Visualize Live Cosmos DB Data in Tableau

Tableau is a visual analytics platform transforming the way businesses use data to solve problems. When paired with the CData Tableau Connector for Cosmos DB, you can easily get access to live Cosmos DB data within Tableau. This article shows how to connect to Cosmos DB in Tableau and build a simple chart.

The CData Tableau Connectors enable high-speed access to live Cosmos DB data in Tableau. Once you install the connector, you simply authenticate with Cosmos DB and you can immediately start building responsive, dynamic visualizations and dashboards. By surfacing Cosmos DB data using native Tableau data types and handling complex filters, aggregations, & other operations automatically, CData Tableau Connectors grant seamless access to Cosmos DB data.

NOTE: The CData Tableau Connectors require Tableau 2020.3 or higher. If you are using an older version of Tableau, you will need to use the CData Tableau Connector for Cosmos DB. If you wish to connect to Cosmos DB data in Tableau Cloud, you will need to use CData Connect Cloud.

Connect to Cosmos DB in Tableau

Open Tableau and click More under Connect -> To a Server. Select "Cosmos DB by CData," then configure the connection and click "Sign In."

To obtain the connection string needed to connect to a Cosmos DB account using the SQL API, log in to the Azure Portal, select Azure Cosmos DB, and select your account. In the Settings section, click Connection String and set the following values:

• AccountEndpoint: The Cosmos DB account URL from the Keys blade of the Cosmos DB account
• AccountKey: In the Azure portal, navigate to the Cosmos DB service and select your Azure Cosmos DB account. From the resource menu, go to the Keys page. Find the PRIMARY KEY value and set AccountKey to this value.

Discover Schemas and Query Data

1. Select CData from the Database pull-down menu.
2. Select CosmosDB from the Schema pull-down menu.
3. Drag the tables and views you wish to visualize onto the join area. You can include multiple tables.
4. Select Update Now or Automatically Update. Update Now lets you preview the first 10,000 rows of the data source (or enter the number of rows you want to see in the Rows text box). Automatically Update automatically reflects the changes in the preview area.
5. Click the tab for your worksheet. Columns are listed as Dimensions and Measures, depending on the data type. The CData Tableau Connector discovers data types automatically, allowing you to leverage the powerful data processing and visualization features of Tableau.
6. Drag a field from the Dimensions or Measures area to Rows or Columns. Tableau creates column or row headers.
7. Select one of the chart types from the Show Me tab. Tableau displays the chart type that you selected.

Using the CData Tableau Connector for Cosmos DB with Tableau, you can easily create robust visualizations and reports on Cosmos DB data. Download a free, 30-day trial and get started today.