following command:
pip install -e <directory containing setup.py>
We plan on putting the package in PyPi to make installation easier.
###Basics The following example shows the basic syntax for using the Document API to update a workbook:
from tableaudocumentapi import Workbook
sourceWB = Workbook('WorkbookToUpdate.twb')
sourceWB.datasources[0].connection.server = "MY-NEW-SERVER"
sourceWB.datasources[0].connection.dbname = "NEW-DATABASE"
sourceWB.datasources[0].connection.username = "benl"
sourceWB.save()Notes
- Import the
Workbookobject from thetableaudocumentapimodule. - To open a workbook, instantiate a
Workbookobject and pass the.twbfile name in the constructor. - The
Workbookobject exposes adatasourcescollection. - Each datasource
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object has a
connectionobject that supports aserver,dbname, andusernameproperty. - Save changes to the workbook by calling the
saveorsave_asmethod.
###Examples
The downloadable package contains an example named replicateWorkbook.py (in the folder \Examples\Replicate Workbook). This example reads an existing workbook and reads a .csv file that contains a list of servers, database names, and users. For each new user in the .csv file, the code copies the original workbook, updates the server, dbname, and username properties, and saves the workbook under a new name.