Work around for overwriting a TDE while WB is open

Question

We have created a workflow that outputs a TDE file for our clients to use in their Tableau workbooks. If the client leaves the workbook open, the TDE is not overwritten. Does anyone have a work around for this issue. At this point the client is only using Tableau Desktop, I've been told that one possible workaround is to output to a DB and have Tableau connect to it. I'm trying to minimize the tasks that the customer has to do in order to refresh their workbooks.

Thanks,

Kent

DanM · Accepted Answer

@KentFidler since Tableau is referencing the TDE when the user is in the Workbook; Tableau locks the TDE. Your option of sending to a database is one solution. The other could be to use a Date/Time in the file name and have the user browse to that new file when they want to update the workbook. You could even setup an email alert if you have access to an SMTP to alert the user that a new file has been produced.