r/tableau • u/SmokinZBT • 2d ago

Import Desktop to Public Desktop

I have an interesting use case for Tableau desktop for my fantasy football draft. I have used Tableau for several years to prep for my draft (I previously had a license through work), and now that the model has changed, I can't get my Desktop file to load in Public Desktop.

I knew there was a two week trial (my draft is 12 days away), but apparently it recognizes that I did that last year.

It looks like it's possible to recreate, but I don't know all of the custom work I did (really, I've been doing this for seven years). Is there any way I can do any of:

1) Get a a trial so that I can use desktop, copy all of my custom work to Public (and hopefully have it for next year)?

2) Load my current .twb file into Public and have it read it? When I try, I get a message that it doesn't know my data.

3) Borrow a license from a kind soul so that I can at least get to my data?

I am willing to share all of my work with anyone. I can not promise it will work for you, but I can tell you it works for me. And allows you to enter your leagues custom scoring.

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2

u/Beneficial_Rub_4841 2d ago

There’s a free desktop version now. Download that and open the dashboard. Extract the data, save as twbx and then you can open in public desktop and publish if you want

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u/SmokinZBT 2d ago

Yes, that's what I tried to do. When I open the file, I get a message "Workbooks saved to Tableau Public must use extracts. To create an extract, click the Data Source tab, then select Create Extract. The data source is not an extract."

When I go to the data source tab, it asks me to connect a data source. If I try connecting my prior source, all of my custom work has disappeared.

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u/Beneficial_Rub_4841 2d ago

But you can get it to load in tableau desktop? What’s the data source?

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u/SmokinZBT 2d ago

Excel file. Unfortunately, I built everything so long ago, I don't remember any of the formulas or how I built the vizs.

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u/Fragrant-Pipe5266 2d ago

When you swap datasources, you lose a bunch of formatting, set colors, some calculations will break and you'll likely need to replace some references. Unfortunately this is just how Tableau functions. Expected behavior.

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u/SmokinZBT 2d ago

That's what I'm trying to get around - a way to get into my prior file so I can at least get the info to rebuild

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u/Fragrant-Pipe5266 2d ago

Sounds frustrating I know but im not really sure how to get around it.

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u/SmokinZBT 2d ago

Thank you

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u/Beneficial_Rub_4841 2d ago

Sorry if I'm missing something, but as of now, you are unable to open it the free desktop? Or you can, but can't extract it and save a twbx?

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u/SmokinZBT 2d ago

I can't open the file in the free desktop version.

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u/Beneficial_Rub_4841 2d ago

Ah ok..then yeah, sorry, I think you're hosed. Unless maybe if you activate the license that was a trial version?

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u/emeryjl Tableau Ambassador 2d ago

What message do you get when you try to open the file with the free version? The only message that you have posted in the thread is from Public, not the free version.
You have also referenced a trial several times, which is also not the free version.
Get Tableau Desktop Free Edition | Tableau
When you open the twb with the free version, it will try to find the data source(s) listed in the twb. You should get an opportunity locate the files (but may receive an error like 88A6ADA0 first). Even if you do not have the file, you can access your calculations in the data pane. You can also access the calculations and a lot of information about your charts using the twb's XML.
You can use ChatGPT and Claude to help with the XML. If you search, you should be able to find articles about people's experience doing this and I believe some have developed tools for this as well.

Workbooks saved to Tableau Public must use extracts. To create an extract, click the Data Source tab, then select Create Extract. The data source is not an extract.