Tableau File Types
Tableau saves work in several file formats. Each format stores a different piece of your project. Knowing the difference helps you share files correctly and avoid the dreaded "data source not found" message.
The Two Ingredients of Every Project
A Tableau project holds two things: the design and the data. The design includes charts, colors, filters, and layout. The data is the table of facts behind the charts. Some file types carry only the design, and some carry both.
Layman's Analogy
Recipe Card = Design (steps and layout) Ingredients = Data (rows and columns) Recipe card alone -> Friend cannot cook the dish Card + ingredients -> Friend cooks the dish at once
Workbook Files
TWB: Tableau Workbook
A TWB file stores sheets, dashboards, and story points. It holds no data. The file only remembers where the data lives, such as a path to an Excel file. Move the Excel file and the workbook loses its connection.
TWBX: Tableau Packaged Workbook
A TWBX file bundles the workbook with local data files, images, and extracts inside one compressed package. Choose this format when you email a project or hand it to a colleague.
Data Source Files
TDS: Tableau Data Source
A TDS file stores connection details and your data edits, such as renamed fields, calculated fields, and groups. The file contains no actual data. Teams use TDS files to reuse the same field definitions across many workbooks.
TDSX: Packaged Data Source
A TDSX file includes the data source definition plus the local data. A colleague can open it without hunting for the original files.
Extract Files
Hyper
A Hyper file is a compressed snapshot of your data, optimized for fast queries. Tableau creates it when you choose the Extract option. Older versions used the TDE format, and current versions use Hyper.
Other Useful Files
- TBM stores a bookmark, a single worksheet you can import into another workbook.
- TFL and TFLX store Tableau Prep flows, the cleaning steps for your data.
- TDSX and TWBX share the "X" suffix, which signals a packaged file with data inside.
Format Comparison Chart
Extension | Holds Design | Holds Data | Best Use ------------------------------------------------------- .twb | Yes | No | Small, linked files .twbx | Yes | Yes | Sharing complete work .tds | No | No | Reusing field setup .tdsx | No | Yes | Sharing a data source .hyper | No | Yes | Fast extract storage .tbm | One sheet | No | Copying a sheet
How to Save in Each Format
- Open the File menu and choose Save As.
- Pick Tableau Workbook or Tableau Packaged Workbook from the type list.
- Name the file and confirm the save location.
To save a data source, right-click it in the Data pane and choose Add to Saved Data Sources. Pick the TDS or TDSX type in the dialog.
Decision Flow Diagram
Do you share the file with someone?
|
+-- No --> Save as .twb
|
+-- Yes --> Does the data sit on a shared server?
|
+-- Yes --> Save as .twb
+-- No --> Save as .twbx
Common Mistakes
Sending a TWB Without Data
Your colleague opens the file and sees red exclamation marks beside every field. Resend the file as TWBX to fix this.
Renaming Data Files After Connecting
Tableau tracks files by path. A renamed file breaks the link until you use Edit Data Source and point to the new name.
Oversized Packaged Workbooks
A TWBX holding a huge extract grows large. Filter the extract to the columns and rows you need before packaging.
Summary
TWB stores design only, and TWBX stores design plus data. TDS and TDSX capture data source setups. Hyper holds fast extract snapshots. Choose the packaged format whenever you share work outside your own computer.