Custom table calculation scope in Tableau - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Custom table calculation scope

Business Question

How do sales trends change over months within each region, and how does the calculation scope affect the results?

Sample Data

Region	Month	Sales
East	Jan	100
East	Feb	150
East	Mar	200
West	Jan	120
West	Feb	180
West	Mar	160
Central	Jan	130
Central	Feb	170

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card: Total Sales
  Formula: SUM([Sales])
  Result: 1210
• Line Chart: Sales by Month (Scope: Table Across)
  Calculation: Running Total(SUM([Sales])) with scope set to Table Across (months across all regions)
  Shows cumulative sales month by month across all regions combined.
• Line Chart: Sales by Month per Region (Scope: Pane Across)
  Calculation: Running Total(SUM([Sales])) with scope set to Pane Across (months within each region)
  Shows cumulative sales month by month separately for each region.
• Table: Sales and Running Total per Region and Month
  Columns: Region, Month, Sales, Running Total (Pane Across)
  Running Total formula: RUNNING_SUM(SUM([Sales])) scoped to months within each region.

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+-----------------------------+
|      KPI Card        |      Line Chart: Table Across|
|   Total Sales =1210  |  (Running Total all regions) |
+----------------------+-----------------------------+
|      Line Chart: Pane Across (per region)             |
|  (Running Total by month within each region)           |
+-------------------------------------------------------+
|      Table: Sales and Running Total per Region & Month |
+-------------------------------------------------------+
    

Interactivity

Filter by Region: Updates the line charts and table to show only selected regions. The KPI card updates total sales accordingly.

Filter by Month: Limits data shown in charts and table to selected months, updating running totals accordingly.

Self Check

If you add a filter for Region = East, which components update and how?

• KPI Card: Shows total sales for East region only (100 + 150 + 200 = 450).
• Line Chart (Table Across): Shows running total for East region months only (Jan:100, Feb:250, Mar:450).
• Line Chart (Pane Across): Shows running total by month for East region only.
• Table: Displays only East region rows with running totals recalculated for East.

Key Result

Dashboard showing total sales and running totals with different calculation scopes by region and month.

Practice

1. What does the Custom Table Calculation Scope control in Tableau?

easy

A. Which data points are included in the calculation

B. The color scheme of the visualization

C. The font size of labels

D. The data source connection type

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of table calculation scope

   The scope defines which data points Tableau uses when performing calculations like running totals or rankings.

2. Step 2: Identify what is controlled by scope

   It controls the subset of data included in the calculation, not visual formatting or data source settings.

3. Final Answer:

   Which data points are included in the calculation -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Scope controls data points included [OK]

Hint: Scope means which data points calculation uses [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing scope with visual formatting
• Thinking scope changes data source
• Mixing scope with filter settings

2. Which option correctly sets the scope of a table calculation to compute using only the Region dimension in Tableau?

easy

A. Compute Using > Pane (Across)

B. Compute Using > Table (Down)

C. Compute Using > Region

D. Compute Using > Table (Across)

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the dimension to set scope

   To limit calculation to the Region dimension, select Compute Using > Region.

2. Step 2: Understand Compute Using options

   Options like Table (Down) or Table (Across) use the entire table direction, not a specific dimension.

3. Final Answer:

   Compute Using > Region -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Compute Using dimension name sets scope [OK]

Hint: Choose dimension name under Compute Using for scope [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Selecting Table (Down) instead of dimension
• Confusing Pane with Table scope
• Not selecting specific dimension

3. Given a sales table with dimensions Region and Category, what will be the result of a running total table calculation with scope set to Compute Using: Category for Region 'West'?

medium

A. Running total sums all data ignoring Region and Category

B. Running total resets for each Category within the West region

C. Running total resets for each Region ignoring Category

D. Running total sums all Categories across all Regions

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand scope set to Category

   Compute Using Category means the running total computes along the Category dimension, restarting (partitioned) by other dimensions like Region.

2. Step 2: Consider Region filter 'West'

   Filtered to West, the running total resets for each Category within the West region.

3. Final Answer:

   Running total resets for each Category within the West region -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Compute Using Category: along Category, reset by Region [OK]

Hint: Compute Using sets addressing (along), partition sets reset [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking running total sums all regions
• Ignoring filter on Region
• Confusing scope with partitioning

4. You set a table calculation to Compute Using: Table (Across) but the running total is incorrect. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The table calculation is not enabled

B. The calculation is missing a filter

C. The data source is not connected

D. The data is arranged vertically, but scope is set horizontally

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze Compute Using Table (Across)

   This scope computes calculation across columns (horizontally).

2. Step 2: Check data arrangement

   If data is arranged vertically (down rows), computing across columns causes incorrect results.

3. Final Answer:

   The data is arranged vertically, but scope is set horizontally -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Scope direction must match data layout [OK]

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

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring data layout when setting scope
• Assuming filters cause running total errors
• Thinking data source connection affects calculation

5. You want to create a running total of sales that restarts for each Region and sums across Category. Which custom table calculation scope should you use?

hard

A. Compute Using: Category, Restarting every Region

B. Compute Using: Region, Restarting every Category

C. Compute Using: Table (Down)

D. Compute Using: Pane (Across)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand requirement

   Running total should sum across Category but restart for each Region.

2. Step 2: Set scope to Category and partition by Region

   Setting Compute Using to Category calculates running total across categories. Restarting every Region means partitioning by Region.

3. Step 3: Confirm other options

   Other options do not correctly partition or compute as required.

4. Final Answer:

   Compute Using: Category, Restarting every Region -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Scope by Category with restart per Region [OK]

Hint: Compute Using dimension to sum, partition to restart [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing which dimension to compute using
• Not setting restart partition correctly
• Using Table (Down) which sums entire table