Tableau Calculation
There are four necessary components to the calculation in Tableau:
- Function: Function statements are used to transform the values or members in a field.
For Example: The format of all functions in Tableau such as SUM (expression). - Fields: Field is dimensions and measures from your data source.
For Example: A field in a calculation is often surrounded by brackets such as [Sales]. - Operators: Operator is a symbol that denotes an operation between the operands.
For Example: The types of operators you can use in Tableau calculations, as well as the order they are performed in a formula such as +, -, *, /, %, ==, =, >, <, >=, <=, ! =, <>, ^, AND, OR, NOT, ( ) - Literal Expression: Literals expression are represent the constant values “as is” such as “profitable” and “unprofitable”.
For Example: See the below calculation
IF [Profit per Day] > 5000THEN"Highly Profitable"
ELSEIF [Profit per Day] <= 0THEN"Unprofitable"
ELSE “Profitable”
END
The component of the above calculation can be further divided into the following:
- Functions: IF, THEN, ELSEIF, ELSE, and END.
- Field: Profit per Day.
- Operators: > and <=.
- Literal Expression
- String Literals: “Highly Profitable”, “Unprofitable”, and “Profitable”.
- Numeric Literals: 5000, and 0.
Note: Not all calculation needs to contain all the four components.
Here is some important point for literal expression syntax:
- Numeric literals are written as numbers.
Example: 27 or 1.3567 - String literals are written with quotation marks.
Example: “profitable.” - Date literals are written with the # symbol.
Example: # June 8, 2018 # - Boolean literals are written as either true or false.
Example: “True” or “False” - Null literals are written as null.
Example: “NULL”
Two more calculations contain by Tableau
- Parameters: Parameter is a placeholder variable that can be inserted into calculations to replace the constant values.
A parameter in a calculation is surrounded by brackets .
For Example: [Profit Bin Size] - Comments: Comment is defined as the notes about a calculation or its parts, but comments not included in the computation of the calculation.
To enter a comment in a calculation, use two forward slashes //.
For Example
SUM ([Sales]) / SUM ([Profit]) // Nick’s calculation
// to be used for profit ratio
// Do not edit