How to disable the new feature "Cross-database joins for Snowflake" from Tableau 2023.1

Published: 28 Sep 2023
Last Modified Date: 19 Oct 2023

Question

How to disable the new feature "Cross-database joins for Snowflake" from Tableau 2023.1 and why would you need to turn off this feature?

Environment

Tableau 2023.1 and later
Snowflake

Answer

Based on the new feature starting in version Tableau 2023.1, the table relations will be created with the Database information of the tables to make the "Cross-database joins for Snowflake" possible. However, if you need to switch your table relations to connect to a different database after creating the table relations, this feature might block you from retrieving the data from the new database.

When changing the database connection setting in Tableau Desktop, such as changing the Snowflake datasources from A to a different data source B, then publishing the datasource to Tableau Cloud / Server again, the datasource still retrieved the data set from the database A. The steps below will allow you to turn off the new cross-database joins feature if desired.

Option 1 (If you are using Tableau Cloud and Tableau Desktop 2023.1 and later)

1. Place the "snowflake.tdc" file which has been attached in this knowledge article in the directory listed below of your Client PC:
Winows:
C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\My Tableau Repository\Datasources
MAC:
~/Documents/My Tableau Repository/Datasources

2. Create the Snowflake datasource or the snowflake datasource-embedded workbook, and save it with Tableau Desktop.

Note: You also can open your existing datasource or datasource-embedded workbook and just re-save it without any change.

3. (For Tableau Cloud) Publish the saved datasource / datasource-embedded workbook to Tableau Cloud.

For more information, see Use the TDC file with Tableau Desktop.

Option 2 (If you are using Tableau Server 2023.1 and later)

1. Place the attached .tdc file, "snowflake.tdc", to the location listed below for all of Tableau Server nodes:

Windows:
(Example)C:\ProgramData\Tableau\Tableau Server\data\tabsvc\vizqlserver\Datasources
Linux:
var/opt/tableau/tableau_server/data/tabsvc/vizqlserver/datasources

2. Restart the Tableau Server to apply the change.

For information on using .tdc files with Tableau Server, please see Using a .tdc File With Tableau Server.