The Tableau Anaplan native integration provides an easy way to see and understand your Anaplan data with Tableau.

You can connect directly to Anaplan in few easy steps.

For an introduction to the Tableau - Anaplan integration, see Connect directly to your Anaplan data in Tableau on tableau.com.

Configure the Tableau connector for Anaplan 

The connector is native to Tableau and built using the Anaplan API. It enables you to import Anaplan data into Tableau with export actions created and saved in Anaplan.

For information on configuring the Tableau connector for Anaplan, see the Tableau Online Help.

Get the Tableau connector for Anaplan

The Tableau connector for Anaplan is available under Connect settings in the latest version of Tableau. To trial the Tableau Connector for Anaplan, visit https://www.tableau.com/products/trial.

The connector works with both Tableau Server and Desktop. The Tableau connector for Anaplan is a one-way integration that allows you to export data from Anaplan into Tableau only. You can't import Tableau data into Anaplan using this connector.

Set up the connector

Before you start, take these steps in Anaplan:

    • Create a module for the data you want to export, which uses a structure that Tableau can translate.
    • Create an export action in Anaplan.

Prepare data for export

You can't use Anaplan hierarchical, or composite, lists in Tableau. We recommend that you create a new module and replace them with list-formatted line items. See the example below.

To reduce the size of your module, you can use subsidiary views for each list-formatted line item.

Example: You want to export Anaplan data from Module A into Tableau using the connector. This module contains list hierarchies. You have to prepare your data before using the Tableau connector.

Step 1 Anaplan:

  1. Creates a new module.
  2. Identify the list hierarchies to convert into list-formatted line items in Module A. To save space in the workspace, use subsidiary views to reduce the size of the module.
  3. Create the necessary list-formatted line items.
  4. Create the export action.

Module A (before)

An example of a module view with "Bonus" selected.

Module A (after)

A new module set up. Bonus is selected.

The new module contains line items, one column of data, and multiple page selectors or dimensions. A list-formatted line item is needed for each parent of the level hierarchy. The lowest level of each list exports automatically from Anaplan. Here’s the dimensions set for the module:

Dimensions in a module, top level and parent hierarchy.

In the new module, you can see the structure with subsidiary views and list-formatted line items. There are three new columns:

New columns for regional lists:

  • OrgL1
  • Regions L2

OrgL1 (NA - North America) is the parent of Regions L2 (United States).

And a new column under account lists: Accounts L1 (G&A). Accounts L1 is the parent of Acct Detail L2.

Below is an example of the formulas to generate the list-formatted line items for each column:

Examples of formulas for this module.

Step 2, Tableau:

Once your module is ready, you can use the connector. To do so:

  1. Follow the instructions on Tableau Online Help .
  2. Rebuild the list hierarchies from Tableau’s interface.

Export data in Anaplan

You must create an export action for the module data you want to export before you use the Tableau connector.

Tableau only recognizes export actions. If your module contains hierarchical or composite lists, make sure you follow the instructions in Export data from Tableau

  1. On the Data menu, select Export.
  2. On the File Type list, select Comma Separated Values (.csv).
  3. Under Layout, select Tabular Multiple Column
  4. Select Omit Summary Items and Omit Empty Rows to reduce the size of the export.
  5. Select Save Export Definition and enter the Export Name.
  6. Select Run Export.

The export runs and creates an action. The export name displays in Processes, under Exports. You can now use the connector to retrieve and manage your data in Tableau.