Use CData Tableau Connectors and Tableau Prep Builder to visualize live Procore data.
Tableau is a visual analytics platform transforming the way businesses use data to solve problems. When paired with the CData API Driver for Tableau, you can easily get access to live Procore data within Tableau Prep. This article shows how to connect to Procore in Tableau Prep and build a simple chart.
The CData Tableau Connectors enable high-speed access to live Procore data in Tableau. Once you install the connector, you simply authenticate with Procore and you can immediately start building responsive, dynamic visualizations and dashboards. By surfacing Procore data using native Tableau data types and handling complex filters, aggregations, & other operations automatically, CData Tableau Connectors grant seamless access to Procore 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 API Driver for Tableau. If you wish to connect to Procore data in Tableau Cloud, you will need to use CData Connect.
Install the CData Tableau Connector
When you install the CData Tableau Connector for Procore, 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:
- Copy the TACO file (cdata.api.taco) found in the lib folder of the connector's installation location (C:\Program Files\CData\CData Tableau Connector for Procore 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
- Copy the JAR file (cdata.tableau.api.jar) found in the same lib folder to the Tableau drivers directory, typically [Tableau installation location]\Drivers.
Connect to Procore in Tableau Prep Builder
Open Tableau Prep Builder and click "Connect to Data" and search for "Procore by CData." Configure the connection and click "Sign In."
Start by setting the Profile connection property to the location of the Procore Profile on disk (e.g. C:\profiles\Procore.apip). Next, set the ProfileSettings connection property to the connection string for Procore (see below).
Procore API Profile Settings
To authenticate to Procore, and connect to your own data or to allow other users to connect to their data, you can use the OAuth standard.
First, you will need to register an OAuth application with Procore. You can do so by logging to your Developer Account and going to Create New App. Follow all necessary steps to register your app. First you will need to create a new version of Sandbox Manifest and then promote it to Production in order to get your Production Crendentials. Your Oauth application will be assigned a client id and a client secret.
After setting the following connection properties, you are ready to connect:
- AuthScheme: Set this to OAuth.
- InitiateOAuth: Set this to GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to manage the process to obtain the OAuthAccessToken.
- OAuthClientId: Set this to the client_id that is specified in you app settings.
- OAuthClientSecret: Set this to the client_secret that is specified in you app settings.
- CallbackURL: Set this to the Redirect URI that is specified in your app settings
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.
- Start by clicking on the plus next to your table and selecting the Clean Step option.
- Select the field values to filter by. As you select values, you can see how your selections impact other fields.
- 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.
- To join multiple tables, drag a related table next to an existing table in the canvas and place it in the Join box.
- 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.
- Add any other needed transformations then insert an Output node at the end of the flow.
- 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 API Driver for Tableau with Tableau Prep Builder, you can easily join, cleanse, filter, and aggregate Procore data for visualizations and reports in Tableau. Download a free, 30-day trial and get started today.
