Use Web Map Service (WMS) Servers (2024)

In Tableau Desktop, you can connect to map servers with the Web Map Service (WMS) protocol. WMS is a standard protocol for requesting and receiving geographically referenced imagery.

You can connect to any WMS server that supports the WMS 1.0.0, 1.1.0, or 1.1.1 standards.

Connect to a WMS server

1. In Tableau Desktop, select Map > BackgroundMaps >WMS Servers.

2. In the Add WMS Servers dialog box, type the URL for the server you want to connect to in Tableau,and then click OK.

You can add as many map servers as you want to a workbook. Each WMS server you add appears as a background map in the Background Maps menu.

Save a WMS server as a Tableau map source

After you add a WMS server to your workbook, it is saved with the workbook and available to anyone you share the workbook with. You can also save a WMS server as a Tableau Map Source (.tms) file, which you can share with others so they can quickly connect to it and use it in their own workbooks.

For more information about how to save a map as a Tableau map source, see Save a Map Source (Link opens in a new window).

Use a WMS background map

After you connect to a WMS server, you can create a map view using the WMS background map that Tableau creates.

To create a map view using a WMS server:

1. In Tableau Desktop, select Map > Background Maps, and then select a WMS background map to use in the view.

   

2. Add a geographic field to the view.

   See Also

   WMS services—ArcGIS Server | Documentation for ArcGIS Enterprise

   For more information, see Mapping Concepts in Tableau(Link opens in a new window).

   

3. Select Map > Map Layers, and then select the map layers you want to show in the view.

   For more information, see Customize How Your Map Looks(Link opens in a new window).

   

Performance considerations

The content, speed, and performance of a WMS server is reliant on the network and WMS provider. If your Internet connection is interrupted or if you're working behind a restrictive firewall, you can use the Offline background map that comes installed with Tableau Desktop to avoid any performance issues while you build your map view. You can switch back to your WMS server at any time.

Note: With the offline background map, you might only be able to access up to four levels of zoom. For more information, see Select Background Maps(Link opens in a new window).

Supported Spatial Reference Systems

Tableau automatically supports the following list of Spatial Reference Systems (SRS) / European Petroleum Survey Group (EPSG) codes. WMS servers must support at least one of the following spatial reference systems to be compatible with Tableau mapping features.

See also:

Use Mapbox Maps(Link opens in a new window)

Save a Map Source (Link opens in a new window)

Import a Map Source(Link opens in a new window)

Select Background Maps(Link opens in a new window)

Customize How Your Map Looks(Link opens in a new window)