Explore and Analyze Data41% of the exam
Rank, index, percentile and table calculation addressing
Pick the ranking function or Rank type from how ties and direction must behave, read INDEX, FIRST, LAST and SIZE for any row, and customize a table calculation with Compute Using, Specific Dimensions and Restarting every so it addresses and partitions the view the way the requirement needs.
Create table calculations: Moving average and window average; Percent of total; Running total; Difference and percent of difference; Percentile; Index; Ranking; Apply quick table calculations; Customize table calculations.
~7 min read · 7 practice questions ·
What the exam expects
- Choose RANK, RANK_DENSE, RANK_MODIFIED, RANK_UNIQUE or RANK_PERCENTILE (or the matching Rank type in the dialog) from how ties and order must behave.
- Set ascending or descending order so the right mark gets rank 1, and read a percentile rank result.
- Predict what INDEX, FIRST, LAST and SIZE return for a given row of a partition.
- Customize a table calculation: Compute Using options, Specific Dimensions, addressing versus partitioning, and Restarting every.
- Running totals, differences, percent of total, moving and window averages and the Quick Table Calculation menu are taught in Running totals, differences and moving window calculations.
Key terms:
- Partition: the group of marks a table calculation runs inside; it restarts for each one.
- Partitioning fields: dimensions that define the scope of each calculation.
- Addressing fields: dimensions the calculation moves along, which set its direction.
- Competition rank: ties share a rank and leave a gap after them.
- Percentile rank: a 0-to-1 position in the partition rather than a whole number.
Key facts
RANK default order
- Detail
- Descending; optional 'asc' or 'desc' argument
RANK_PERCENTILE default order
- Detail
- Ascending: smallest 0.00, largest 1.00
RANK_DENSE
- Detail
- Ties share a rank, no gaps
RANK_UNIQUE
- Detail
- Identical values get different ranks
Nulls in ranking
- Detail
- Ignored, not numbered, not counted in percentile totals
INDEX()
- Detail
- Position from 1, no sorting by value
FIRST() and LAST()
- Detail
- FIRST() is a negative offset to the first row; LAST() counts rows to the last row
Rank table calculation default
- Detail
- Descending
Level of detail dimensions
- Detail
- Each is used for partitioning or addressing
Specific Dimensions
- Detail
- Checked = addressing, unchecked = partitioning
Restarting every
- Detail
- Needs Specific Dimensions and two or more addressing fields; default None
Filtered-out data
- Detail
- Not considered by table calculations
- What does SIZE() return, and does it change from row to row?
- With several dimensions checked under Specific Dimensions, what sets the direction of the calculation?
- When is Restarting every available in the Table Calculation dialog?
- Why might a Rank added from the Quick Table Calculation menu still need editing?
The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.
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