Tableau Certified Connector

Parent: Atlas SQL Interface MongoSQL · Published reference · snapshot 2026-10-15

Depth-first rabbithole dossier for Tableau Certified Connector; source-anchored research pack.

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Definitions

[low] Publishing to Tableau Cloud is not currently supported with partner-built connectors. (verified as of 2026-10-15) Sources: https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/gallery_connectors.htm [source]

Structure and components

[low] A bug in the JavaScript translation layer prevents returning values containing the '=' character from the JavaScript properties builder, which was fixed in 2019.4.1. (verified as of 2026-10-15) Sources: https://github.com/tableau/connector-plugin-sdk [source]

How it works

[low] When connecting with a partner-built connector like the Tableau Connector, it offers the same features as Tableau-supported connectors. Sources: https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/gallery_connectors.htm [source]
[low] When using authentication mechanisms other than Username/Password, such as X.509 Certificates, OAuth (OIDC), or AWS IAM, username and password fields can be left blank in the connection dialogue. Sources: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-query/connectors/mongodb-atlas-sql-interface [source]

Problems, failure modes and limitations

[low] If a warning appears that connectors can't load, install the required `.taco` file from the Tableau Exchange connectors page. Sources: https://help.tableau.com/current/pro/desktop/en-us/gallery_connectors.htm [source]
[low] Support links that are not fully qualified (missing `https://`) will throw an error when clicked. Sources: https://github.com/tableau/connector-plugin-sdk [source]
[low] When a connection cannot be established, the generic error message `The driver returned invalid (or failed to return) SQL_DRIVER_ODBC_VER: 03.80` is displayed. Sources: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-query/connectors/mongodb-atlas-sql-interface [source]

Facts and statements

[high] The Power BI Connector is certified by Microsoft and ships with Power BI Desktop, while the Tableau Connector is developed in partnership with Tableau. Sources: https://www.mongodb.com/docs/sql-interface/index.md, https://www.mongodb.com/docs/sql-interface/connect.md, https://mongodb.com/company/blog/product-release-announcements/real-time-insights-through-atlas-sql-interface [source]
[high] The MongoDB SQL Interface Connector is owned and provided by MongoDB, enabling users to access and analyze live application data stored in MongoDB. Sources: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-query/connectors/mongodb-atlas-sql-interface, https://exchange.tableau.com/products/1080 [source]
[medium] The Tableau Connector for MongoDB works with Tableau 2020.4 and later, and the current version is 1.4.5. (verified as of 2026-10-15) Sources: https://exchange.tableau.com/products/1080, https://github.com/tableau/connector-plugin-sdk [source]
[low] To develop connectors with the Tableau Connector SDK you need Python 3.9 or higher; packaging the connector into a .taco file also needs JDK 8 or higher. (verified as of 2026-10-15) Sources: https://github.com/tableau/connector-plugin-sdk [source]
[low] Starting with Tableau 2019.4, connectors can be packaged and signed using a public certificate, and the latest SDK targets the latest non-beta Tableau version. (verified as of 2026-10-15) Sources: https://github.com/tableau/connector-plugin-sdk [source]
[low] Users must have read permissions on the `.jar` file for the connector to function. Sources: https://github.com/tableau/connector-plugin-sdk [source]
[low] Tableau Desktop and Tableau Server version 2025 and later bundle the Tableau Connector for MongoDB. (verified as of 2026-10-15) Sources: https://www.mongodb.com/docs/sql-interface/connect.md [source]
[low] Download the MongoDB SQL Interface JDBC Driver `all.jar` file, version 3.0.4 or later, for use with the connector. (verified as of 2026-10-15) Sources: https://exchange.tableau.com/products/1080 [source]
[low] If downloading a new version of the Tableau Connector for MongoDB, delete the previous `taco` file from the `Connectors` directory to ensure Tableau uses the latest version. Sources: https://www.mongodb.com/docs/sql-interface/connect.md [source]
[low] The MongoDB SQL Interface allows querying clusters from BI tools like Tableau and Power BI over ODBC and JDBC drivers without requiring a federated database instance. Sources: https://www.mongodb.com/docs/atlas/cluster-additional-settings.md [source]
[high] The Microsoft Power Query page for the MongoDB Atlas SQL (Power BI) connector says an Atlas federated database setup is required, with any Atlas cluster behind it on MongoDB 5.0 or later. MongoDB's own docs say an Atlas dedicated cluster (M10+, MongoDB 6.0+) can use the SQL Interface directly with no federated database instance. (verified as of 2026-10-15) Sources: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-query/connectors/mongodb-atlas-sql-interface, https://www.mongodb.com/docs/sql-interface/connect.md [source]
[medium] Tableau Cloud supports SCRAM authentication only. Sources: https://www.mongodb.com/docs/sql-interface/index.md, https://www.mongodb.com/docs/sql-interface/connect.md [source]
[low] Tableau requires a JDBC 4.0 or later driver and a Type 4 JDBC driver. (verified as of 2026-10-15) Sources: https://github.com/tableau/connector-plugin-sdk [source]
[medium] MongoDB officially supports Tableau (Desktop, Server, or Cloud) and Power BI Desktop (Desktop and Service) with its JDBC and ODBC drivers (JDBC for Tableau, ODBC for Power BI). Sources: https://www.mongodb.com/docs/sql-interface/install-driver.md, https://www.mongodb.com/docs/sql-interface/connect.md [source]
[low] The JDBC driver is available in two jar formats: `mongodb-jdbc-<version>-all.jar` (with dependencies, required for Tableau and DBeaver) and `mongodb-jdbc-<version>.jar` (without dependencies, required for JetBrains tools). Sources: https://www.mongodb.com/docs/sql-interface/install-driver.md [source]
[low] No DSN configuration is needed to connect from Power BI Desktop with the Power BI Connector for MongoDB, in either Import Mode or Direct Query. Other ODBC tools use a System DSN. Sources: https://www.mongodb.com/docs/sql-interface/connect.md [source]

Related concepts

Tableau — is a part of Tableau Certified Connector
Connector — is a part of Tableau Certified Connector
Certified — is a part of Tableau Certified Connector

Children

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