Tableau, Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, Data Science

Calculations in Tableau: A Road to Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification

Chapter 11: A comprehensive guide on Calculations in Tableau with free Udemy Dumps.

Daksh Trehan

Published in

Towards AI

6 min readMay 16, 2022

Welcome to the eleventh chapter, In this piece, we are going to learn about Calculations in Tableau.

If you want to navigate through other chapters, visit: Tableau: What it is? Why it is the best?; A road to Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification.

If you want to directly go on Tableau Desktop Specialist notes, access them here → https://dakshtrehan.notion.site/Tableau-Notes-c13fceda97b94bda940edbf6751cf30
Use the link to get access to free Tableau certification dumps (Valid till 6 July 2022):
https://www.udemy.com/course/tableau-desktop-specialist-certification-dumps-2022/?couponCode=E3F08189FA4BAFAE72BC

Table of Content

Why use Calculation?
Types of Calculations
Editing & Removing a Calculation
Sample Certification Questions from this Topic

Why use Calculations?

Calculations are used when we want to add custom fields that are derived from generic fields in our dataset. In simple words, Calculations are used when we want our data to answer some indirect questions.

Consider our database contains two rows: Name & Age. We can get our data to answer some indirect questions like if the person is above 18, mention “Eligible to vote”. This is how calculations work, they’re made to answer some indirect questions.

When we create a new calculated field, we are creating a new field in our dataset. The type of calculated field depends upon the type of fields used in our calculations i.e. if we are creating a calculated field on dimensions, the new field would represent a dimension and the same goes for a measure.

The dimensions that define how to group calculations are called partitioning fields.

The dimensions upon which the table calculation is performed are called addressing fields.

Some of the scenarios where Calculations might be helpful are:

Converting data types of fields.
Categorizing data.
Filter Results.
Aggregate Data.
Calculating Ratios.
Creating new data for visualization.

A calculation, also known as a formula, includes some or all of these components:

Fields
Functions
Operators
Parameters
Comments

Creating a Calculated Field

To create a calculated field, go to the data pane and click on the drop-down and choose “Create Calculated Field”.

As per the data type used, the calculation will be classified either as a dimension or measure.

Types of Calculations

There are three types of calculations one can use in Tableau:

Basic Calculations

A basic calculation allows users to transform data either on the data source level of detail or visualization level of detail.

e.g. Splitting the strings(Data source level of detail), Aggregating columns(visualization level of detail)

Level of Detail(LOD) Calculations

LOD calculations work on the same principle as Basic Calculation i.e. on data source level of detail or visualization level of detail but are more precise.

There are three types of LOD Calculations:

INCLUDE(more granular level)
EXCLUDE(less granular level)
FIXED(independent level)

LOD Calculations aren’t part of Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification so we aren’t gonna dive deep into it.

Table Calculations

A table calculation is only valid for fields in visualization. They don’t consider any other field that is filtered out in visualization.

These calculations could help create ranks, show running totals, percent of total, percentile, moving average, etc.

There are two ways to create a Table Calculation:

From Analysis

From Column/Row Shelf

Add some dimensions and measures on rows and column shelves. Right-click on the measure and choose “Quick Table Calculation” or “Add Table Calculation”.

Total table calculations supported by Tableau are:

The scope of a table calculation could be:

Table(Across)

Table(Down)

Table(Across then Down)

Table(Down then Across)

Pane(Down)

Pane(Across then Down)

Pane(Down then Across)

Cell

Editing & Removing a Table Calculation

To edit a Calculation, simply right-click and choose “Edit”.

To remove a calculation, right click on the measure in the view(on which calculation is applied) and choose “Clear Table Calculation”.

Sample Certification Questions from this Topic

Which function can return absolute value of a given number?

a. Floor
b. Ceil
c. Round
d. Abs

Solution: Abs

Which is not a valid Table Calculation?
a. Difference From
b. Rank
c. Percentile
d. Difference of Total

Solution: Difference of Total

The average function treat null values as zeros?
a. True
b. False

Solution: False

Totals can be done either through? [Choose 2]
a. Analytics Pane
b. Worksheet Menu
c. Analysis Menu
d. Right clicking in the view.

Solution: Analytics Pane, Analysis Menu

Percentile is available both in aggregation and calculation?
a. True
b. False

Solution: True

Use the link to get access to free Tableau certification dumps (Valid till 6 July 2022):
https://www.udemy.com/course/tableau-desktop-specialist-certification-dumps-2022/?couponCode=E3F08189FA4BAFAE72BC