Chapter 5. Table Calculations

Table calculations are one of the most powerful features in Tableau. They enable solutions that really couldn't be achieved in any other way (short of writing a custom application or complex custom SQL scripts!):

• They make it possible to use data that isn't structured well and still get quick results without waiting for someone to fix the data at the source
• They make it possible to compare and perform calculations on aggregate values across rows of the resulting table
• They open incredible possibilities for analysis and creative approaches to solving problems

Table calculations range in complexity from incredibly easy to create (a couple of clicks) to extremely complex (requiring an understanding of addressing, partitioning, and data densification). We'll start off simple and move toward complexity in this chapter. The goal is to gain a solid foundation to create and use table calculations, understanding how they work, and to see some examples...