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Flow Scheduler

The Flow Scheduler schedules, runs and tracks Tableau Prep flows on Tableau Server, with a web interface served by the MetaMiner Server (MMS).

Use it to put Prep flows on schedules, run flows one after another, follow every run, and e-mail owners and subscribers about the results. The pages below are grouped in the order a first-time reader needs them.

Reading path

  1. Understand what the Flow Scheduler does and how its parts fit together.
  2. Set up: switch it on, choose environments, configure sign-in, and add high availability if you need it.
  3. Use it day to day: the web interface, tasks, schedules, chains, run history and e-mail.
  4. Operate it: monitor runs, back it up, and handle failover and upgrades.
  5. Look up settings, fixes and terms when you need them.

Understand

  • What the Flow Scheduler Does

    Tasks, schedules, chains, runs, notifications and subscriptions on one page.

  • How It Works

    The services, ports and network paths, how a run reaches Tableau, and where the data lives.

  • High Availability

    Two or more nodes, one leader that runs flows, and standbys that take over.

Set up

  • Enable the Flow Scheduler

    Switch it on in the MetaMiner Administrator (MMA), restart MetaMiner and open the web interface.

  • Configuration

    Change settings in the FSS Configuration dialog and know which file wins.

  • Allowed Environments

    Choose the Tableau environments the Flow Scheduler may run flows in.

  • Sign-In Options

    Tableau password, Personal Access Token and SAML single sign-on, with the Tableau Server prerequisites.

  • Set Up High Availability

    Add a second node that shares the database and takes over when the leader fails.

  • Load Balancer

    Health checks, session affinity and SAML when users reach the nodes through a load balancer.

Use

  • Web Interface Tour

    The sign-in page and the Flows, Scheduled Tasks and Admin areas.

  • Tasks

    Put a flow on a schedule, set its priority and output steps, or run it now.

  • Schedules

    Create schedules, import them from Tableau, and understand server time.

  • Chains

    Run several flows in order as linked tasks.

  • Flow Parameters

    Save parameter values per task and per chain step, or enter one-off values.

  • Import Tasks from Tableau

    Copy existing Tableau flow tasks, linked tasks and subscribers into the Flow Scheduler.

  • Run History

    What each run status means, and how to cancel a run.

  • Notifications

    E-mail task owners and extra recipients about run results.

  • Subscriptions and Output

    E-mail Tableau users and groups a link to the flow output or the output data.

Operate

  • Monitor

    Follow runs across environments and act on many runs at once.

  • Backup and Restore

    Back up the Flow Scheduler database and configuration, and restore them.

  • Failover and Upgrades

    Planned handovers, maintenance and upgrading a high-availability cluster.

Look up