Learning Tableau 10 - Second Edition

Relative versus fixed

You can compute table calculations in one of the following two ways:

• Relative: The table calculation will be computed relative to the layout of the table. They might move across or down the table. As we'll see, the key for relative table calculations is scope and direction. When you set a table calculation to use a relative computation, it will continue to use the same relative scope and direction, even if you rearrange the view.
• Fixed: The table calculation will be computed using one or more dimensions. Rearranging those dimensions may change whether the table calculation is moving across or down the table (or even in a more complex pattern). Here, the scope and direction remain fixed to one or more dimensions, no matter where ...