Does the Publish to Tableau Server Tool require installation on the Gallery host?

[Paul_Holden]

Hi,

We are reviewing a number of possible solutions for building workflows which interact with Tableau.

I can see that there is a Publish to Tableau Server Tool but I'm not clear how this works if the workflow is scheduled on a Gallery. Do we need to install the tool on the Gallery host?

https://gallery.alteryx.com/#!app/Publish-to-Tableau-Server-Tool/599c93c8f499c7141c13a619

[JagdeeshN]

Hi @Paul_Holden 

Yes. You would need to install the macro on the Gallery Host similar to how you must have installed for the local Designer. The installation path should remain the same in both locations.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Jagdeesh Narayanan

[Paul_Holden]

@JagdeeshN 

"The installation path should remain the same in both locations."

That is not great. We don't have the same drive locations on the server as on the desktop. Desktop users generally have to install software to their local C: drive. Non-OS software on servers cannot be installed to C: as a matter of policy. Alteryx and all related software tools have to be installed to E:

Is it possible to update the workflow to explicitly define the tool location before publishing to the Gallery?

[JoeL · Accepted solution]

@Paul_Holden 

Installed Tools:

You will want to run the .yxi installer on any machine with a worker node. You will need to do so with administrative privileges.

You can do this by first right-clicking on Alteryx Designer on the worker machine and running with administrative privileges, then opening the .yxi file from Designer.

This does not necessarily mean the Gallery host machine is involved, but it will if it has a worker on that machine.

When the .yxi file for installing the Tableau Server Tool is ran on any worker machine, it places it in the correct directory for recognizing the tool in user's workflows.

Installed tools such as these go to the default installed tools directory which is dynamic: %ProgramData%\Alteryx\Tools
so you do not need to make any special considerations such as changing a drive letter or paths.

Different scenario (Custom Macros):

If you were to use custom macros, and not installed tools, those typically can be placed anywhere on the worker machine, as long as you open the Designer on the worker machine (again with administrative privileges) -> Edit User Settings... -> Macro Tab -> add the macro's location as a Macro search directory.

[Paul_Holden]

Thanks all, apologies for not having RTFM