Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Documentation

Use JDBC to Connect Tableau to a Data Flow SQL Endpoint

Download, install, and configure JDBC on Linux, MAC OS, or Windows to connect Tableau to a Data Flow SQL Endpoint.

Downloading and Installing the JDBC Driver

Follow these steps to download and install a JDBC driver to use with Tableau.

  1. Download the JDBC driver.
    1. In the global search bar, search for Data Flow and select Data Flow Service.
    2. Select SQL Endpoints in the leftmost side navigation.
    3. Select any SQL Endpoint from the list. The details page for that SQL Endpoint is displayed.
    4. Under Connect, select Drivers.
    5. Under JDBC, select Download JDBC driver.
    6. When the download completes, extract the downloaded zip file.
  2. Extract the .zip file.
  3. Open the main folder and extract the Simba JDBC driver and JAR files.
  4. Create a folder called A in the directory relevant for the OS.
    • Linux: /opt/tableau/tableau_driver/jdbc
    • Mac OS: ~/Library/Tableau/Drivers
    • Windows: C:\Program Files\Tableau\Driver
  5. Copy the following files from the extracted simba driver jars folder to the folder A:
    • <your_simba_jdbc_driver_jars_folder>/SparkJDBC42.jar
    • <your_simba_jdbc_driver_jars_folder>/libs/bcprov-jdk15to18-1.72.ja

Configuring the JDBC Driver

Follow these steps to configure the JDBC Driver.

  1. Get the host name for the SQL Endpoint to connect to.
    1. Open the Details Page for the SQL Endpoint when it's active.
    2. Select Drivers.
    3. Under JDBC driver, select Show Details. A pop-up appears.
    4. Select Show on the JDBC URL string. The full JDBC URL is displayed.
    5. Select Copy on the JDBC URL string. The full JDBC URL is copied to the clipboard.
    6. Save the JDBC URL for later use.
  2. Authenticate the connection.

    1. For authentication, you can use an API signing key to connect to a SQL Endpoint, or you can use a token (browser-based) to connect to a SQL Endpoint. The connection uses SSL by default.

      To use API key authentication
      1. Optional Use the default OCI configuration file and the default profile.
      2. Optional If not using the default location, append the OCI configuration file location in the connection JDBC URL. For example: 
        jdbc:spark:<endpoint-url>.interactive.dataflowclusters.us-phoenix-1.oci.oraclecloud.com/default;SparkServerType=DFI;OCIConfigFile=<config_file_absolute_path>
      3. Optional If not using the default profile, append the OCI profile lin the connection JDBC URL. For example: 
        jdbc:spark:<endpoint-url>.interactive.dataflowclusters.us-phoenix-1.oci.oraclecloud.com/default;SparkServerType=DFI;OCIConfigFile=<config_file_absolute_path>OCIProfile=<profile_name>
      To use a token (browser-based)
      You can opt not to set up DFI Options entirely and only test the DSN (step iv), or select DFI Options and continue with the following steps:
      1. If you don't have a default profile, don't specify a profile in the JDBC URL. For example: 
        jdbc:spark:<endpoint-url>.interactive.dataflowclusters.us-phoenix-1.oci.oraclecloud.com/default;SparkServerType=DFI
      2. A browser window opens where you sign in to the tenancy where the Data Flow SQL Endpoint is found.

Connecting Tableau to a Data Flow SQL Endpoint Using JDBC

Follow these steps to connect Tableau to a Data Flow SQL Endpoint Using JDBC.

  1. Open Tableau.
  2. Select Other Databases (JDBC).
    A new window opens.
  3. In URL, paste the connection string to use for connecting to the Data Flow SQL Endpoint.
  4. In Dialect select SQL92 from the list.
  5. Select Sign In.