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Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

Mark Evans Aug 24, 2016 10:07 AM

I created a web data connector with (I think) a decent interface to pull data into tableau from the US Census. Right now, it only works on one set of the five year American Community Survey (the profile data), but once I've proven it out I can add other datasets pretty easily. If anyone wants to try it out and help me iron out the wrinkles, you can find it at:

http://bigbytes.mobyus.com/tableau/censuswdc11.aspx

There's a tree for perusing the available variables and a control for selecting your target geography. If anyone has feedback or suggestions of any sort, please send it along. Also, if this has been done better somewhere else, let me know!

Thanks,

Mark

1. Re: Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

diego.medrano Sep 14, 2016 3:03 PM (in response to Mark Evans)

This is great! Thanks for sharing.
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2. Re: Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

Garima Vohra Sep 15, 2016 9:49 AM (in response to Mark Evans)

Hi Mark,

That's a nice thing, thanks for sharing. I am trying to create a WDC which would take data from Rally and put it into tableau. What language did you code in?

Thanks
Garima
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3. Re: Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

Mark Evans Sep 15, 2016 10:30 AM (in response to Garima Vohra)

Garima - This particular connector was written in C# and Javascript (obviously). Within Javascript, I'm using jsTree to do the variable selector interface. I pre-processed the variable names from the Census into a JSON that jsTree accepts.

On the server side, there are also a few tables in SQL server supporting the geography criteria ui.

Let me know if I can answer any other questions for you.
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4. Re: Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

Garima Vohra Sep 20, 2016 6:59 AM (in response to Mark Evans)

Thank you Mark. I will, once I start building it. I am waiting for the web access right now. As soon as I get it, I will begin WDC work.
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5. Re: Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

Daniel McKay Oct 13, 2016 3:14 PM (in response to Mark Evans)

Hey Mark, this works great. Have you thought about doing something like this for BLS data (I believe the mechanics are near identical)? Specifically if you could pull market (CPI, PPI, ECI) data I think it would be awesome.

Just a suggestion if you get bored
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6. Re: Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

Garima Vohra Dec 12, 2016 12:22 PM (in response to Garima Vohra)

Hey Mark,

My connector works fine with the browser, but I am getting an error when I am trying to connect it to tableau like below:
"The version of Tableau that you are using cannot use the web data connector that you are trying to access. The connector requires at least version '2.0.9' of the web data connector API."
Any idea how can this be resolved?

Thanks
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7. Re: Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

Mark Evans Dec 14, 2016 4:47 PM (in response to Garima Vohra)

Hey Garima - I haven't heard of this happening, but unfortunately, I did build the connector using the Tableau Web Data Connector v1.1. What version of Tableau are you using and is it Tableau Public?
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8. Re: Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

Mark Evans Dec 15, 2016 10:27 AM (in response to Daniel McKay)

Thanks, Daniel! I'm glad you find it useful. I've thought of doing other things, mainly linking to the full datasets of the ACS rather than just the profile or to the full 10 year census data. I'll also keep your suggestions in mind if I get idle time!
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9. Re: Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

rahul.subramanian Mar 23, 2017 7:50 AM (in response to Garima Vohra)

Hi Garima,
Could you post your code here. Or at the least can you please give me sample code (specific to Rally).

Regards,
Subro
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10. Re: Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

Paulo Dantas Mar 29, 2017 7:43 AM (in response to Mark Evans)

You can share your web connector?

Cheers.
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11. Re: Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

Mark Evans Mar 29, 2017 1:35 PM (in response to Paulo Dantas)

Hey Paulo - Not sure if I understand your question. The link to the data connector is in the original post you replied to.

As listed above, it is at:

http://bigbytes.mobyus.com/tableau/censuswdc11.aspx
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12. Re: Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

Paulo Dantas Mar 29, 2017 2:01 PM (in response to Mark Evans)

I understand.

But I´m interested in the code, because we need make something like that to pull data into Tableau.

Cheers.
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13. Re: Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

Mark Evans Mar 30, 2017 2:41 PM (in response to Paulo Dantas)

Ok - I wondered. You're welcome to the code. I don't mind at all. I assume you're looking for the Javascript/front-end part? I also don't mind sharing the backend (c#) but I doubt that would be helpful.
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14. Re: Created a Web Data Connector for Tableau (1.1) and US Census

Paulo Dantas Mar 31, 2017 7:23 AM (in response to Mark Evans)

Ok Mark,

no problem.

Thank´s for help.

Cheers.
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