How to Create Tableau PostgreSQL Connection for Reporting

Progress DataDirect’s PostgreSQL ODBC and JDBC Drivers offer a high-performing, secure, and reliable connectivity solution, for applications to access PostgreSQLdata. If you want to use our PostgreSQLDrivers with the Tableau Desktop application, Progress DataDirect has you covered. This tutorial will teach you how to configure the DataDirect PostgreSQLdrivers within Tableau Desktop to create reports. These steps can also configure any ODBC and JDBC connection with Tableau. 

This tutorial assumes that you have ODBC drivers installed and a data source configured. If you have not yet done these steps, please follow these instructions:

1. Download and install the Progress DataDirect PostgreSQL ODBC driver using the 15-day trial software. In this tutorial, we are connecting to Microsoft SQL Server.
2. Configure a data source for your database. See the DataDirect documentation for assistance with setting up your data source. You will learn how to configure a PostgreSQL Data source in the following steps.

1. After the DataDirect PostgreSQL ODBC driver has been installed, open ODBC Administrator to configure the connection and click on Add.

   

2. Choose the “DataDirect X.X PostgreSQL Wire Protocol” and click on “Finish.”

   

3. The ODBC PostgreSQL Wire Protocol Driver Setup window will pop up.

   

   Enter your credentials, click on “Apply” or “OK,” and then click on “Test Connect.”

4. The PostgreSQL Logon screen will pop up. Provide logon credentials and click on “OK.”

   

5. A dialog box will confirm that the connection is established.

   

1. Start Tableau and select the “Other Databases (ODBC)” option.

   

2. In the pop-up window, select the “DSN” radial button and choose the data source previously configured to connect to PostgreSQL in the dropdown.

   

3. Click on “Connect” and another Logon Dialog popup screen will appear. Enter your credentials and click on “OK.”

   

4. Select “Sign In” and the Tableau configuration screen should now appear.

   

5. You can use Tableau's schema and table drop-down list to browse and select your data. Or you can execute SQL statements by clicking on the "New Custom SQL" option.

   

6. For example, you can execute a statement such as "Select * from schema_name.table_name" and then click on the "Sheet 1" option at the bottom of the Tableau screen.

   This screen will allow you to select data and create tables or charts, such as the sample below:

   

1. Installing the driver:
   • If you are on Windows, extract the PROGRESS_DATADIRECT_JDBC_POSTGRESQL_WIN.zip and run the PROGRESS_DATADIRECT_JDBC_INSTALL.exe to install the JDBC driver.
   • If you are on Linux, extract the PROGRESS_DATADIRECT_JDBC_POSTGRESQL_WIN.zip and run the PROGRESS_DATADIRECT_JDBC_INSTALL.jar to start the installation.
2. After you have completed the installation, you can find the Progress DataDirect PostgreSQL .jar file.
   • On Windows, you will find it at C:\ProgramFiles\Progress\DataDirect\JDBC_60\lib\postgresql.jar
   • On Linux, you will find it at /home//Progress/DataDirect/JDBC_60/lib/ postgresql.jar

The Progress DataDirect PostgreSQL JDBC driver does not come with a Configuration Manager. This tutorial assumes that you have a JDBC connection URL built, to proceed to the further steps, i.e., connecting to Tableau Desktop.

1. To get started, copy postgresql.jar from the Progress installation location to Tableau’s driver location.
   • For Windows: copy postgresql.jar to C:\Program Files\Tableau\Drivers
   • For Mac: copy postgresql.jar to ~/Library/Tableau/Drivers
2. Open Tableau and create a new data source.
   • Select “Other Databases (JDBC).”

     

   • The pop-up window will appear.

     

3. Please enter your PostgreSQL JDBC connection URL in the textbox. Enter credentials for username and password, and click on “Sign In.” For example: jdbc:datadirect:postgresql://MyServer:5432

   

   Tableau will then connect to the PostgreSQL database, and the Configuration Screen will appear.

   

4. You can use Tableau's schema and table drop-down list to browse and select your data, or you can execute SQL statements by clicking on the "New Custom SQL" option. The image below shows the schemas on the left-hand side.

   

5. Once Tableau can access your relevant data, you can easily create reports like those shown below: