Getting started (Dashboard extension)

This chapter will cover all steps to create a dashboard with the ProcessMining extension for Tableau. In the previous step we explained how to prepare your data. So once your datasource is set-up and your ‘datasheet’ has been created, we start creating the dashboard.

Create a new dashboard with the datasheet

First thing to do is create a new Dashboard. Tableau Extensions are Dashboard objects and cannot be deployed on just sheets. Therefore we need to add some data. In the previous steps we already showed you how to create a ‘datasheet’ so on the new dashboard just add your ‘datasheet’. This is a sheet that we only want to use to feed the extension so don’t mind the layout of the ‘datasheet’, we are going to hide it. For tips and advice check out our BLOG.

Hiding the datasheet

The datasheet is not an attractive sheet to be present on your dashboard. That’s why we are going to hide it. Remember, the datasheet must be present on the dashboard, but that doesn’t mean we can’t hide it. To hide the ‘datasheet’ just select the container it is in and open the “Lay-out” tab on the left pane in Tableau Desktop (see screenshot on the right).

Now enable the ‘Floating’ option and resize the container to 1×1 pixels (wxh) and change the position to the 1×1 x,y position. This will resize the floating container to one single pixels in the upper left corner of your dashboard (virtually invisible).

Add the ProcessMining extension to your dashboard

Next step is to add the ProcessMining extension to your dashboard. To complete this step you need the trex file that matches your subscription. This can either be downloaded from

1. The Tableau Extensions Gallery

2. Your personal trial download page when you are on a free 14 day trial

3. Your appsfortableau.com account when you are on a Share subscription

4. Your system administrator when you are on an Enterprise subscription

In your dashboard now drag the Extensions object to your dashboard and release it where you want to put it in your dashboard. A Tableau Modal window will pop-up that will ask you to select the extension or trex file you want to use.

In Tableau 2021.1 and higher you will see an interface where it is made easy to use a trex file from the Tableau Extensions Gallery. You can choose to select a trex file from your filesystem (marked yellow in the screenshot)

In this case we already prepared a trex file so we will use the yellow marked option and select the ProcessMining trex file. You will be asked to allow the extension in your dashboard. This message cannot be suppressed in Tableau Desktop but can be suppressed on Tableau Server / Tableau Online. Once the extension is properly loaded in your dashboard you will see the start screen that holds a getting started YouTube movie that explains the steps you need to take from here.

First we will connect the extension to our already prepared ‘datasheet’.