Design and Troubleshoot Calculations and Workbooks40% of the exam
Aggregating dimensions with ATTR, MIN, MAX and COUNTD
Choose how to aggregate a dimension (Attribute, Minimum, Maximum, Count, Count (Distinct)) from what each mark must show, use ATTR to keep a dimension as a label without partitioning a table calculation, and apply the rules for aggregate calculations, default aggregations and the Dimension aggregation on measures.
Implement aggregations that include dimensions.
~8 min read · 7 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Pick the aggregation for a dimension (Attribute, Minimum, Maximum, Count or Count (Distinct)) from what each mark must return.
- Explain how ATTR is computed and what its asterisk means.
- Use ATTR so a dimension labels a view without partitioning a table calculation.
- Apply the rules for aggregate calculations: no mixing aggregated and disaggregated values, AGG fields, and where a default aggregation can and cannot be set.
- Use the Dimension aggregation or disaggregation when a measure's individual values must become marks.
Key terms:
- Aggregating a dimension: applying Minimum, Maximum, Count or Count (Distinct) to a dimension, which creates a temporary measure column.
- ATTR (Attribute): returns the value when all rows in the group share it, otherwise an asterisk.
- Aggregate calculation: a calculation built from aggregated fields; on a shelf it shows as AGG(...) and cannot be aggregated further.
- Default aggregation: the aggregation Tableau applies automatically when a measure is dragged to a view.
Key facts
Dimension aggregations
- Detail
- Minimum, Maximum, Count, Count (Distinct), plus Attribute
ATTR formula
- Detail
- IF MIN = MAX THEN MIN ELSE "*", computed after the initial query
ATTR and nulls
- Detail
- Null values are ignored
COUNT vs COUNTD
- Detail
- Number of items vs number of distinct items; nulls not counted
"Requires extract"
- Detail
- COUNTD on pre-8.2 Excel or Text workbooks, legacy connections, Access
MAX on a date
- Detail
- Most recent date; as an aggregation, no date hierarchy
SUM
- Detail
- Numeric fields only
Default aggregation
- Detail
- Not for calculated fields that already contain an aggregation
Published data sources
- Detail
- Default aggregation is set at first publish
INCLUDE and EXCLUDE results
- Detail
- Always measures
- When can MIN on a string field from a database return a value that is not first in plain alphabetical order?
- When does Count (Distinct) show "Requires extract"?
- What happens to the date hierarchy when MAX is used as an aggregation on a date field?
- Why is MAX(SUM(Sales), Profit) rejected while MAX(SUM(Sales), SUM(Profit)) is accepted?
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