KNOWLEDGE BASE

Replacing the Data Source for a Single Sheet in a Workbook


Published: 15 Sep 2014
Last Modified Date: 18 Jan 2024

Question

How to replace the data source for a single sheet in a workbook. When replacing a data source in a duplicated worksheet, the data source is replaced in the duplicated worksheet as well as the original worksheet.  The ability to replace or edit a data connection for only a single sheet within a workbook is not currently available.

Environment

  • Tableau Desktop 
  • Windows
  • Mac

Answer

Option 1
Upgarde to Tableau Desktop 2022.4 or later.
Option 2
  1. Follow the steps in Copy and Paste Sheets to copy the sheet into a new blank workbook.  The steps are outlined here for convenience:
    1. Create a new blank workbook.​​​​​​​
    2. Open the workbook that contains the sheet you are going to copy from and select the Filmstrip button in the status bar.
    3. Select the thumbnail of the sheet you want to copy, then right-click (Control-click on Mac) and select Copy.
    4. In the new blank workbook, right-click (Control-click on Mac) on the tab for any sheet, and select Paste.
  2. Verify that the new workbook contains open data connections to the original data source of the copied worksheet, as well as the new data source.
  3. In the new workbook, replace the original data source for the copied worksheet with the new desired data source.  The steps are outlined here for convenience.
    1. Select Data > New Data Source and then connect to the new data source.
    2. On the Data Source page, drag a table to the canvas to set up the data source.
    3. Go to the sheet tab and select Data > Replace Data Source.  
    4. In the Replace Data Source dialog box, select the Current data source and the Replacement data source.
    5. Under the Current field, select the checkbox to replace the current worksheet only and select OK.
  4. Copy the worksheet back into the original workbook. The original workbook should also have the new desired data source connection to ensure a smooth copy. 
Did this article resolve the issue?