Tableau Table Calculations

In Tableau Table Calculations are special type of calculated field. Unlike regular calculated fields, table calculations are based on the data that is currently visualized in a report. In this article we will show you, How to create Tableau table calculations, and how to use their properties with example.

For this Table calculations in Tableau demonstration, we are going to use the data present in Global Super Store Excel Work sheet. So, Please refer Connecting to Excel Files article to understand the connection settings.

Before we start creating Table Calculations, let me create a Table Report.

Create Tableau Table Calculations

You can create table calculation in multiple ways, and the first approach is: Right click on the measure, and select Create -> calculated Fields.

Second approach, please navigate to Analysis Tab and select Create Calculated Field… option as shown below.

Selecting the Create Calculated Field… option will open the following window. Here, we renamed the default calculation name as Cal. Below statement will find the First records in this data.

Here, you can click OK to close this window

Or you can click Default Table calculation hyperlink to alter the default settings. Clicking that link will open following window.

Use this window to change the Calculation field, Levels etc. I am not a fan of doing any modifications in this window. However, you can do it here.

Let me click Cancel button to close Table calculation window, and then click OK button

Let me drag this FIRST table calculation to Measures shelf.

Edit Table Table Calculations

Click the down arrow, and select Compute using to change the computing options.

Let me show you the list of available options in the table Calculations. For this, let me select Edit Table Calculation option from the context menu.

This will open a new window called Table calculation.

Tableau Table Calculation – Table Down

It will start calculating from first row to end row in a complete table.

Pane Down

It will calculate from first row to end row in a Pane or group. From the below screenshot, First is applying for each quarter.

Specific Dimension

You can use your own dimension column to compute the table calculation. From the below screenshot, it is applying FIRST function for each year.

You can also change the Sort order, and sorting column

Let me add Segments filed to Columns shelf to explore few more options in the Table calculations.

From the below screenshot, you can see, it is displaying few more options.

Tableau Table Calculation – Table across

It will apply first function for each row in a table.

Table across then down

It will apply first function for each row in a table, and then go to the next row.

Table down then across

It will apply first function for each row in a column, and then go to the next column.

Pane Down

As we said before, it will calculate from first row to end row in a Pane or group.

Pane Down then down

It will calculate from first row to end row in a Pane or group.

Tableau Table Calculation – Specific Dimension

As we said before, use your own dimension to compute the table calculation. From the below screenshot, it is applying FIRST function for each quarter.

Here, FIRST function is calculated for each quarter, and segment.

Here, FIRST function is applied for each year, and segment.