STAY IN THE FLOW | STAY IN TABLEAU | USE YOUR WRITE BACK SCENARIO
Infotopics | Apps for Tableau is worldwide market leader in Tableau Extension Development and is proud to present a new extension: Write Back Extreme.
Tableau helps people see and understand data. They make sure that, in the process of exploring and analyzing data, there are no changes made to the data. Most analytics tools are based on strictly read-only technology. Sometimes however, you want to have the ability to add, delete or edit existing data behind a Tableau visualization and instantly see how those changes are reflected in the Viz.
Infotopics | Apps for Tableau developed the ultimate solution for these challenges and many other use cases and proudly presents to you: Write Back Extreme. You’ll love it!
Example Write Back use cases
Budget & Forecasting
Collaboration & Annotation
Data corrections
WHAT-IF Scenario’s
Financial adjustments
Check Lists
Evaluations & Surveys
DATA HELPER
With Data Helper you can create a custom table from within your Tableau dashboard to store data and join it back in your Tableau dataset or use it in a different process. For example custom date periods or a list of internal codes which need to be managed on a monthly basis. Use this module to eliminate Excel based workflows and sheets floating around in your organization.
The Data Helper allows you to create, edit and delete records from your custom table, without changing existing data. This module has a lot of practical use cases like.
ADD DATA
Tableau by default does not allow you to add data. When you want to add a forecast or play a What-If scenario, the Write Back Extreme extension allows you to add or change data that is connected to the visualizations present in your dashboard. You can see the changes and experience the impact and the data is safely stored in your database!
The animation illustrates the application of the ADD DATA module of the Write Back Extreme extension for Tableau in a Forecasting use case. By adding and writing back adjusted forecasts the effect of changes is visible in the Tableau visualization almost instantly. Of course the data additions can also be edited or deleted. No need to leave your Tableau dashboard to complete your forecasting workflow.
DATA CORRECTION
Some Data Quality use cases demand the changing of existing data in your database. For example if you have a dataset based on sensor data, you might want to correct existing values or add missing data points. The Write Back Extreme | Data Correction module allows you to just do that! Your dashboard users can perform data corrections directly from the dashboards where they detect the inconsitencies. With the full audit trails of the extension your changes to the data are secure and governed.
MODULAR SET UP
The Write Back Extreme extension supports three basic types of write back mechanisms. You can choose the module(s) you need to solve your use cases, and expand when you have the urge for other modules. The basic write back scenario’s are Add Data, Data Correction and Data Helper with a brief description below.
DATA HELPER
Are you in need of a Helper table in your Tableau dashboards to store data and Join/Blend back in your Dashboard? This module is your solution. For example if you want to offer custom date periods or a list of internal codes which need to be managed on a regular basis.
Use the Data Helper module to eliminate Excel sheets floating around in your organisation and stop manual uploading and integration of your missing tables.
ADD DATA
Add data to visuals on a summary data level. Create dynamic forms to enable unlimited possibilities. You can use the Add Data module for example to add targets on a month level while the underlying data exists of millions of rows.
The Add Data module works great with the new Tableau Relationships. Of course you can also use blending and joining to display the Added data in your Tableau Dashboards.
DATA CORRECTION
Display an inline editable table with powerful tools like bulk-edit, interpolation and much more. Use selections in your Tableau Dashboard to filter the data you want to correct or change.
You can use Data Corrections for a lot of use cases like correcting wrong or missing sensor data, typo corrections in a dimension and other data quality related challenges.
STAY IN THE FLOW
And increase the quality and efficiency of your processes. Since the Write Back Extreme extension eliminates the need for separate tools and files outside your Tableau environment, it automatically increases the quality and efficiency of the process results in your workflow by reducing process steps, eliminating manual process steps and keeping the focus of your users on the dashboard. In short: there is no need to jump to other systems or Excel, or even better, there is no need for other systems at all.
Eliminate Excel from your workflow
Save money
Eliminate spreadsheet risk and shared files
Stay in the context of your Dashboard
Easy to add or edit data in the viz
Help people to analyze easier and faster and collaborate
Take data driven actions and close the analytics loop
Make better and faster decisions
Make people smile
Easy. Governed. Secured. Audited.
FULL AUDIT TRAIL
The Audit trail of the Write Back extension enables you to monitor the changes made to the data. All changes made to any record through the Write Back Extreme extension are carefully recorded in a full audit trail. Besides the username also the old and new value of the changes are recorded as being part of the audit trail. Your Security and compliance team will love the auditing capabilities of the Write Back Extreme extension. The Write Back Extreme extension takes care of monitoring:
User that changed the record
The affected dashboard
The database table
The type of change
The actual change (old value – new value)
Date and time of the change
Besides the integrated audit trail, operation of the extension is also role based. Access to the advanced back-end system of the Write Back Extreme extension can be proteced or granted as a special permission. Creating database connections and Schemas for tables can be assigned as a separate privilege.
SUPPORTED DATABASE PLATFORMS
Currently we support different database platforms to write data back to. Our goal is to support as many platforms and use cases our customers can think of. If your preferred database platform is not yet natively supported by the Write Back Extreme extension, you can still use the Write Back Extreme extension with a supported secondary use database platform. The DATA HELPER and ADD DATA modules can integrate seamlessly with your existing datasources using a supported database platform like MySQL or MS SQL.
Microsoft SQL
✅ WBE version 1.0.0
MySQL
✅ WBE version 1.0.0
PostgreSQL
✅ WBE version 1.1.0
Snowflake
✅ WBE version 1.1.0
Teradata
expected in 2021 Q2
Getting started with our YouTube tutorials
To get you started we have set up a special Write Back Extreme tutorial playlist on our YouTube channel. Check it out and subscribe to our YouTube channel to learn, stay informed and have fun with extensions for Tableau! Below you can enjoy the getting started tutorials on the three basic modules Data Helper, Add Data and Data Correction.
DATA HELPER
Add a Helper Table to your Tableau Dashboards in which you can Add, Edit and Delete records. This comes in handy if you need to store trackers, manage items in a ToDo list or even conduct a Survey. Get rid of your manual Excel and Outlook workflows!
ADD DATA
Add extra data to your existing visualizations to enable Forecasting, Annotations and much more. Your existing data is not overwritten. The new data is added in a linked but separate table that can be integrated in your visualizations with relations, blends and joins.
DATA CORRECTION
Change existing data directly from your dashboard in a secure and governed way. If you have the need for changing existing data, this is the module to go with! No manual database corrections on sensor data tables, just correct, edit or add data from your Tableau Dashboard. Stay in the Flow!
Enterprise-Ready Security
When company policy or IT security requires an on-premise installation / integration of the extension, we can help you organize it. This is particularly useful when your Tableau Server is not granted internet access, or you need to be in full control of the usage and management of your extension.
On-premise installations allow you to be in control of infrastructure, privacy, governance, and to comply with company policies. It also allows the installation/hosting of several individual extensions. Please contact us for more information regarding on-premise installation of our extensions.
Be in full control of your extensions
Respect data governance policy
Comply with company security policy
Installation support (remote)
Excellent operational support (Tableau Gold Partner)
Updates managed by IT
No internet access required
WriteBackExtreme Management Console
The WriteBackExtreme extension offers a highly configurable and governance induced management console. The control room of the Extension is Password protected and allows authorized acces to different roles of users. Permissions can be carefully assigned to specific users in order to comply to your governance and security policies.
Dashboard Designers (Creators ) have the ability to create Schema’s in predefined Database connections. The schema’s can be created in the most flexible way. The authorized dashboard designer determines what fields will be presented and prompted to the dashboard users in your unique Write Back scenario. Stay in the Flow, Stay in Tableau, Create your Write Back Scenario in a secure and governed way.
RECORDING LAUNCH EVENT
October 27th we launched the WriteBackExtreme extension. If you missed the Launch event, have a look at the event’s recording.
Agenda
- Why Write Back in Tableau (3:30)
- Use Cases (4:27)
- Live demonstration of Write Back Extreme (9:37)
- Customer Stories (4:54 & 7:30)
- Offering (21:51)
FAQ
Within the management console administrators will be able to create groups and assign permissions to the groups.
We are currently supporting: MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL and Snowflake. But we are working on other databases. Check out more on our product page: https://appsfortableau.com/writebackextreme/
We have developed a permissions system which is very similar to Tableau Server. You can set permissions on your schema’s for every group. These permissions will be pushed to the extension automatically.
No, you only need licenses for your production environment and you can use the extension on your development and test environment without extra need for licenses.
If you want to start with Write Back Extreme, you can contact us to plan a meeting to talk about your use cases and have a live demo that meets your requirements.
We can grant you access to our online demo server and after a functional PoC we can also agree on an installation on your server if you like to use your own data, infrastructure and dashboards.
Yes of course. You can migrate and use all the value of Write Back Extreme. We can migrate your Annotations subscription to the Write Back Extreme | Add Data module at no extra costs.
Only users that are actually going to interact with Write Back Extreme need to be licensed license, this includes all Tableau Creators, Explorers and Viewers that are going to use the extension.
Yes that is possible. You can start with 1 module and if needed you can upgrade to 2 modules or 3. We also offer a discount for the second and third module.
We understand you might have some extra ideas and use cases that might be solved with this extension with a slight addition of functionality. You can email support@appsfortableau.com or use our information form.
Yes you can! And they can all integrate in one container on your dashboard.
