Update Extract with Newly Added Columns in Excel

Issue

Columns added to Excel file after creating an extract are not imported into the extract upon refresh.

Environment

Tableau Desktop
Excel
Extracts

Resolution

New columns in Excel data can be successfully brought into the extract refresh if the refresh is done from the Data Source tab in Tableau Desktop. To do so, please follow the steps below:

Click the Data menu in the Tableau Desktop navigation bar
Select Refresh Data Source.

Such steps will work with the Excel sheet being open (but saved) or with it closed.

Cause

When connecting to Excel directly from Tableau Desktop (earlier versions), Tableau will pull the new column from the Excel data source on refresh. However, if an extract is being used then new columns will not be imported upon refresh - only new rows will be added for columns which are already part of the extract. The extract structure would have to be updated to receive any new columns.

Additional Information

To voice your support for the inclusion of this feature request in a future product release, add your vote to the following Community Idea: Update extract with newly added columns.