Why INCLUDE LOD expression in Tableau? - Purpose & Use Cases

The Big Idea

Discover how a simple expression can save hours of manual work and reveal hidden insights!

The Scenario

Imagine you have a sales report and you want to see the total sales per product category, but also want to include details like sales per region without losing the overall category total.

The Problem

Manually calculating these totals means creating many separate calculations and constantly switching views. It's slow, confusing, and easy to make mistakes when trying to keep track of different levels of detail.

The Solution

The INCLUDE LOD expression lets you add extra detail to your aggregation without changing the main view. It automatically calculates values at a finer level and combines them smoothly, saving time and reducing errors.

Before vs After

✗ Before

SUM([Sales]) by Category and Region separately, then manually combine results

✓ After

{INCLUDE [Region] : SUM([Sales])} calculates sales per category including region details in one step

What It Enables

INCLUDE LOD expressions let you flexibly analyze data at multiple levels in one view, unlocking deeper insights effortlessly.

Real Life Example

A retail manager can see total sales by product category while also understanding how each region contributes, all in a single dashboard.

Key Takeaways

Manual aggregation across levels is slow and error-prone.

INCLUDE LOD expressions add finer detail without extra complexity.

This makes multi-level analysis fast, accurate, and clear.

Practice

1. What does the INCLUDE LOD expression do in Tableau?

easy

A. Changes the data source connection

B. Removes all filters from the calculation

C. Aggregates data only at the highest level of detail

D. Calculates a measure at a more detailed level than the current view

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of INCLUDE LOD

   INCLUDE LOD lets you add extra detail to calculations without changing the main view's level of detail.

2. Step 2: Compare options to definition

   Calculates a measure at a more detailed level than the current view correctly states it calculates measures at a more detailed level than the current view, which matches the INCLUDE LOD purpose.

3. Final Answer:

   Calculates a measure at a more detailed level than the current view -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   INCLUDE LOD = More detailed calculation [OK]

Hint: INCLUDE adds detail inside calculation without changing view [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing INCLUDE with EXCLUDE or FIXED LOD
• Thinking it removes filters
• Assuming it changes data source

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax for an INCLUDE LOD expression to calculate average sales per customer in Tableau?

easy

A. { INCLUDE [Customer ID] : AVG([Sales]) }

B. { EXCLUDE [Customer ID] : AVG([Sales]) }

C. INCLUDE [Customer ID] AVG([Sales])

D. { FIXED [Customer ID] AVG([Sales]) }

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall correct INCLUDE LOD syntax

   The correct syntax uses curly braces, INCLUDE keyword, dimension in brackets, colon, then aggregation function.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   { INCLUDE [Customer ID] : AVG([Sales]) } matches syntax: { INCLUDE [Customer ID] : AVG([Sales]) }. Others have wrong keywords, missing braces, or missing colon.

3. Final Answer:

   { INCLUDE [Customer ID] : AVG([Sales]) } -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Syntax = { INCLUDE [Dimension] : Aggregation } [OK]

Hint: INCLUDE syntax always uses braces and colon [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting curly braces or colon
• Using wrong LOD keyword (EXCLUDE or FIXED)
• Missing brackets around dimension

3. Given the data view shows total sales by Region, what will the following INCLUDE LOD expression calculate?

{ INCLUDE [Customer ID] : SUM([Sales]) }

Options:

medium

A. Sum of sales per customer then aggregated by region

B. Average sales per region

C. Sum of sales per region ignoring customers

D. Sum of sales ignoring region and customer

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the view and LOD expression

   The view is grouped by Region. The INCLUDE LOD adds Customer ID detail inside the calculation.

2. Step 2: Interpret the calculation result

   The expression sums sales per Customer ID first, then aggregates these sums by Region in the view.

3. Final Answer:

   Sum of sales per customer then aggregated by region -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   INCLUDE adds detail level inside aggregation [OK]

Hint: INCLUDE adds detail inside aggregation, then aggregates by view [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking it ignores customers
• Confusing sum with average
• Assuming it ignores region

4. Identify the error in this INCLUDE LOD expression:

{ INCLUDE Customer ID : SUM([Sales]) }

medium

A. Incorrect use of curly braces

B. Missing aggregation function

C. Missing square brackets around Customer ID

D. INCLUDE keyword should be EXCLUDE

Solution

1. Step 1: Check syntax for dimension references

   Dimension names must be enclosed in square brackets in LOD expressions.

2. Step 2: Identify missing brackets

   Customer ID is missing square brackets, causing syntax error.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing square brackets around Customer ID -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Dimensions need [brackets] in LOD [OK]

Hint: Always put dimension names in square brackets [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting brackets around dimensions
• Confusing INCLUDE with EXCLUDE
• Missing curly braces

5. You want to calculate the average sales per product category but also include the customer-level detail in the calculation without changing the view's level of detail. Which INCLUDE LOD expression should you use?

hard

A. AVG([Sales])

B. { INCLUDE [Customer ID] : AVG([Sales]) }

C. { EXCLUDE [Customer ID] : AVG([Sales]) }

D. { FIXED [Product Category] : AVG([Sales]) }

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the requirement

   You want average sales per product category but with customer-level detail included in calculation without changing view level.

2. Step 2: Choose correct LOD expression

   INCLUDE adds customer detail inside calculation while keeping view level (product category). { INCLUDE [Customer ID] : AVG([Sales]) } matches this need.

3. Final Answer:

   { INCLUDE [Customer ID] : AVG([Sales]) } -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   INCLUDE adds detail without changing view [OK]

Hint: Use INCLUDE to add customer detail inside product category calc [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using FIXED which ignores view level
• Using EXCLUDE which removes detail
• Using simple AVG ignoring detail