Compute using (table across, down) in Tableau - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a sales analyst at a retail company.

📋 Request: Your manager wants to see the running total of sales by month and region to understand sales trends over time.

📊 Data: You have monthly sales data for three regions: North, South, and East. Each row shows sales amount for a specific month and region.

🎯 Deliverable: Create a Tableau dashboard showing a table with monthly sales and a running total of sales computed across months and down regions.

Sample Data

Month	Region	Sales
January	North	1000
January	South	800
January	East	600
February	North	1100
February	South	900
February	East	700
March	North	1200
March	South	950
March	East	750

1

Step 1: Connect your sales data to Tableau and drag 'Month' to Columns and 'Region' to Rows.

Drag 'Sales' to Text on the Marks card to show sales values in the table.

Expected Result

A table showing sales amounts for each Region (rows) and Month (columns).

2

Step 2: Create a calculated field for running total of sales across months for each region.

Use the table calculation: RUNNING_SUM(SUM([Sales])) with Compute Using set to 'Table (Across)'.

Expected Result

Running total of sales calculated left to right across months for each region.

3

Step 3: Add the running total calculated field to the table next to the sales values.

Drag the running total field to Text or Tooltip to display alongside sales.

Expected Result

Table shows both sales and running total by month and region.

4

Step 4: Create another calculated field for running total of sales down regions for each month.

Use the table calculation: RUNNING_SUM(SUM([Sales])) with Compute Using set to 'Table (Down)'.

Expected Result

Running total of sales calculated top to bottom down regions for each month.

5

Step 5: Add this second running total field to the table to compare running totals across and down.

Drag the second running total field to Text or Tooltip next to the first running total.

Expected Result

Table shows sales, running total across months, and running total down regions.

6

Step 6: Format the table for clarity: use colors or borders to separate sales and running totals, and add clear headers.

Use Tableau formatting options to highlight running totals and ensure readability.

Expected Result

A clear, easy-to-read table showing sales and running totals computed across and down.

Final Result

-------------------------------------------------------------
| Region | January Sales | Jan Run Across | Jan Run Down | ... |
|--------|--------------|----------------|--------------|-----|
| North  | 1000         | 1000           | 1000         | ... |
| South  | 800          | 800            | 1800         | ... |
| East   | 600          | 600            | 2400         | ... |
| Feb    |              |                |              |     |
| North  | 1100         | 2100           | 1100         | ... |
| South  | 900          | 1700           | 2000         | ... |
| East   | 700          | 1300           | 2700         | ... |
| Mar    |              |                |              |     |
| North  | 1200         | 3300           | 1200         | ... |
| South  | 950          | 2650           | 2150         | ... |
| East   | 750          | 2050           | 2900         | ... |
-------------------------------------------------------------

✓Running total across months shows cumulative sales growth over time for each region.

✓Running total down regions shows cumulative sales by region within each month.

✓This helps identify which regions contribute most to monthly sales and how sales accumulate over time.

Bonus Challenge

Create a visualization that dynamically switches the running total calculation between 'Table Across' and 'Table Down' based on user selection.

Show Hint

Use a parameter to let users choose the direction, then apply the parameter in the table calculation's Compute Using setting.

Practice

1. In Tableau, what does setting Compute Using: Table (Across) do to your calculation?

easy

A. Calculates values only for the first column in the table.

B. Calculates values moving top to bottom down rows in the table.

C. Calculates values moving left to right across columns in the table.

D. Calculates values based on the entire table without direction.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand 'Compute Using' concept

   'Compute Using' defines the direction Tableau uses to perform calculations across the data layout.

2. Step 2: Identify what 'Table (Across)' means

   'Table (Across)' means calculations move horizontally from left to right across columns.

3. Final Answer:

   Calculates values moving left to right across columns in the table. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Table (Across) = left to right calculation [OK]

Hint: Table (Across) means calculation moves left to right [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing 'Table (Across)' with 'Table (Down)' direction
• Thinking it calculates vertically instead of horizontally
• Assuming it calculates over the entire table without direction

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set a table calculation to compute using 'Table (Down)' in Tableau?

easy

A. Drag measure to Rows shelf and select 'Table (Across)'.

B. Right-click measure > Edit Table Calculation > Select 'Table (Down)' in Compute Using.

C. Use the filter shelf to set Compute Using to 'Table (Down)'.

D. Double-click the dimension and choose 'Compute Using Table (Across)'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate how to edit table calculation

   Right-click the measure with the table calculation and choose 'Edit Table Calculation' to access Compute Using options.

2. Step 2: Select 'Table (Down)' option

   Within the dialog, select 'Table (Down)' to compute calculations moving top to bottom down rows.

3. Final Answer:

   Right-click measure > Edit Table Calculation > Select 'Table (Down)' in Compute Using. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Edit Table Calculation > Choose Table (Down) [OK]

Hint: Edit Table Calculation to set Compute Using direction [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to set Compute Using from filter or dimension menus
• Confusing 'Table (Across)' with 'Table (Down)'
• Not right-clicking the measure to edit calculation

3. Given a table with sales data by Region (rows) and Month (columns), if you set a running total calculation with Compute Using: Table (Down), what will the running total do?

medium

A. Calculate running total down regions for each month vertically.

B. Calculate running total over the entire table ignoring layout.

C. Calculate running total across months for each region horizontally.

D. Calculate running total only for the first month.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand table layout and Compute Using

   Rows represent Regions, columns represent Months. 'Table (Down)' computes vertically down rows.

2. Step 2: Apply running total with 'Table (Down)'

   Running total sums values moving down each column (month) across regions.

3. Final Answer:

   Calculate running total down regions for each month vertically. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Table (Down) = vertical running total per column [OK]

Hint: Table (Down) runs calculation vertically down rows [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking running total moves across months horizontally
• Assuming calculation ignores table layout
• Confusing rows and columns in the table

4. You created a table calculation in Tableau but the running total is incorrect. You set Compute Using: Table (Across) but the total sums only the first row repeatedly. What is the likely issue?

medium

A. The table calculation is computing across columns but data is arranged in rows, causing repeated sums.

B. You forgot to add the measure to the view.

C. The filter shelf is blocking the calculation.

D. You need to use 'Pane (Down)' instead of 'Table (Across)'.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze Compute Using direction vs data layout

   Compute Using 'Table (Across)' moves left to right across columns, but if data is arranged primarily in rows, calculation may repeat first row values.

2. Step 2: Identify mismatch causing repeated sums

   Because calculation moves across columns but data is in rows, it sums the same row repeatedly instead of progressing down rows.

3. Final Answer:

   The table calculation is computing across columns but data is arranged in rows, causing repeated sums. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Compute Using direction must match data layout [OK]

Hint: Match Compute Using direction to data layout orientation [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming filter shelf causes calculation error
• Thinking measure is missing from view
• Confusing 'Pane (Down)' with 'Table (Across)'

5. You have sales data by Product Category (rows) and Quarter (columns). You want a running total that restarts for each Product Category but sums across quarters left to right. Which Compute Using option should you choose and why?

hard

A. Use Cell because it calculates each cell independently.

B. Use Table (Down) because it calculates top to bottom down rows, restarting per column (Quarter).

C. Use Pane (Across) because it calculates across panes ignoring rows.

D. Use Table (Across) because it calculates left to right across quarters, restarting per row (Product Category).

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand desired calculation behavior

   Running total should sum quarters left to right and restart for each Product Category (row).

2. Step 2: Match Compute Using option to behavior

   'Table (Across)' computes left to right across columns (quarters) and restarts for each row (Product Category), matching the requirement.

3. Final Answer:

   Use Table (Across) because it calculates left to right across quarters, restarting per row (Product Category). -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Table (Across) = horizontal running total restarting per row [OK]

Hint: Use Table (Across) for left-to-right running totals per row [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing Table (Down) which sums vertically, not horizontally
• Confusing Pane and Table options
• Using Cell which does not aggregate across data