"This data source requires the correct file path" in Tableau Bridge
Published: 25 Aug 2016 Last Modified Date: 09 Nov 2023
Issue
When attempting to refresh a published, file-based data source, such as Excel or .csv, from a locally-hosted shared drive using Tableau Bridge (formerly Sync Client), error occur:
"This data source requires the correct file path"
Environment
Tableau Cloud
Tableau Desktop
Tableau Bridge (formerly Sync Client)
A file-based data source (Excel, .csv)
Resolution
Edit the data source connection information in Bridge to use the Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path instead of the local naming system. Follow the steps below:
Open Tableau Bridge.
Click Edit (the pencil icon) next to the desired data source.
In the Edit File Path box, click the … icon to browse.
In the Select File dialog box that appears, you will see the file path at the top, which will look something like this: This PC > shared (\\workstation1) (D:) > Excel reports >. Click in the white space to the right of the file path, which will allow you to edit the path.
Delete the existing file path and replace it with the UNC path. A UNC path is the full path of a resource or file that is stored on the computer, which includes the full computer name, drive, path to the file, and file name. For example, a text file with a mapped path to D:\datasource.txt has a UNC path that looks like the following: \\workstation1\d$\datasource.txt, where “workstation1” is the full computer name.
After typing in the UNC path, press Enter. Pressing Enter here is necessary to ensure that the UNC path "sticks" and does not just revert to the Windows file path, like it does if you start editing the path but then click somewhere else.
Select the desired file and click Open. You'll be returned to the Bridge/sync client Edit File Path box; from there, click Save.
Try refreshing the extract again with Run Now (the circular arrow icon).
Cause
Tableau Bridge needs the UNC path in order to refresh the data source.
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