Introduction to Tableau Prep Conductor

Posted by sivacynixit on December 27th, 2019

It has features like scheduling, managing and alerting to make sure our company is always using the clean, and trusted data that all set for the examination.

Publishing flows is same as the publishing workbooks, and data sources with Tableau Online or Desktop. We can combine files with the flow or mention a straight link to data sources, that refresh the flow input as data modifications.

For accessing the data, after our flow is connected to the databases, mentions the verification type and credentials. We can also publish a flow, for sharing it with others in Tableau Online or server. For more additional info Tableau Training

For instance, we can publish unfinished flow to Tableau Online or Server and then load to another system to carry on, with the same work on it.

Design a flow with only input steps that are correctly arranged, and we can share it with our colleagues as they can also download the flow to their systems, and design and publish their own flows.

If the flow has output steps and has no errors or conflicting properties, then the flow can only be run in Tableau Online or Server. It is very easy to keep a record of the condition, of our flows.

Tableau Prep Conductor is used for the following purposes.

1. In Tableau Online or Server, We can see and examine our flow details, along with new activities in the Content pages.

2. We can see the flow runs and also any failures, in the Run History window.

3. We can examine server and site activities along with a new view, that records the performance history of the flow using Administrative Views.

4. We can see complete notifications, for unsuccessful flow runs.

5. We can compose emails to the owner of the flow, informing them about when and why a flow run was unsuccessful.

When a flow run is unsuccessful because of connectivity mistakes, we can correct it directly in the Tableau Online or Server by changing the connection. Learn more practical skills from Tableau Certification

When a flow run is unsuccessful because of mistakes in one or more flow steps, like invalid calculations, then download the flow to Tableau Prep Builder, solve the issues and then again publish it to Tableau Online or Server to find, where you left off.

Allowing Tableau Prep Conductor in Tableau Server:

Tableau Server versions 2019.1 or later supports, the Tableau Prep Conductor. 

Server managers can install the Tableau Server, and allow Tableau Prep Conductor. Server settings can be composed by Tableau Server Managers, and site settings can be composed by Tableau server and site managers.

After installing the Tableau Server and allowing the Tableau Prep Conductor, with the help of the Data Management Product key, then by default, the Tableau Prep Conductor is allowed automatically, by the setup program.

For installations on different nodes, by default, an instance of Tableau Prep Conductor is allowed on any node, that has Backgrounder installed. 

Below are the steps to check if the Tableau Prep Conductor is enabled, and running:

1. Go to browser and type Tableau server URL, and then add the committed TSM web UI port. Then, on the sign-in page, type our manager user name and password.

2. Go to the ‘Status’ option in the Tableau Services Manager web interface to view the status.

3. You will see the Tableau Prep Conductor under the processes list as ‘Active’, on minimum one node if the Tableau Prep Conductor is allowed and running. If it is not allowed, then we can see the Tableau Prep Conductor under processes list, but there will not be any status details for any nodes.

Below are the steps to assign a node for Tableau Prep Conductor:

First, enable the Backgrounder process on the node that we want to assign to running flows. It is suggested not to run other processes like the VizQL server on this node.

As we are assigning the node to run flows, we must arrange Backgrounder to run for flow tasks only. 

For enabling Backgrounders on this node to run flow tasks, only type the below commands

Tsm topology set-node-role –n nodel –r flows.

In this article, I have shared about Tableau Prep Conductor. In my next article, I will explain how to create flows in Tableau Server.

To get in-depth knowledge, enroll for live free demo on Tableau Online Training