Adding Data Refresh Time Stamp to a View in a Dashboard (2024)

Published: 25 Jan 2013
Last Modified Date: 16 Jun 2023

Question

Viewers of your dashboard often want to know the last time a dashboard data was refreshed. The ability to add a time stamp to a view in a dashboard to show when the extract was created or refreshed can be done, but the Data Update Time value depends on the type of connection:
  • Extract-based connections display thelast time the extract was refreshed.
  • Live file-based and live database connections display the last time the data source was refreshed in Tableau.
  • When using data blending, the timestamp reflects the update time of the primary data source.
Note: The worksheet being used to display the data refresh time will display "Unknown Update Time" unless there is at least one dimension or measure in the view.

Environment

  • Tableau Desktop

Answer

Open the attached workbook to follow along with the steps outlined below or to view the solution.

Option 1: Add the time stamp to the top of the view in the title

  1. Open the workbook that containsthe dashboardin Tableau Desktop, and then navigate to the sheet for which you want to display the time of the last data refresh.
  2. Select Worksheet> Show Title.
  3. Double-click the title to open the Edit Title box.
  4. In the Edit Title dialog box, select Insert > Data Update Time, and then clickOK.
  5. Add any field to the filter shelf and leave all selections blank and click OK.
  6. Save the modifications.
  7. Add sheet to dashboard.
Note: The worksheet being used to display the data refresh time will display "Unknown Update Time" unless there is at least one dimension or measure in the view.

Option 2: Add the time stamp to the bottom of the view

  1. Open the workbook that containsthe dashboardin Tableau Desktop, and then navigate to the sheet for which you want to display the time of the last data refresh.
  2. SelectWorksheet>Show Caption.
  3. Double-click thecaption.
  4. In the Edit Caption dialog box, selectInsert>Data Update Time, and then clickOK.
  5. Add any field to the filter shelf and leave all selections blank and clickOK.
  6. Save the modifications.
  7. Add sheet to dashboard.
  8. Right click the sheet and selectCaptionto show the update time.
These sheets can be sized in the dashboard to take up as much or as little space as necessary. They can also be set up as floating objects so that they do not resize the other sheets in the view. See the attached workbook for the examples.

To view these steps in action, see the video below:


Note: The video has no sound.

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Adding Data Refresh Time Stamp to a View in a Dashboard (2024)

FAQs

Adding Data Refresh Time Stamp to a View in a Dashboard? ›

Open the workbook that contains the dashboard in Tableau Desktop, and then navigate to the sheet for which you want to display the time of the last data refresh. Select Worksheet > Show Caption. Double-click the caption. In the Edit Caption dialogue box, select Insert > Data Update Time, and then click OK.

How do you refresh a view in Tableau? ›

To manually update data while you interact with a view, such as performing several actions at once without updating between each one, click the refresh icon on the toolbar. When you refresh data, Tableau Server and Tableau Cloud clear any cache and retrieve the latest information from the data source.

How do I refresh a Tableau dashboard with new data? ›

Tableau Desktop and Web Authoring Help

If you are connected to a data source that has been modified, you can immediately update Tableau Desktop with the changes by selecting a data source on the Data menu and then selecting Refresh.

How do I auto refresh data in Tableau? ›

Select the check box for the workbook or data source you want to refresh, and then select Actions > Refresh Extracts. In the Refresh Extracts dialog, select Schedule a Refresh, and complete the following steps: Select the schedule you want. If available, specify whether you want a full or incremental refresh.

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