Tableau Think Tank Tips, Tricks and Overview for the Ohio Tableau Community SLIDE 1
and Forecasting Outline Quick Table Calculations Computations Under the hood: Partitioning and Addressing Secondary Table Calculations Tableau s Approach to Forecasting Adding Forecasts and Forecast Details SLIDE 2
Table calculations are performed on a single measure in the view. The dimensions that define the part of the table you are applying the calculation to (computing along) are called addressing fields. The dimensions that define how to group the calculation are called partitioning fields. All dimensions must be used for either one or the other. We define the addressing field, all others become partitioning fields. Partition and Addressing fields are automatically chosen when we use the quick computation options such as Table (across), Pane (Down), etc SLIDE 3
Table (Across) This option sets the addressing to compute along the entire table moving horizontally through each partition. Addressing Fields: Category, Region Partitioning Fields: Year and Quarter SLIDE 4
Table (Across) This option sets the addressing to compute along the entire table moving horizontally through each partition. Addressing Fields: Category, Region Partitioning Fields: Year and Quarter SLIDE 5
Table (Down) This option sets the addressing to compute along the entire table moving vertically through each partition. Addressing Fields: Year and Quarter Partitioning Fields: Category and Region SLIDE 6
Table (Down) This option sets the addressing to compute along the entire table moving vertically through each partition. Addressing Fields: Year and Quarter Partitioning Fields: Category and Region SLIDE 7
Table (Across then Down) This option sets the addressing to compute across the entire table horizontally and then down the table vertically. Addressing Fields: Category, Region, Year, Quarter Partitioning Fields: N/A SLIDE 8
Table (Across then Down) This option sets the addressing to compute across the entire table horizontally and then down the table vertically. Addressing Fields: Category, Region, Year, Quarter Partitioning Fields: N/A SLIDE 9
Pane (Across) This option sets to compute across the pane horizontally. The fields that span across the pane horizontally are the addressing fields. However, the fields that separate the panes are now partitioning fields. Addressing Fields: Partitioning Fields: Region Category, Year, Quarter SLIDE 10
Pane (Across) This option sets to compute across the pane horizontally. The fields that span across the pane horizontally are the addressing fields. However, the fields that separate the panes are now partitioning fields. Addressing Fields: Partitioning Fields: Region Category, Year, Quarter SLIDE 11
Cell This option sets the addressing to the individual cells in the table. All fields become partitioning fields. Addressing Fields: N/A Partitioning Fields: Category, Region, Year, Quarter SLIDE 12
Individual Field The individual dimensions in the view are listed in the Table Calculation dialog box. Use them to set the addressing to compute using the field you specify. The benefit of this option is that you get absolute control over how the calculation will be computed if you change the orientation of your view, the table calculation will continue using the same fields for addressing and partitioning. Be careful though, because, addressing on an individual field means that when you rearrange the table, the calculation may no longer match the table structure. Addressing Fields: Individual Field Chosen Partitioning Fields: All Other Fields SLIDE 13
Forecasting Tableau s Approach: Exponential Smoothing You can forecast quantitative time-series data using exponential smoothing models in Tableau Desktop. With exponential smoothing, recent observations are given relatively more weight than older observations. These models capture the evolving trend or seasonality of your data and extrapolate them into the future. Forecasting is fully automatic, yet configurable. SLIDE 14
Forecasting Tableau s Approach: Exponential Smoothing Requirements: there must be at least one date and one measure in the view. In addition, the view cannot contain any of the following: Table calculations Grand Totals or Subtotals Disaggregated measures Date values with aggregation set to Percent calculations Exact Date SLIDE 15