Skip to main content

Tableau Desktop Access

How to obtain access to Tableau Desktop.

Tableau Desktop provides the ability to create data sources. If you are not, or will not be creating a new data source, please request Tableau Web Authoring access by emailing data-visualization@osu.edu.  

  • If you are a university student, please see Tableau’s website to request a free Tableau license.  
  • If you are a faculty member, you may request Tableau Desktop for yourself or students via Tableau’s website.  
  • If you are a Medical Center employee, please contact Jeff Line at jeffrey.line@osumc.edu. 

Licenses for students, faculty members, and Medical Center employees operate outside of the university’s Tableau environment. Please do not contact the Data Visualization team about these licenses.

 

Important Note:

Users should not purchase licenses from SHI or CDW. Licenses should be purchased via the process outlined below.

 

New Tableau Desktop License Orders

  1. Please check with the Project Leader for your area before requesting a license. Licenses may be available. If you do not have a Project Leader listed, skip to the next step.
  2. From FY25 – FY27, the cost per Desktop License will be $464. This amount will not be prorated.
  3. To order a new Creator License, please create a purchase order in Workday. Tableau Desktop licenses are in Buckeye Buy. Instructions on how to create a purchase order are available.
    1. In the internal memo line, please add the name.# of the person the license is for.
    2. If there are questions around how to create a purchase order in Workday, please reach out to your fiscal office.
  4. Once a purchase order has been approved by your college or department, please complete the Software License Request form in ServiceNow.
  5. Under License Information:
    1. Software Name: Tableau Creator License
    2. Licensee(s): Enter the name.#(s) of the individuals the purchase order is for. 
 

Helpful Note:

Users must be up to date on IDP training. If users are not up to date, you will not be able to order a license.

  1. Under Usage Type:
    1. Select Usage Type: Professional/Academic Use
    2. Enter the approved purchase order number.
  2. Review and agree to the terms of service.
  3. Select ‘Order Now’ to order the Tableau Desktop license.
  4. The OTDI Data Visualization team will receive notification and make your license as ‘Creator’.
  5. The new Creator will be emailed instructions on how to download and activate the license. 

Please note:

  • Both steps of the process (Workday and ServiceNow) must be completed for a license to be assigned.
  • All licenses have the common renewal date of July 31st. Once a license is ordered, the license holder will be opted in to the license renewal process outlined under Yearly Renewals.
  • Tableau Creators are required to sign the Tableau Digital Accessibility Acknowledgement via DocuSign and accept the terms of Ohio State's digital accessibility policy.
  • Tableau Creators are required to review the Roles & Responsibilities on an annual basis.
  • Questions around how to create a purchase order in Workday must be directed to your fiscal office. The Data Visualization team is unable to assist with Workday.
  • Medical Center employees are unable to order Tableau Desktop licenses via ServiceNow. If you are a Medical Center employee and need access to Tableau Desktop, please contact Jeffrey.line@osumc.edu. 

Should you need more immediate access to Tableau, you can download a free version from tableau.com. 

Please note, Tableau Desktop Free Edition does not allow users to share visualizations, dashboards, or reports. Nor does it allow users to connect to data sources on Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud.

Yearly Tableau Desktop License Renewals

Current Tableau Desktop license holders will receive an email notification from ServiceNow starting July 1st. They will be instructed to follow the process to renew their license. 

Email reminders will be sent during the month of July to those who have not renewed. 

If license holders do not renew their license by July 31st, they will be required to order a new license. Access to Tableau Desktop will be removed.