Tableau

Tableau MCP provides a lightweight runtime and primitives to help you build AI-powered applications that integrate with Tableau. It streamlines connecting an MCP client to a Tableau MCP server, enabling you to run prompts, manage resources, and orchestrate interactions with Tableau data sources.

How to use

You will run the MCP server as a local or remote process and connect your MCP client to it. Use it to execute prompts against Tableau data sources, explore content, and retrieve views or workbook information. The built-in MCP server exposes a straightforward configuration that includes environment variables for connecting to your Tableau deployment and authenticating with a personal access token.

How to install

Prerequisites you need to meet before starting:

• Node.js 22.7.5 or newer

• An MCP client such as Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, MCP Inspector, or another MCP-compatible client

Install and run the MCP server using the following configuration. This uses npm and npx to run the official Tableau MCP server package with the required environment bindings.

Configuration snippet

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tableau": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@tableau/mcp-server@latest"],
      "env": {
        "SERVER": "https://my-tableau-server.com",
        "SITE_NAME": "my_site",
        "PAT_NAME": "my_pat",
        "PAT_VALUE": "pat_value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Examples to try with your MCP client

Querying data: Ask which states had the most sales in a given year for a Tableau data source.

Content exploration: Request the most viewed workbook in the last year.

Getting a specific view: Show an image of a named view within a project.

Security and credentials

Keep your Tableau server URL, site name, and personal access token values secure. Use a dedicated PAT with the minimum required permissions and rotate credentials regularly.

Notes

Heroku deployment is available via a template if you prefer a managed hosting option.

Additional prompts you can use

For the Superstore Datasource, what are the top 5 states with the most sales in 2025?

Response will present the top states and their sales figures based on the connected Tableau datasource.

Getting a view

Show me an image of the "Economy" view in the "Finances" project.

Terminology and role of the MCP server

This server serves as the bridge between your MCP client and Tableau. It configures how prompts are executed, how data sources are accessed, and how results are returned to your client.