4 Replies Latest reply on Jul 19, 2014 9:43 AM by Siz Mahleka

    Importing Selected Fields from Access

    Jeffrey Lun
    Jeffrey Lun Oct 29, 2012 8:23 AM

      Hi there,

       

         I'm trying to join and import two tables from MS Access.  I managed to set up a join (a one-to-one relationship via a application number), but there are too many fields when the two tables are combined.  Apart from the custom SQL option or making selections in Access before importing, is there any other way of selecting the fields I want? 

       

      Thanks!

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        • 1. Re: Importing Selected Fields from Access
          Alex Kerin
          Alex Kerin Oct 29, 2012 9:27 AM (in response to Jeffrey Lun)

          I don't believe so - but custom SQL is pretty straightforward if you are just removing fields. You could also just hide the names in the dimensions/measures list

          • 2. Re: Importing Selected Fields from Access
            Siz Mahleka
            Siz Mahleka Jul 18, 2014 6:29 PM (in response to Jeffrey Lun)

            This is a pretty old post but I've hit the same challenge albeit not an Access Data Source. Appreciating you can create views to only bring the data fields you want against the data source, it's not always possible to do so, lack of administrator rights against the data source for example.

             

            Appreciating this post is from 2012, I'm new to Tableau and using 8.2. Is there still no way to select specific field you'd like to bring in from the data source? I'm looking at a table with 50 fields and I just want 6. To have to hide 44 fields is not sensible. To write custom SQL also feels a bit cumbersome when all I need to do is select the fields to import. I can do it, but I'd rather not.

             

            Any takers?

            • 3. Re: Importing Selected Fields from Access
              Tom W
              Tom W Jul 19, 2014 9:29 AM (in response to Siz Mahleka)

              I don't see how hiding is any different to being prompted to select a list of fields and selecting / deselecting using checkboxes.

               

              You can either hide the columns when you first connect to the data source by clicking the arrow next to the field name, or after you've connected. It's even easier after you've connected as you can multi select by holding the control button and clicking multiple fields or select a range by clicking a dimension, holding the shift key and clicking another dimension further down the list.

              You can save the data source to maintain only the fields you've selected for next time.

               

              You've correctly outlined the alternatives in custom sql or views, so I'm not really sure exactly what you're looking for. If your question is "Is there a way to select only a subset of fields through the GUI when I connect to my datasource instead of hiding?", the answer is no.

              • 4. Re: Importing Selected Fields from Access
                Siz Mahleka
                Siz Mahleka Jul 19, 2014 9:43 AM (in response to Tom W)

                Hi Tom,

                 

                Thank you for the swift response.

                 

                "Is there a way to select only a subset of fields through the GUI when I connect to my datasource instead of hiding?",


                You've answered my question. The answer is no.

                 

                I'll try the post connection method you've mentioned.

                 

                Regards,

                 

                Siz.