Analytics-Admn-201 Salesforce Certified Tableau Server Administrator Questions and Answers

Comments on Tableau Server visualizations facilitate collaboration. Let’s explore what’s supported:

Comments Feature: Enabled per site (Settings > General > Allow Comments). Users with "Add Comment" permission can post on views.

Option B (Text): Correct.

Details: The primary content type—users type free-form text in the comment box.

Use: Notes, questions, or feedback (e.g., "Sales spiked here—why?").

Option C (@mentions): Correct.

Details: Typing @username notifies the mentioned user via email or the UI (if notifications are enabled).

Use: Directs comments to specific people (e.g., "@John, check this trend").

Option A (Interactive snapshots of a view): Incorrect.

Details: Snapshots (static images) aren’t supported in comments—users must take screenshots externally and can’t embed them interactively.

Option D (Images - jpg, png): Incorrect.

Details: No attachment or image embedding in comments—text and mentions only. Workaround: Link to an image hosted elsewhere.

Why This Matters: Comments enhance teamwork, but their simplicity (text + mentions) keeps the interface lightweight and focused.

In Tableau Server, schedules manage tasks like extract refreshes and subscriptions. Each task within a schedule has a priority value (ranging from 1 to 100, where 1 is the highest priority and 100 is the lowest). Tasks with higher priority (lower numbers) are executed before tasks with lower priority (higher numbers) when queued by the Backgrounder process. If the Backgrounder is overloaded or delayed, lower-priority tasks may not complete on time, leading to inconsistent refreshes.

In this scenario:

The 7:00 AM Extract Refresh task is critical for the CEO’s workbook, but the data is only refreshed 70% of the time by 9:00 AM.

The server has a single node, meaning a single Backgrounder process handles all tasks. With five schedules (some overlapping in the early morning), contention or delays could prevent the 7:00 AM task from completing reliably before 9:00 AM.

Option C (Set the priority of this task to 1): Correct. Setting the task priority to 1 ensures it has the highest priority among all queued tasks. This increases the likelihood that the Backgrounder executes it promptly at 7:00 AM, completing the refresh before the CEO accesses the workbook at 9:00 AM. You can adjust task priority in the Tableau Server web interface under Schedules > Tasks > Edit Priority.

Option A (Set the default priority of this schedule to 50): Incorrect. The default priority for schedules is already 50, and this option refers to the schedule’s default, not the specific task. It wouldn’t address the contention issue.

Option B (Set the priority for all other tasks to 50): Incorrect. This keeps all tasks at the default priority (50), leaving the 7:00 AM task without a relative advantage. It doesn’t prioritize the CEO’s task.

Option D (Set the priority of this task to 100): Incorrect. Priority 100 is the lowest, which would deprioritize the task, making the refresh even less reliable.

When an extract refresh fails on Tableau Server, troubleshooting requires identifying the root cause—e.g., connectivity issues, resource constraints, or configuration errors. The Backgrounder process handles extract refreshes, so it’s a key focus, but the best diagnostic tool depends on granularity and context. Let’s explore this thoroughly:

Extract Refresh Process:

An extract refresh pulls data from a source (e.g., database, file) into a .hyper file stored on Tableau Server.

The Backgrounder executes these tasks based on schedules or manual triggers.

Errors could stem from: database connectivity, credentials, file access, resource overload, or task misconfiguration.

Option B (Background Tasks for Extracts administrative view): Correct. This is the most direct and detailed method:

Location: In the Tableau Server web UI, go to Server > Status > Background Tasks for Extracts (or site-specific under Site > Status).

Details Provided:

Task name, schedule, and workbook/data source.

Start/end times and status (e.g., Failed, Success).

Error messages (e.g., "Cannot connect to database," "Permission denied").

Why It’s Best: It pinpoints the exact failure (e.g., "timeout," "invalid credentials") for the specific refresh, offering actionable insights without needing to dig through logs manually. Server or site administrators can access this view to diagnose issues quickly.

Example: If the error is "Database login failed," you’d check credentials in the data source settings next.

Option A (Status of the Backgrounder process via tsm status -v): Partially useful but insufficient:

What It Shows: Running/stopped status of all processes (e.g., "Backgrounder: RUNNING").

Limitation: It confirms if Backgrounder is operational but doesn’t reveal why a specific task failed—no error details or task-level granularity.

Use Case: If Backgrounder is stopped or crashed, this might indicate a broader issue, but the question implies a single refresh error, not a server-wide failure.

Option C (The UNC path to the extract’s data source): Relevant but secondary:

Context: If the data source is a file (e.g., CSV on a network share), the UNC path (e.g., \\server\share\file.csv) must be accessible.

Why Not First: The error could be unrelated (e.g., database issue, not file-based). The admin view (B) would reveal if it’s a path issue first, guiding you to check the UNC path only if indicated (e.g., "File not found").

Practical Note: Backgrounder needs share permissions and the Run As account must access it—checking this without context wastes time.

Option D (Whether project permissions are set to Locked): Unlikely cause:

Permissions Impact: Locked permissions restrict who can edit/view content, not whether an extract refresh runs—that’s tied to the data source’s connection settings and Backgrounder execution.

Exception: If the refresh user lacks "Connect" permission to the data source, it might fail, but this is rare (owner/schedule typically has access). The admin view would flag this.

Why This Matters: The Background Tasks view is Tableau’s purpose-built tool for extract diagnostics, saving time and reducing guesswork in production environments.

Table recommendations in Tableau Server suggest popular tables and data sources to users when they create new content in the web authoring environment. This feature is enabled by default but can be disabled at the site level.

Option A (Disable the option using the site Settings page): Correct. A site administrator can disable table recommendations by navigating to the site’s Settings > General page in the Tableau Server web interface and unchecking the option "Enable table recommendations." This prevents users on that site from seeing these suggestions, offering a straightforward UI-based solution.

Option B (Use the command: tsm configuration set -k recommendations.enabled -v false): Incorrect. There is no recommendations.enabled key in the TSM configuration settings. This feature is managed per site, not server-wide via TSM.

Option C (Publish data sources only to projects with permissions locked): Incorrect. Locking permissions restricts access but doesn’t disable the recommendation feature itself. Users with access would still see recommendations.

Option D (Disable the option using the server Settings page): Incorrect. Table recommendations are a site-specific setting, not a server-wide setting. The server Settings page (via TSM) controls global configurations, not this feature.

Importing an AD group into Tableau Server syncs user management—let’s analyze the process and options:

AD Group Import Process:

How: In the UI (Users > Groups > Add Group > Active Directory), enter the AD group name, set a site role, and sync.

Behavior:

Existing Users: If a user is already in Tableau Server, their site role remains unchanged unless manually adjusted—sync applies the minimum role only if it upgrades access.

New Users: Added to Tableau with the site role specified during import.

Config: Requires AD authentication enabled in TSM.

Option D (New users created are assigned the site role specified during import): Correct.

Details: When importing (e.g., "SalesTeam" group, site role: Explorer):

New users get Explorer.

Existing users keep their role unless it’s below Explorer (e.g., Unlicensed → Explorer).

Why: Ensures consistent onboarding—new users align with the group’s intended access.

Option A (Existing users’ roles change to match import): Incorrect.

Why: Existing roles persist unless lower than the minimum—e.g., Viewer stays Viewer if import sets Explorer, but Unlicensed upgrades. Not a full overwrite.

Option B (Requires a .csv file): Incorrect.

Why: AD import uses live sync via LDAP—no .csv needed (that’s for local auth imports).

Option C (Change group name during import): Incorrect.

Why: The AD group name is fixed—you can’t rename it in Tableau during sync (it mirrors AD). Post-import renaming is possible but not part of the process.

Why This Matters: Accurate AD sync ensures seamless user management—missteps can disrupt access or licensing.

Subscriptions in Tableau Server deliver workbook views to users via email on a schedule. Group subscriptions apply to all group members—let’s unpack this:

Group Subscription Mechanics:

Created via Workbooks > Actions > Subscribe > Select Group.

Delivers content to all users in the group at the time the subscription runs (e.g., daily PDF).

Dynamic: Membership updates (additions/removals) are reflected automatically on the next run.

Option C (The subscription updates automatically to include the new user): Correct.

Details: When you add a user to the group (e.g., via Users > Groups > Add Users), Tableau Server’s subscription process queries the group’s current membership at runtime. The new user receives the subscription on the next scheduled delivery—no manual action needed.

Example: Group "Sales" has a 9 AM subscription. Add a user at 8 AM—they get the email tomorrow at 9 AM.

Option A (Admin receives notice to approve/deny): Incorrect.

Why: No approval workflow exists for group membership changes in subscriptions—it’s automatic.

Option B (Creator must manually edit): Incorrect.

Why: Subscriptions are tied to the group, not a static user list—manual edits aren’t required for membership changes.

Option D (Only members at creation time): Incorrect.

Why: This would be true for individual subscriptions (static list), but group subscriptions are dynamic.

Why This Matters: Dynamic group subscriptions streamline content delivery as teams evolve, reducing admin overhead.

Tableau Server’s user-based licensing model assigns licenses to individual users (Creator, Explorer, Viewer) rather than machines or cores. Key features include:

Subscription license: Licenses are typically subscription-based, renewed annually or monthly, aligning with Tableau’s pricing model.

Distinct user roles: It supports three roles (Creator, Explorer, Viewer), each with specific capabilities, enabling granular access control.

Option A (A subscription license): Correct. User-based licenses are subscription-based by default.

Option B (Enables distinct user roles): Correct. The model defines Creator, Explorer, and Viewer roles.

Option C (Restricts the number of machine cores): Incorrect. This applies to core-based licensing, not user-based.

Option D (A perpetual license): Incorrect. Perpetual licenses were phased out; user-based licenses are subscription-based as of recent models.

Abandoned workbooks—those no longer actively used—can clutter Tableau Server and consume resources (e.g., disk space for extracts). Identifying them efficiently requires leveraging built-in administrative tools rather than manual or destructive methods. Let’s explore this in depth:

Tableau Server Admin Views: Tableau provides pre-built administrative views to monitor server health, usage, and content. The Stale Content view, accessible under Server > Status > Administrative Views, is specifically designed to identify content (workbooks, data sources) that hasn’t been viewed or modified recently. It shows:

Content name, owner, and project.

Last viewed date and last modified date.

View count over a period.This view uses Repository data to track usage metrics, making it ideal for spotting abandoned workbooks.

Option A (Use the Stale Content administrative view): Correct. This is the most efficient and non-invasive method. You can filter by last viewed date (e.g., >30 days ago) to identify workbooks with large extracts that users have stopped accessing. From there, you can contact owners or delete the content if policy allows. It’s a server administrator’s go-to tool for content management.

Option B (Examine extract files in ProgramData/.../extract): Incorrect and impractical. The ProgramData/Tableau/Tableau Server/data/tabsvc/dataengine/extract directory stores .hyper extract files, but:

File names are cryptic (e.g., GUIDs), not tied directly to workbook names.

It doesn’t indicate usage or abandonment—only file presence and size.

Manual inspection is time-consuming and error-prone compared to the Stale Content view.

Option C (Delete all extracts and allow them to be re-generated): Incorrect and risky. Deleting extracts (e.g., via tsm maintenance cleanup) removes them without identifying usage. Regeneration only occurs if a schedule or user triggers it, potentially disrupting active users and losing historical data unnecessarily.

Option D (View all workbooks, and sort by the Modified date): Partially effective but inefficient. In the Tableau Server UI (e.g., under Content > Workbooks), you can sort by "Last Modified," but:

It doesn’t show viewership (a workbook might be modified recently but unused).

It’s manual and doesn’t scale for large deployments compared to the Stale Content view.

Why This Matters: The Stale Content view leverages Tableau’s metadata to provide actionable insights, saving time and reducing risk compared to manual or destructive alternatives. It’s part of Tableau’s governance toolkit.

Tableau Server’s search functionality relies on an indexed catalog of content (workbooks, data sources, etc.) stored in the Repository. If a user can see a workbook in the UI (e.g., under Content > Workbooks) but not find it via search, the search index may be outdated or corrupted. This can happen due to:

Indexing delays after publishing.

Server maintenance or crashes affecting the index.

Option D (Run the tsm maintenance reindex-search command): Correct. This command rebuilds the search index, ensuring all content (including the user’s workbook) is properly cataloged and searchable. Steps:

Stop Tableau Server (tsm stop).

Run tsm maintenance reindex-search.

Start Tableau Server (tsm start).This is a server administrator task and resolves systemic search issues.

Option A (Re-publish the workbook with keywords): Incorrect. Re-publishing might update the index for that workbook, but it doesn’t fix a broader indexing problem. Keywords enhance relevance, not indexing itself.

Option B (Add tags to the workbook): Incorrect. Tags improve searchability but don’t address an index failure. If the workbook isn’t indexed, tags won’t help.

Option C (Log out, and then log back in): Incorrect. This refreshes the user session but doesn’t affect the server-side search index.

Why This Matters: A reliable search index is critical for content discovery in large deployments—reindex-search ensures consistency.

Trusted Tickets is an authentication method in Tableau Server for embedding views in external applications (e.g., portals) without requiring users to log in manually. Here’s how it works:

A trusted application (e.g., a web server) authenticates with Tableau Server using a trusted IP or username/password.

Tableau Server issues a temporary ticket (a unique string).

The ticket is embedded in a view URL (e.g., /trusted//views/...), granting access to the view for a short period (configurable, default 5 minutes).

Option A (Access embedded views without being prompted for credentials): Correct. Trusted tickets enable SSO-like behavior for embedded content, bypassing the login prompt if the ticket is valid. This is ideal for seamless integration into external systems.

Option B (Encrypt database connections): Incorrect. Encryption is handled by data source configurations (e.g., SSL), not trusted tickets, which focus on user authentication.

Option C (Save and edit workbooks): Incorrect. Trusted tickets grant view access, not edit permissions—those depend on the user’s site role and permissions.

Option D (Embed database credentials): Incorrect. Trusted tickets authenticate users to Tableau Server, not databases—database credentials are managed separately in the data source.

Why This Matters: Trusted tickets simplify embedding Tableau content securely in custom applications, enhancing user experience.

Installing Tableau Server on Windows requires an account with sufficient privileges to configure services, write to the file system, and manage registry settings. Let’s analyze this in depth:

Installation Requirements:

The installer creates services (e.g., Tableau Server Gateway), writes to Program Files and ProgramData, and configures TSM.

It needs local administrative privileges on the machine to perform these tasks.

Post-install, a "Run As" account can be set for services (e.g., NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService), but this is separate from the install account.

Option C (An account in the local administrator group): Correct.

Why: The account must be in the local Administrators group to:

Install software (UAC elevation).

Configure services and ports.

Write to protected directories (e.g., C:\Program Files\Tableau).

Examples: A local admin (e.g., Administrator) or a domain user added to the Administrators group (e.g., DOMAIN\AdminUser).

Process: Log in as this account, run the installer, and provide TSM admin credentials during setup.

Option A (A local user account): Incorrect.

A standard local user (not in Administrators) lacks permissions—installation would fail with "Access Denied" errors.

Option B (A domain user account): Incorrect unless clarified.

A domain user without local admin rights can’t install. If it’s in the Administrators group, it qualifies, but C is more specific.

Option D (NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService): Incorrect.

This is a built-in service account for running services (default "Run As" post-install), not for executing the installer—an interactive user account is required.

Why This Matters: Using the right account prevents install failures and ensures secure configuration—critical for production setups.

Comments on visualizations foster collaboration in Tableau Server—let’s break down the requirements:

Commenting Prerequisites:

Site-Level Enablement: Comments must be activated for the site.

Permission: Users need the "Add Comment" capability on the content.

Site Role: Minimum role of Viewer allows commenting if permissions are set.

Option B (Add Comments must be allowed in permissions): Correct.

Details: In the Permissions dialog (e.g., for a workbook), set "Add Comment" to "Allowed" for users/groups. Default is "Denied" unless explicitly enabled.

How: Content > Workbooks > Actions > Permissions > Edit Rule.

Why: Permissions are granular—site enablement alone isn’t enough.

Option D (Comments must be enabled on the site Settings page): Correct.

Details: Go to Site > Settings > General > Allow Comments—check the box.

Why: This is a site-wide toggle (default: off). Without it, no one can comment, regardless of permissions.

Option A (Minimum site role of Explorer - can publish): Incorrect.

Why: Viewer role suffices if permissions allow—Explorer (can publish) isn’t required (it adds publishing, not commenting).

Option C (Server Settings page): Incorrect.

Why: Comments are a site-level feature, not server-wide—no such toggle exists in TSM’s Server Settings.

Why This Matters: Enabling comments at both site and content levels ensures controlled collaboration—key for team insights.

Tableau Server has specific hardware requirements for production environments to ensure stability and performance. The minimum recommended free disk space for a production installation is 50 GB. This accounts for:

The installation itself (approximately 1–2 GB).

Space for log files, temporary files, and extracts managed by the File Store and Data Engine.

Room for backups and operational overhead.

The full minimum hardware recommendations for a single-node production deployment are:

8 CPU cores (2.0 GHz or faster).

32 GB RAM.

50 GB free disk space (on the system drive, typically C: on Windows).

Option A (32 GB): Incorrect. While 32 GB is the minimum RAM requirement, it’s insufficient for disk space in production.

Option B (50 GB): Correct. This matches Tableau’s official recommendation for production environments.

Option C (15 GB): Incorrect. 15 GB is the minimum for a non-production or trial installation, not production.

Option D (64 GB): Incorrect. While 64 GB exceeds the minimum, it’s not the specified requirement—50 GB is sufficient.