---
schema_version: "1"
id: c7108395025edfd40c9e559e4be603b80e54d4c646875542b0cfd94e11673bbe
title: Connectors Built with the Web Data Connector 3.0 SDK
collection: tableau
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/tableau/current/en-us/public/desktop/examples_wdc_connector_sdk.md
canonical_url: https://help.tableau.com/current/public/desktop/en-us/examples_wdc_connector_sdk.htm
source_site: help.tableau.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: b22769de12223b0d5e089e29b95f297c83f1271bead3ec920ea0b5ee9aa992fb
description: Use and build connectors with the Web Data Connector 3.0 SDK for web data and APIs.
---
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# Connectors Built with the Web Data Connector 3.0 SDK

The Web Data Connector 3.0 is the latest version of the web data connector, Tableau’s solution for connecting to data in web applications and services that are exposed through APIs rather than ODBC/JDBC drivers.

The Web Data Connector 3.0 SDK provides the tools that you need to build your own custom connector to web data. Additionally, partner-built connectors can be used from the Tableau Exchange.

**Note:** The Web Data Connector 3.0 was part of the 2022.3 Tableau release.

## About Web Data Connector 3.0

In a departure from previous iterations of web data connector, and analogous to the Tableau Connector SDK, Web Data Connector 3.0 allows you to build a custom connector to web data and package the connector as a .taco file. WDC 3.0 connectors can be used like any driver-based connector built using the Tableau Connector SDK and don’t require you to host the connector on your own web server.

Like other .taco connectors, WDC 3.0 connectors are packaged and signed .jar files containing a set of XML and Javascript/TypeScript files. These files define the look and behavior of the connector including:

- A web-based connector UI
- API calls to retrieve data from your application or service endpoint
- Instructions to map the retrieved data into Tableau extracts

### WDC 3.0 connector limitations

- When using a WDC 3.0 data source in a connection in Tableau, adding multiple connections to other data sources is _not_ supported.
- Web Data Connector 3.0 remains extract-only, but otherwise allows you to visualize your data and publish your analysis like any other data source.

## Build your own connector

To get started building your own custom connector, refer to the official [Web Data Connector 3.0 documentation](https://help.tableau.com/current/api/webdataconnector/en-us/index.html).

## Use a connector built with the Web Data Connector 3.0 SDK

After you build a connector with the Web Data Connector 3.0 SDK, follow these steps to use it with Tableau:

1. Download the connector file, \[connector name\].taco.
2. Place the .taco file in the following directory (default location):
    - For 2021.2 and newer: <table class="simple-table" style="width: 100%;"><colgroup><col style="width: 264px;"><col style="width: 33%;"><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th>For <span class="mc-variable Variables.TabsProductDesktop variable">Tableau Desktop</span></th><th>For Tableau Prep Builder</th><th>For Tableau&nbsp;Server</th></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Windows - C:\Users\[Windows User]\Documents\My Tableau Repository\Connectors</li><li>macOS - /Users/[user]/Documents/My Tableau Repository/Connectors</li></ul></td><td><ul><li>Windows: C:\Users\[Windows User]\Documents\My Tableau Prep Repository\Connectors</li><li>MacOS: /Users//Documents/My Tableau Prep Repository/Connectors</li></ul></td><td><ul><li><p>Windows: C:\Program Files\Tableau\Connectors</p></li><li><p>Linux: /opt/tableau/connectors</p></li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table>
    - For 2021.1 and older: <table class="simple-table" style="width: 100%;"><colgroup><col style="width: 33%;"><col style="width: 33%;"><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th>For <span class="mc-variable Variables.TabsProductDesktop variable">Tableau Desktop</span></th><th>For Tableau Prep Builder</th><th>For Tableau&nbsp;Server, Tableau Prep Conductor, Tableau Prep Flow Authoring</th></tr><tr><td><ul><li>Windows - C:\Users\[Windows User]\Documents\My Tableau Repository\Connectors</li><li>macOS - /Users/[user]/Documents/My Tableau Repository/Connectors</li></ul></td><td><ul><li>Windows: C:\Users\[Windows User]\Documents\My Tableau Prep Repository\Connectors</li><li>MacOS: /Users//Documents/My Tableau Prep Repository/Connectors </li></ul></td><td><ul><li>Tableau Server:&nbsp;[Tableau_Server_Installation_Directory]/data/tabsvc/vizqlserver/Connectors</li></ul><p>To enable your connector for Prep, you also need to add your taco to the following locations:</p><ul><li>Tableau Prep Conductor: [Tableau_Server_Installation_Directory]/data/tabsvc/flowprocessor/Connectors</li><li>Tableau Prep Flow Authoring: [Tableau_Server_Installation_Directory]/data/tabsvc/flowqueryservice/Connectors</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table>

**Note:** After you've installed the connector, it will appear in the list of connectors in Tableau.

If you find an issue with the WDC library, the simulator, or any of the developer samples, [submit an issue on Github](https://github.com/tableau/wdc3/issues).

## Connect Tableau to the data

1. Start Tableau, and under Connect, select the name of the connector you just installed. For a complete list of data connectors, select More under To a Server.
2. Enter the information that you’re prompted for, and then select Sign In.
3. Wait while the connector retrieves your data into Tableau.
4. Select the sheet tab to start your analysis.

## Load order for connectors

If a connector has the same class as a connector that has already been registered, the new connector will be rejected. Connectors loaded first have precedence when two connectors share class names.

Tableau loads connectors by directory in the following order:

1. Built-in Tableau connectors
2. Connectors located in `C:\Program Files\Tableau\Connectors` (Windows) or`/opt/tableau/connectors` (Linux)
3. Connectors located in `My Tableau Repository/Connectors`
4. (Optional) Connectors in the dev path specified by `-DConnectPluginsPath`

## Known issues (Tableau Server only)

When trying to connect to a WDC 3.0-based connector on Tableau Server, users might see a "Tableau Server (Version <version number>) encountered an error while working with this worksheet" error message.

This error occurs because the Web Data Connector 3.0-based connector that the workbook was created with is not compatible with a multi-node Tableau Server. This was resolved in a maintenance release. For more information, see the [When web authoring using WDC 3.0-based Connectors, receiving HTTP 503 along with error "encountered an error"](https://issues.salesforce.com/issue/a028c00000yDv5zAAC/unable-to-use-the-connector-created-by-customers-as-the-taco-file-with-wdc-30-sdk-and-receiving-http-status-code-503) knowledge article.

## See also

- [Set Up Data Sources](https://help.tableau.com/current/public/desktop/en-us/datasource_prepare.htm) – Add more data to this data source or prepare your data before you analyze it.
- [Build Charts and Analyze Data](https://help.tableau.com/current/public/desktop/en-us/design_and_analyze.htm) – Begin your data analysis.

- [Tableau Connector SDK](https://github.com/tableau/connector-plugin-sdk) - Find information and tools to build and test your own customized connector.
- [Use Partner-Built Connectors from the Tableau Exchange](https://help.tableau.com/current/public/desktop/en-us/gallery_connectors.htm) - Find and install a connector from the Tableau Exchange.