Table of Contents
Introduction
- What is Box?
- What is Tableau?
- Why integrate Box and Tableau?
Using Tableau with Box
- Generating standard reports
- Using the native Box integration
- Using the API integration
Setting up the Integration
- Creating a new application in the Box developer console
- Using a developer token for authentication
- Using the web data connector in Tableau
Customizing the Integration
- Incorporating shared links
- Adding more fields from the API
- Building out recursion for larger data sets
Analysis in Tableau
- Native Tableau functionality
- Incorporating links to content and user profiles
Pros and Cons of the Integration
- Pros
- Cons
Conclusion
- Future developments
- Final thoughts
**Using Tableau with Box**
Box and Tableau are two powerful tools that can be used together to gain deeper insights into your data. While Box provides a secure and centralized location for storing and sharing files, Tableau offers advanced data visualization and analysis capabilities. By integrating these two platforms, you can unlock even more value from your data.
**Generating Standard Reports**
One way to use Tableau with Box is by generating standard reports. Box offers a variety of out-of-the-box reports that can be exported as CSV or Excel files. These reports provide summary-level information about your Box environment, such as user statistics and file activity. Tableau has a native integration that allows you to connect to these reports and analyze the data within Tableau.
**Using the Native Box Integration**
Another way to use Tableau with Box is by using the native Box integration. This integration allows you to connect to your Box account directly from Tableau and access your files and folders. You can then use Tableau's data visualization and analysis tools to gain insights into your data. This integration is easy to set up and requires no coding or development experience.
**Using the API Integration**
For more granular-level information, you can use the API integration that was built by the author. This integration allows you to access each individual instance of an event that happened in your Box environment. For example, you can see exactly when specific pieces of content were deleted or when a collaborator left the environment. This integration requires some development experience, but it offers more flexibility and customization options than the native Box integration.
**Setting up the Integration**
To use the API integration, you will need to create a new application in the Box developer console and use a developer token for authentication. Once you have created the application and obtained the developer token, you can use the web data connector in Tableau to connect to the API. The author provides a link to the web data connector on GitHub, which can be customized to fit your specific needs.
**Customizing the Integration**
The API integration can be customized in a variety of ways. For example, you can incorporate shared links into your dashboard or add more fields from the API. You can also build out recursion for larger data sets, which allows you to iterate through 500 event chunks and append them all together. The author provides detailed instructions on how to customize the integration in the JavaScript code on GitHub.
**Analysis in Tableau**
Once you have connected to the API, you can start analyzing your data in Tableau. Tableau offers a wide range of data visualization and analysis tools, including charts, graphs, and dashboards. You can also incorporate links to content and user profiles within your dashboard, which allows you to quickly access additional information about your data.
**Pros and Cons of the Integration**
There are several pros and cons to using Tableau with Box. Some of the pros include:
- Deeper insights into your data
- More flexibility and customization options
- Ability to incorporate shared links and other advanced features
Some of the cons include:
- Requires some development experience
- Can be more time-consuming to set up and customize
- May require additional licensing fees for Tableau
**Conclusion**
Overall, integrating Box and Tableau can provide significant benefits for your organization. Whether you choose to use the native Box integration or the API integration, you can gain deeper insights into your data and make more informed decisions. The author is working to make the API integration more robust and customizable, so stay tuned for future developments.
**FAQ**
**Q: What is Box?**
A: Box is a cloud-based content management and collaboration platform that allows users to securely store, share, and access files from anywhere.
**Q: What is Tableau?**
A: Tableau is a data visualization and analysis tool that allows users to create interactive dashboards and reports from a variety of data sources.
**Q: Why integrate Box and Tableau?**
A: Integrating Box and Tableau allows you to gain deeper insights into your data and make more informed decisions. By combining the secure storage and collaboration capabilities of Box with the advanced data visualization and analysis tools of Tableau, you can unlock even more value from your data.
**Q: What are the pros of using Tableau with Box?**
A: Some of the pros of using Tableau with Box include deeper insights into your data, more flexibility and customization options, and the ability to incorporate shared links and other advanced features.
**Q: What are the cons of using Tableau with Box?**
A: Some of the cons of using Tableau with Box include the need for some development experience, the potential for additional licensing fees for Tableau, and the time required to set up and customize the integration.
**Q: How do I set up the API integration between Box and Tableau?**
A: To set up the API integration, you will need to create a new application in the Box developer console and use a developer token for authentication. Once you have created the application and obtained the developer token, you can use the web data connector in Tableau to connect to the API. The author provides detailed instructions on how to set up and customize the integration on GitHub.
