Prerequisites
To populate the Metadata Insights page, you must first process workbooks using the Database output type. This exports the necessary metadata to your configured MySQL, MS SQL, or PostgreSQL database.
Read-Only Users — Ask an Admin or Power User to configure a metadata source and run an export.
Global Filters
At the top of the page, a filter bar allows you to scope the data shown across all tabs:
| Filter | Description |
|---|---|
| Site(s) | Optionally narrow data to one or more Tableau Server/Cloud sites |
| Project(s) | Optionally narrow data to specific projects within the selected site(s). You must select at least one site before projects become available. |
Click Submit to apply the selected filters and refresh the data in all tabs.
Tab 1: Data Connection Overview
Analyze data source usage and identify consolidation opportunities.
Summary KPI Cards
| Card | Description |
|---|---|
| Data Connections | Total number of data connections |
| Databases | Total number of unique source databases |
| Tables | Total number of unique source tables |
| Fields | Total number of unique source fields |
Each KPI card includes an Export button to download the underlying data to Excel.
Charts & Tables
| Component | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Top 5 Data Connections | Table | Lists the 5 most frequently used data connections, showing Connection Name, Type, and Usage Count (ranked by how many workbooks use each) |
| Most Used Tables | Bar chart | Visualizes which tables are shared most across workbooks. Hovering shows the table name, database, and connection name. |
Tab 2: Calculated Fields Insights
Assess the volume and distribution of custom calculated logic.
| Component | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Calculated Fields (KPI) | KPI card | Total count of calculated fields across all data sources |
| Calculated Fields by Data Source | Paginated table | Breaks down the number of calculated fields per data source. Supports server-side pagination. |
| Measures vs Dimensions | Donut chart | Shows the split of calculated fields classified as Measures versus Dimensions |
Tab 3: Dashboard Composition Stats
A quick inventory of your Tableau presentation layer.
| Card | Description |
|---|---|
| Workbooks | Total number of workbooks |
| Storyboards | Total number of storyboards |
| Dashboards | Total number of dashboards |
Each card includes an Export button.
Tab 4: Data Quality & Optimization Indicators
Highlights potential performance risks and cleanup targets using six visualizations:
| Component | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Unused Fields vs Total Fields | Donut chart | Shows the proportion of fields defined but never used — candidates for cleanup |
| Unused Calculated Fields vs Total | Donut chart | Highlights custom calculations that are unused — candidates for removal |
| Largest Workbooks by Component Count | Paginated table | Ranks workbooks by total component count (Dashboards + Worksheets + Storyboards) with per-workbook breakdown |
| Largest Workbooks by Data Source Count | Paginated table | Ranks workbooks by the number of distinct data sources — useful for identifying overly complex workbooks |
| Data Sources with Multiple Joins | Paginated table | Lists data sources that use multiple joins, flagging complex data models that may impact query performance |
| % of Workbooks Using Published Data Sources | Donut chart | Compares workbooks using governed (Published) data sources vs. Embedded data sources, tracking adoption of centrally managed data |
All paginated tables in this tab support pagination for large datasets.
Exporting Data
Every KPI card, chart, and table includes an Export button. Clicking it downloads the underlying data as an Excel file for offline analysis or reporting. Exports respect the currently applied site and project filters.
Next Steps
- Power these dashboards with metadata: Processing & Scheduling
- Run impact analysis: Lineage & Impact Analysis