Understanding Tableau Auth Types and Methods

Auth Type defines where to get credentials for connecting to Tableau – the can be either manually provided (Password) or stored in the associated third-party tool (Identity Profile). The use of credentials is based on the selected Auth Method. Auth Type is configured uder the required parameter section.

Auth Method defines how the Plugin fetches data and images. Auth Method is configured via Optional Parameters. There are four main Auth Methods for Tableau Plugin:

  1. Token = PAT (recommended)
  2. Default = Password or Identity Profile
  3. Trusted
  4. Connected App = JWT

The article focuses on the use of Tableau Auth Methods.

  • The easiest to manage and work with API.
  • Works with REST API (The Content loading strategy Optional Parameter must be set to "REST").
  • Collects object list, data, and images.
    • To collect images via Web API, it is required to use Default Auth Method.
  • Requires filling out Token and Token name fields. User credentials are not required and can be left blank.

2. Default

  • Works with both REST and Web API.
  • Requires filling out Username+Password fields or selecting the configured Identity Profile.
  • Auth Method can be left blank because it's a defaut method.

3. Trusted

  • Works with Web API.
  • It is a recommended option for collecting data and personalized images.
    • Object list collection runs via REST API and requires Username+Password or Identity Profile to be specified.

NOTE: Trusted Auth can be used for embedding as an alternative for Connected App.

4. Connected App

  • It is used only for embedding.
  • Requires filling out the following Optional Parameters:
    • Connected App Client ID;
    • Connected App Secret;
    • Connected App Secret ID.
  • User credentials are not required and can be left blank.

For more information, refer to Configure JSON Web Token (JWT) Authentication for Tableau Plugin.