Tip 3: Understanding what goes into your calculations.

Tableau can quickly become confusing if you start using calculated fields, and even more so when using those same calculated fields as variables into other calculated fields. Thankfully, there is a neat little function in Tableau to help you understand the calculations which you are using!

When you are in the calculated field, clicking on the arrow at the edge of the calculated field will pop open a help bar (which is also very informative and helpful!). Once it is open, simply clicking on the name of the variable in your calculation will spell out the expression of your calculation, hopefully helping you understand a bit better what you are adding to your new calculated field.

In this example, we create a random calculation, dividing the sum of sales by a calculated field called [Profit Ratio], clicking on it reveals its expression.