LOD vs table calculations in Tableau - Compared

Introduction

This feature helps you understand the difference between LOD expressions and table calculations in Tableau. It solves the problem of choosing the right method to calculate values at different levels of detail or order in your data visualization.

When you want to calculate a value ignoring the view's current filters or dimensions, like total sales per customer regardless of the current chart grouping.

When you need to compute running totals or moving averages that depend on the order of rows in your table.

When you want to fix a calculation at a specific level, such as average sales per region even if the view shows data by city.

When you want to calculate percent of total based on the displayed data in the current view.

When you need to compare values across different levels of detail without duplicating data.

Steps

Step 1: Open

- Tableau Desktop and load your data source

Your data appears in the Data pane on the left side

Step 2: Create a new calculated field

- Data pane → right-click → Create Calculated Field

A calculation editor window opens

Step 3: Type an LOD expression like { FIXED [Customer]: SUM([Sales]) }

- Calculation editor

The calculation fixes sales sum per customer regardless of view filters

💡 Use curly braces and keywords FIXED, INCLUDE, or EXCLUDE for LOD expressions

Step 4: Drag the new LOD calculated field to Rows or Columns shelf

- Worksheet view

The chart updates showing sales fixed at customer level

Step 5: Create another calculated field for table calculation like RUNNING_SUM(SUM([Sales]))

- Data pane → right-click → Create Calculated Field

A calculation that sums sales cumulatively in the table

Step 6: Drag the table calculation field to the view

- Worksheet view

The chart updates showing running total of sales based on table order

Step 7: Right-click the table calculation field → Edit Table Calculation to adjust addressing and partitioning

- Marks card or shelf

You can control how the calculation moves across rows or columns

Before vs After

Before

View shows total sales by region and city with no special calculations

After

View shows sales fixed per customer using LOD and running total of sales using table calculation

Settings Reference

LOD Expression Types

📍 Calculation editor when writing calculated fields

Controls how the level of detail is fixed or adjusted relative to the view

Default: No default, user defines

Table Calculation Compute Using

📍 Edit Table Calculation dialog

Defines the direction and scope of the table calculation

Default: Table (Across)

Restarting Every

📍 Edit Table Calculation dialog

Sets where the table calculation resets its calculation

Default: None

Common Mistakes

Using LOD expressions when a running total or order-based calculation is needed

LOD expressions ignore table order and cannot compute running totals

Use table calculations like RUNNING_SUM for order-dependent calculations

Using table calculations to fix values at a different level of detail

Table calculations depend on the current view and cannot fix aggregation levels independently

Use LOD expressions with FIXED to calculate values independent of the view

Not adjusting the Compute Using setting for table calculations

Table calculations may produce incorrect results if addressing and partitioning are wrong

Edit Table Calculation and set Compute Using to the correct dimensions

Summary

LOD expressions fix calculations at specific data levels regardless of view filters or dimensions.

Table calculations compute values based on the order and layout of data in the current view.

Choose LOD for level of detail control and table calculations for order-dependent computations.