Tableau Overview

RapidDox supports all major Tableau Desktop and Prep file types. Open a file in the app to extract metadata and generate documentation — no Tableau Desktop installation required.

.twb.twbx.tds.tdsx.tfl.tflx

Supported File Types

ExtensionTypeDescription
.twbTableau WorkbookXML workbook referencing live or extract data sources
.twbxPackaged WorkbookWorkbook bundled with its local data files
.tdsData SourceSaved connection with field metadata and aliases
.tdsxPackaged Data SourceData source bundled with local data
.tflTableau Prep FlowPrep flow defining inputs, transformations, and outputs
.tflxPackaged Prep FlowPrep flow bundled with local input data

How RapidDox Processes Tableau Files

Tableau workbook and data source files are XML documents. RapidDox parses the full XML directly — no Tableau Server connection, no Tableau Cloud access, and no Tableau Desktop installation required. You simply open the file in the RapidDox desktop app.

Packaged files (.twbx, .tdsx, .tflx) are ZIP archives. RapidDox unpacks them, reads the inner XML, and extracts the same metadata as their unpackaged counterparts.

Processing speed
Most workbooks are processed in under 5 seconds. Large packaged workbooks with embedded extracts may take longer depending on the complexity of the embedded data schema.

Workbooks & Data Sources vs Prep Flows

Workbooks and data sources (.twb, .twbx, .tds, .tdsx) and Prep flows (.tfl, .tflx) are different file formats with different contents. RapidDox documents each one separately, with sections suited to what the file actually holds — calculated fields, dashboards, and sheet inventories on the workbook side; input steps, transformations, and output destinations on the Prep side.

Next Steps