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The latest release of Tableau Server delivers greater flexibility for deploying Tableau workbooks. New capabilities make it easier to manage database usernames and passwords and also make it possible to dynamically change the content of a single view depending on the individual looking at that view. Tableau Server 1.6 works in conjunction with the enhanced capabilities of Tableau Professional 3.6.

• Web users no longer need database usernames and passwords.

Workbook authors can choose to specify a database username and password to be used every time a view is opened on the server. Views published using this option can be opened without the web user being prompted to logon to the database. Tableau Server simply connects automatically and displays the view. This means that you no longer need to provide all end users with a database account to share data efficiently and securely.

• Passwords can be securely stored and remembered.

When the new embedded password capability described above is not in effect, a web user opening
a new view is prompted to provide a database username and password. The checkbox to “Remember My Password” now has the ability to remember a user’s password not just for the current session but across all browser sessions—even when a different browser or computer is being used. Passwords are stored securely encrypted on the server, allowing the roaming computer user to have her answers remembered wherever she goes.

• Data source connections can be quickly updated for all relevant views.

Server administrators can now mass update data source connection information for views published to Tableau Server. For example, if a database server name changes, an administrator can quickly update all relevant views to connect to the new server. This mass change capability allows administrators to instantly revise database server names, usernames, and even passwords without having to republish each individual workbook.

• Dynamic user filters allow individual users to see customized data views.

Publish a single view to Tableau Server and have it dynamically filter the data to be appropriate for any individual viewer. For example, publish a sales report one time that automatically shows Western sales data to the Western Manager, Eastern sales data to the Eastern Manager, and so on.

You can associate users and groups to specific data values with a simple point-and-click selection in Tableau Professional when creating the workbook. Alternatively, the association may be dynamically determined using database tables you already have. For example, a table of employees and their departments may be used to dynamically filter the view to show each employee just the information for her department.