Quick Table Calculations

Quick table calculations, as the name suggests, allow you to quickly apply frequently used table calculations to the view using the most typical settings for that calculation type. They save you the effort of using the column fields from data to create calculations. They have inbuilt logic , so you can use them directly in the view. Some of the most commonly used table calculations are as follows:

• Running Total
• Difference
• Percent of Total
• Percent Difference
• Percentile
• Rank
• Moving Average

You will start by learning how to apply quick table calculations, using the Sample - Superstore dataset. This file can be found by following the Documents | My Tableau Repository | Data Sources system path, and then opening the Sample - Superstore.xls file.

To begin, create a view that shows Category against YEAR(Order Date) and SUM(Profit), as follows:

Figure 8.2: Initial view

Table calculations only work with...