Kaivo users can authenticate to Tableau in two different ways. This guide is split into two clear options to show you both options - Google account authentication and Service account authentication.

How to Connect Tableau to Your Kaivo BigQuery Warehouse

Connecting Tableau to Kaivo allows you to build powerful visualizations and reports from your own data you connected to Kaivo. You can establish this connection either through a Google Account or by using a secure Service Account.

Option A: Connect Using a Google Account

Use this method if you originally signed up for Kaivo using your Google Account.

Follow these steps to connect using OAuth:

Step 1: Select Google BigQuery in Tableau

1. Open Tableau Desktop.

2. Locate the Connect panel on the left side of the screen.

3. Look under the To a Server heading and select Google BigQuery.

Tip: If you do not see it listed by default, click More... to expand the full list of available server connectors.

Step 2: Authenticate via OAuth

1. In the window that pops up, change or verify the authentication setting to Sign in using OAuth.

2. A browser window will automatically open, directing you to a secure Google sign-in page.

3. Log into the Google Account associated with your Kaivo workspace and click Allow to grant Tableau the required data access permissions.

Step 3: Locate Your Datasets

1. Return to Tableau Desktop, which will now show a successful connection.

2. Use the Billing Project, Project, and Dataset dropdown menus to locate your Kaivo data.

3. Double-click the specific table you want to work with to load it into your report workspace.

Option B: Connect Using a Service Account

Use this method if you signed up for Kaivo using a regular email address instead of a Google Account.

Follow these steps to connect using a service account:

Step 1: Create a service account in Kaivo

1. Log into your Kaivo workspace and navigate to the Service accounts page.

2. Generate a new service account by choosing Tableau from the Data tool dropdown.

3. (Optional) Name your service account.

4. Download the JSON keyfile contents to your computer.

5. Once the download is complete, you can safely close that tab.

Step 2: Open the BigQuery Connector in Tableau

1. Launch Tableau Desktop.

2. In the left-hand Connect menu, navigate down to the To a Server section.

3. Click Google BigQuery. If it is hidden, click More... to find it.

Step 3: Upload the JSON Key File Contents

1. A configuration pop-up window titled Google BigQuery will appear.

2. Click the Authentication dropdown menu and select Sign in using Service Account.

3. Under the Service Account JSON File section, click the Browse button.

4. Locate and select the .json keyfile you downloaded from Kaivo in Step 1.

5. Click Sign In.

Your Kaivo data is now successfully connected and ready for you to build your Tableau reports!

Need Support? If you encounter any authentication or project access issues during setup, please contact our support team using the live chat widget located in the bottom-right corner of your Kaivo application.