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Nested LOD expressions and LOD aggregation
Choose between FIXED, INCLUDE, EXCLUDE and table-scoped expressions, nest one LOD inside another, write dimension declarations that match the fields in the view, and predict whether an LOD result is aggregated or replicated when it meets the view's level of detail.
Implement advanced LODs, such as nested LODs.
~8 min read · 7 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Pick FIXED, INCLUDE, EXCLUDE or a table-scoped expression from whether the result must ignore or follow the view.
- Build nested LOD expressions in which an outer expression aggregates the results of an inner one, with the right dimensions in each declaration.
- Use a FIXED expression as a dimension for cohort and histogram views, and know which LOD types can never be dimensions.
- Write dimension declarations, including date expressions, that match the fields on the shelves, and create quick FIXED fields from the Data pane.
- Predict what an LOD shows when it is finer than, coarser than or the same as the view, and what the pill's aggregation does in each case.
Key terms:
- Dimension declaration: the dimensions before the colon that set the expression's scope.
- Aggregate expression: the aggregated calculation after the colon; it may contain other LOD expressions.
- Nested LOD expression: an LOD expression inside another LOD expression's aggregate expression.
- Replication: a coarser LOD value appearing in several marks of a finer view.
- Table-scoped LOD: an expression with no keyword and no declaration, scoped to the whole table.
Key facts
FIXED and view filters
- Detail
- Ignores all except context, data source and extract filters
INCLUDE and EXCLUDE vs filters
- Detail
- Considered after dimension filters
Nesting
- Detail
- The aggregate expression can contain other LOD expressions
INCLUDE, EXCLUDE result type
- Detail
- Always measures
EXCLUDE in row-level expressions
- Detail
- Not allowed; no dimensions to omit
Quick LOD
- Detail
- Control-click drag a measure onto a dimension; creates FIXED
Typed vs dragged date pill
- Detail
- Typed YEAR() doesn't match; dragged becomes DATEPART('year', ...)
Table-scoped
- Detail
- Same as FIXED with no dimension declaration
Sources for this section (4)
- Create Level of Detail Expressions in Tableauhelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- How Level of Detail Expressions Work in Tableauhelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- EXCLUDE Level of Detail Expressionshelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- Table-Scoped Level of Detail Expressionshelp.tableau.com (opens in a new tab)
- Why does changing an EXCLUDE pill from ATTR to SUM leave the view unchanged?
- When can an EXCLUDE expression not be used at all?
- Why does a state filter change an INCLUDE result but leave a FIXED one untouched?
The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.
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