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How to Automate Updates for Google Drive Data Unions in Tableau Cloud

Udgivelsesdato: Mar 17, 2026
Forudsætning(er)
To view the data source on Tableau Cloud, the required environment and tools depend on the workaround you choose. For both Option 1 and Option 2, you need to connect to the data using Tableau Desktop first and then publish the data source to Tableau Cloud. Specifically, Option 1 involves connecting to Google Drive, while Option 2 utilizes Tableau Bridge for the connection. Alternatively, if you proceed with Option 3, the connection and data preparation will be handled using Tableau Prep Builder.
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Since the Google Drive connector does not support wildcard unions for separate files in a folder, this article outlines three approaches: two that allow for automatic updates, and one that requires manual intervention when new files are added.

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Option 1 - Union "Sheets" within a Single Spreadsheet on Google Drive

  1. Prepare the Data: Save the data as a single Spreadsheet on Google Drive and add new data as periodic (e.g., monthly or daily) "sheets (tabs)" within a single spreadsheet file.

  2. Connect in Tableau Desktop: Select To a Server > Google Drive connector and connect to the target spreadsheet.
  3. Configure Wildcard Union: On the Data Source screen, double-click New Union (or drag it to the canvas) under the sheet list on the left.
  4. Select the Wildcard (Automatic) tab, enter the pattern for the sheet names to include (e.g., Sheet* or 2026*), and click OK.
  5. Publish to Tableau Cloud: Publish the data source (or workbook) to Tableau Cloud.
  6. In the settings screen during publishing, change the authentication to Embedded Credentials. This enables automatic updates.

Note: There is a max size limitation (e.g., 10 MB) in one spreadsheet.

 

Option 2 - Save files to a network drive and access them through Tableau Bridge

  1. Place the Files: Download or save the files from Google Drive to a network share drive that is accessible from the machine where Tableau Bridge is installed.
  2. Connect in Tableau Desktop: In Tableau Desktop, use the To a File > Microsoft Excel or Text file connector. Important: It is strongly recommended to place the file on a network drive and specify a UNC path (e.g., \\Server\Share\File.csv). This is recommended because it provides a consistent, shared location path that all Tableau Bridge clients can use, which is essential when using a Bridge Pool.
  3. Configure Wildcard Union: From New Union > Wildcard (Automatic), specify the file name pattern in the folder (e.g., sales_*.xlsx) to combine them.
  4. Configure Schedule on Tableau Cloud: After publishing the data source, set up an extract refresh schedule on Tableau Cloud. By properly configuring Tableau Cloud and Tableau Bridge, the schedule triggered from the Cloud side will import the latest files from the specified folder through Tableau Bridge. 

Note: 

  • Network File: Locations accessible via the network, such as an internal file server or NAS (Network Attached Storage).

 

Option 3 - Create Hyper Files Using Tableau Prep Flow (Manual file addition required)

This method involves using Tableau Prep Builder to combine multiple files on Google Drive and create an extract file. Note: This option is not fully automated. The Google Drive connector in Tableau Prep also does not support Wildcard Union by folder. Therefore, it will not automatically pick up new files; you must manually add and connect a new input step to the flow each time a file is added.

  1. Connect in Tableau Prep: Open Tableau Prep Builder and connect to each target file using the Google Drive connector.
  2. Create a Union: Drag each input step to a "Union" step to combine them. 
  3. Output: Set the flow output to "Published Data Source" and run/publish to Tableau Cloud.

 

Vidensartikelnummer

005316604

 
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