3 Reports
Flow Run Fails with an Error Message on Tableau Server Linux Connecting to Excel Files in a Windows Share Directory
Created
Found in Release
2023.3.12, 2024.2.7
Last Updated
Reference ID
W-17817790
Summary
Flow Run Fails with "An error occurred while communicating with Microsoft Excel" on Tableau Server Linux When Connecting to Excel Files in a Windows Shared Directory.
Error Details
Steps to Reproduce
- Setup a Linux network share drive.
- On Tableau Server, ensure "maestro.input.allowed_paths" & "native_api.unc_mountpoints" is configured for both the Windows path and the Linux path to the Excel file.
- Launch Prep Builder -> Connect to Microsoft Excel
- Navigate to the share drive and connect to the Excel file.
- Create simple flow with a clean step and a Output to a Published data source.
- Publish the Flow to Tableau Server. Make sure to select Direct connection for Data source.
- Check the Flow on TS and we can see the Windows path showing as the data source location (For example: //IP Address/windows path/filename.xlsx).
- Run the Flow.
- Flow will fail with below error:
Can't connect to datasource . An error occurred while communicating with Microsoft Excel
Unable to connect to the file "//IP Address/windows path/filename.xlsx". Check that the file exists and that you have sufficient access privileges for it.
Workaround
Option 1
- On Tableau Server, use webedit to Edit Flow. No modifications are required; simply republish the Flow
- The data source location will now be changed from a Windows path to its corresponding Linux path. (For example: the path will now show "mnt/share_drive/filename.xlsx")
- Run the Flow and the Flow will succeed.
Option 2
- Convert the excel file to a CSV file and substitute it for the Excel file in Prep Bulder, then republish the flow. This issue does not reproduce with CSV files.
Reference IDW-17817790
3 Reports