Troubleshoot issues

Troubleshooting Tableau Data Connection Issues

Nothing’s more frustrating than a broken data connection right when you need your dashboard. Here’s how to fix common Tableau connection problems with Tallyfy Analytics - and prevent them from happening again.

Authentication Best Practices

Amazon Athena (which hosts Tallyfy Analytics data) gives you two ways to authenticate:

Authentication Method	Recommended For	Common Issues
IAM Username/Password	AWS Console access only	Frequent “security token invalid” errors with BI tools
Access Key/Secret Key	All BI tool connections	More reliable, fewer token expiration issues

Important

Always use the Access Key and Secret Access Key provided by Tallyfy for Tableau connections. IAM credentials (username/password) should only be used for accessing the AWS web console.

You’ll get two credential sets from Tallyfy when they set up your Analytics account:

• AWS IAM Login - Use only for AWS console access at https://aws.amazon.com/ ↗
• Access Key and Secret Access Key - Use for connecting Tableau to Athena

Common Connection Issues and Solutions

Issue 1: Authentication Errors

That dreaded “The security token included in the request is invalid” error? Here’s what to check:

1. Verify you’re using the Access Key/Secret Key (not IAM credentials)
2. Check that your credentials haven’t expired
3. Ensure you’re using the correct region setting

Issue 2: Missing or Broken Data Source

Your workbook’s data connection went missing? Don’t panic. Follow these steps:

1. Open your Tableau workbook with the disconnected data source

   

2. When prompted about the missing data source, select Show Details to view the specific error

   

3. Click Yes when asked if you want to connect to your data

   

4. Select Edit Connection to update your connection settings

   

5. Enter your Access Key, Secret Access Key, and other connection details

6. If the connection is successful, your dashboard will refresh with the current data

Issue 3: Connection Cannot Be Edited

Sometimes the Edit Connection option just won’t work. When that happens:

1. Remove the existing connection completely
2. Create a new connection to Amazon Athena
3. Re-enter all connection parameters using your Access Key and Secret Access Key
4. Reconnect to your data tables

Data Type Issues

After reconnecting, your date fields might look weird. Fix them like this:

1. In the Data Source tab, locate fields like “due_by” and “completed_on”
2. Right-click each field and select Change Data Type > Date & Time
3. Verify that date comparisons and calculations now work correctly

Sharing Workbooks Safely

Need to share your masterpiece with colleagues? Keep these security tips in mind:

1. Use Tableau’s Extract feature to create a local copy of the data
2. Alternatively, use Published Data Sources in Tableau Server/Online
3. For direct connections, ensure recipients have their own Tallyfy Analytics credentials
4. Never embed your credentials in shared workbooks

Preventative Measures

Want to avoid these headaches in the future? Here’s what works:

• Keep Tableau Desktop and drivers up to date
• Use Tableau’s Test Connection feature regularly
• Document your connection settings in a secure location
• Create data extracts as backups for critical dashboards
• Schedule regular extract refreshes if using Tableau Server/Online

Still stuck after trying everything? Contact Tallyfy Support with specific error messages and screenshots - they’ll sort you out.

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