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Data Extracts - Excluding Columns

In Data Extracts - Accessing Data Offline you learned how to extract all or a subset of data into a local file data source that you can use when working offline or sharing your work with others. Extracting can also can improve performance on large data sources or text files. Did you know that in Tableau 4.0 you can now exclude entire columns from the extract to minimize the size of the extract file or simply avoid clutter with unnecessary fields? For example, you may have a description field that contains a whole bunch of text that you don’t really use for analysis. You can now just exclude that column entirely.

Here's how it works.

In the Data window, hide the fields that you don’t want to include in the extract. You can hide a field by right-clicking the field and selecting Hide.
Right-click the field you want to exclude and select Hide.
When you create the extract by selecting Data > Extract the hidden columns are not included in the extract.
The hidden fields are not included in the extract.
You can unhide fields by selecting Unhide Fields on the Data window menu. Then select the fields you want to unhide and click OK.
Unhide fields using the Data window menu.
Because the hidden fields are not included in the extract at all you can’t unhide the fields while using the extract. Select Data > Use Extract to switch back to the original data source.
Switch back to the original data source using the Data menu.
Note: Hidden fields won't be excluded if they are being used in a formula for calculated fields that are not hidden, groups and sets, relational joins, or there are other copies of the column from a self join that are not hidden.
 

To Learn More

  • Learn more about extracts by searching for Extracts in the Tableau Online Help.
  • Contact Tableau Technical Support at: (206) 633 3400 x2
  • Learn this trick and many more at the Tips and Tricks index. Don't forget to bookmark it.