# Tableau MCP > Tableau MCP lets your AI client query and analyze complex business intelligence directly through conversation. Access workbook metadata, audit data source freshness, list users, and get summarized insights from dashboards without ever leaving your chat window. ## Overview - **Category:** industry-titans - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** data-visualization, workbooks, dashboard-insights, data-sources, business-intelligence, metadata-query ## Description Stop clicking through menus just to find a dashboard metric or check if the underlying data is current. This MCP connects your AI client straight into Tableau Cloud and Server, letting you explore business intelligence using natural language prompts. You can ask for summaries of KPIs, list all existing workbooks in a project, or even query specific views on a dashboard. It’s like having an admin who knows every corner of the BI system but talks to you instead of sending tickets. Need to check if data sources are stale? Ask it. Want to know which users have access to what? Just ask. Vinkius hosts this MCP, meaning you connect once and gain immediate access to all these powerful analytics tools alongside your other professional services. ## Tools ### list_workbooks Retrieves a list of all available Tableau workbooks on the platform. ### get_workbook Fetches detailed metadata for a specific workbook by name or ID. ### list_views Lists all available dashboards and views in the site, useful for finding specific reports. ### list_datasources Provides a list of published data sources, including crucial metadata like refresh time and connection status. ### list_projects Retrieves the names and structure of all projects within the connected Tableau site. ### list_users Lists all registered users in the Tableau environment for auditing purposes. ### list_jobs Checks and lists background data processing jobs, showing their current status (running, failed, complete). ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Show me all workbooks in the Sales project. ``` **Response:** ``` Found 12 workbooks in 'Sales': 1. 'Q1 Pipeline Dashboard' (updated 2h ago, 3 views). 2. 'Revenue by Region' (updated yesterday, 5 views). 3. 'Win Rate Analysis' (updated 3d ago, 2 views). ``` **Prompt:** ``` What data sources haven't been refreshed in over 24 hours? ``` **Response:** ``` 3 stale data sources: 1. 'Salesforce_Opps' — last refresh: 36h ago (FAILED). 2. 'GA4_Metrics' — 28h ago (success). 3. 'HR_Headcount' — 48h ago (FAILED). Recommend checking extract schedules. ``` **Prompt:** ``` How many active users accessed Tableau this week? ``` **Response:** ``` Active users this week: 142 unique logins. Viewers: 98 (69%). Explorers: 31 (22%). Creators: 13 (9%). Peak activity: Tuesday 10AM (89 concurrent). Most viewed: 'Executive KPI Dashboard' (245 views). ``` ## Capabilities ### List available workbooks Your agent retrieves a searchable index of all Tableau workbooks within the connected site. ### Query specific dashboard views You can ask for data or rendered images from particular dashboards, going deeper than just looking at the front end. ### Check data source health and age This tool lists published data sources, showing crucial details like when they last refreshed and if they're connected properly. ### Map site structure and projects List all active projects and sites within the Tableau environment to understand the organizational hierarchy. ### Audit user accounts and roles Query details about site users, including their group membership and assigned permissions. ### Monitor background data jobs Review the status of scheduled extract refresh jobs and other background tasks to ensure data integrity. ## Use Cases ### Identifying stale metrics before a meeting A Data Analyst needs to confirm if the 'Q3 Sales Dashboard' is using current data. Instead of opening Tableau, going to the data source tab, and checking multiple dates manually, they ask their agent, which uses `list_datasources` and job monitoring tools to report stale sources in seconds. ### Onboarding a new team member A BI Admin needs to verify who can see the executive reports. They use the MCP to list site users, quickly cross-referencing roles and permissions without needing manual helpdesk support or walking through the UI. ### Troubleshooting dashboard failures A Data Engineer discovers a key KPI is showing incorrect data. Instead of guessing, they ask their agent to list jobs. The MCP reveals that the scheduled extract refresh job failed 3 hours ago and provides details on why. ### Mapping out project scope A Project Manager needs a full inventory of available reporting assets. They prompt the agent, which executes `list_workbooks` and `list_projects`, providing an immediate, structured list of every report asset in the entire organization. ## Benefits - Instantly check data freshness. Instead of navigating to every single data source connection, you simply ask the agent which sources haven't refreshed recently, saving hours of manual auditing work. - Audit user permissions quickly. Need to know who has access to a specific dashboard? Use the tool to list site users and their roles without ever logging into the admin console. - Understand your BI scope immediately. You can use tools like `list_workbooks` or `list_views` to get an index of everything available, letting you understand the project structure before deep diving into data. - Keep track of scheduled processes. If a critical dashboard relies on nightly data loads, the MCP lets you list jobs and see if background tasks succeeded or failed overnight. - Get context-aware summaries. You don't just get raw data; your agent reads metadata to give you actionable summaries about what reports exist and where they live. ## How It Works The bottom line is your agent handles all the complex API calls needed to pull deep BI data into a simple chat response. 1. Connect your AI client through Vinkius, granting it read-only access to your Tableau Cloud or Server instance. 2. Give your agent a natural language prompt—for example, 'What data sources failed to refresh in the last 24 hours?' 3. The MCP executes the necessary calls and returns structured metadata, such as job status, user lists, or dashboard summaries. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How do I use the Tableau MCP to check if my dashboards are up-to-date?** You need to query the system for job status. Use `list_datasources` to see when a source last refreshed, and then use `list_jobs` to monitor the actual background task success or failure. **Can I list all my projects using the Tableau MCP?** Yes, you can. Use the `list_projects` tool to retrieve a structured overview of every project available in your site's hierarchy. **What if I want to know who has access to a specific workbook? Is it possible with Tableau MCP?** You can audit user roles using the `list_users` tool. This gives you membership and role details, helping you understand site access permissions. **Does the Tableau MCP let me see every dashboard in one place?** The `list_views` tool provides an index of all views (dashboards). You can use this to find a starting point for your data exploration via chat prompts. **Is the Tableau MCP suitable for technical users or just executives?** It serves both. Engineers use it to check `list_jobs` and connections, while executives can simply ask their agent for a summary of KPIs from available workbooks.