Tableau

Sign In

logo

Tableau is a visual analytics platform empowering the SMU community to make the most of their data.

There are three integrated products in the SMU Tableau platform:

Tableau Desktop

The "primary" tableau application that allows users to import a data source into workbooks and design sophisticated visualizations and analytics on the data.

Tableau Prep Builder

A visual-interface tool to combine, shape, and clean data, as well as automate data prep flows, helping you get to analysis and insights faster.

Tableau Server

A centralized repository of workbooks and data sources that can be shared with the SMU community in a secure environment. Tableau Server also allows for limited creation and customization of workbooks using a web interface.

Getting Started

Logging In to Tableau Server

  1. Click on the Sign In button above or go to DI.smu.edu.
  2. Sign in using your SMU ID and password
Browser Support:
 Tableau does not support Microsoft Internet Explorer. We recommend using the most current versions of Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome when using Tableau. For mobile devices, Tableau Mobile iOS and Android Apps are available at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, respectively. For more information, please see Tableau Server Requirements.
Please Note:
 If you receive a "Unable to Sign In. User account not found." error message. Please contact the IT Help Desk at 214-768-HELP (4357).

Licensing

Student Licenses

Students are eligible for a free license for Tableau Desktop and Prep Builder. These are available through the library.

Faculty and Researcher Licenses

Faculty and researchers may be eligible for a free license for Tableau Desktop and Prep Builder. These free licenses are administered by Tableau.

Tableau Server Licenses

Tableau Server licenses are available to faculty, staff or student workers through their sponsoring department.

There are three types of Server Licenses:

Viewer

The Viewer can

  • see published views others have created and use most interaction features
  • customize existing content and save their customizations
  • subscribe to views and download as images or summary data
  • CANNOT connect to data, create, edit, or publish content, or set data alerts.

Explorer

An Explorer can do everything viewers can, plus

  • publish workbooks from the web using existing data sources
  • browse and interact with published views, and use all interaction features
  • edit and save existing workbooks (where permissions are granted)
  • CANNOT save new standalone data sources from data connections embedded in workbooks
  • CANNOT connect to external data and create new data sources

Creator

A Creator can do everything explorers can, plus

  • connect to Tableau or external data in the browser
  • build and publish flows and data sources
  • CAN connect to data from Tableau Prep or Tableau Desktop
  • CAN publish (upload/save) and download flows, workbooks and data sources from Tableau Prep or Tableau Desktop
  • CAN access Tableau Desktop and Tableau Prep Builder through apps.smu.edu.

Current Tableau Server License cost (per year):

Viewer $158
Explorer $365
Creator $680

Obtaining a Tableau Server License

  • Licenses are funded by university departments
  • Licenses are assigned by OIT based on instructions from the funding department
  • To inquire about license assignment, contact the IT Help Desk at help@smu.edu

What is Tableau? A Tableau Overview

Documentation and Training