Do You Want to “Fix” Your Calculations or Let it “Float” on a View? – Part I

The goal here is to show the impact on the Fixed LOD Calculations when the structure of the view undergoes a change.

I am using the Superstore data source that comes with Tableau Desktop so that you can follow along the path.

I have created three LOD calculations. Additionally, I have used one of the basic aggregations called SUM() as follows:

• { FIXED [Category]: SUM([Sales]) }   – sum of sales fixed to category

• { FIXED [Sub-Category]: SUM([Sales]) }  – sum of sales fixed to sub-category

• { FIXED [Product Name]: SUM([Sales]) }.  – sum of sales fixed to Product Name

• Finally, the basic aggregation, the SUM(Sales)

(1) The three FIXED LOD CALC and the basic aggregation called SUM(Sales) are added as measures.

(2) Sum of Sales Fixed to Product Name is $400

(3) SUM(Sales) is also $400

When the level of details is (Category + Sub Category + Product Name) then SUM(Sales) matches with Sum of Sales Fixed to Product Name

When the level of details in the view is Category + Sub Category, then Sum(Sales) matches with “Sum of Sales Fixed to Sub-Category”). The “Sum of Sales Fixed to Product” also rolls up to Sub-Category level.

SUM(Sales) = Sum of Sales Fixed to Sub-Category = Sum of Sales Fixed to Product

When the level of detail in the view is Category, Sum(Sales) will match with “Sum of Sales Fixed to Category“. Both “Sum of Sales Fixed to Sub-Category” and “Sum of Sales Fixed to Product” will roll up to the Category level.