Tableau Calculated Fields and LODs 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which LOD expression computes a value at a coarser level of detail than the view, ignoring the dimensions in the view except those listed?
- FIXED (Correct answer)
- INCLUDE
- EXCLUDE
- RAWSQL
Correct answer: FIXED
FIXED computes a value using only the specified dimensions, regardless of any other dimensions in the view.
Question 2: In the order of operations, where do FIXED LOD expressions get evaluated relative to dimension filters?
- Before dimension filters (Correct answer)
- After dimension filters
- Same time as measure filters
- After table calculations
Correct answer: Before dimension filters
FIXED LODs are computed before dimension filters are applied, so those filters do not affect them unless added to context.
Question 3: Which function would you use to convert a string '2026-01-15' into a date value in a calculated field?
- DATEPARSE or DATE (Correct answer)
- STR()
- ISDATE()
- DATENAME()
Correct answer: DATEPARSE or DATE
DATE() or DATEPARSE() converts string input into a proper date data type.
Question 4: What does the calculated field SUM([Sales]) / SUM([Profit]) produce compared to AVG([Sales]/[Profit])?
- An aggregate ratio of totals vs. an average of row ratios (Correct answer)
- Identical results always
- A syntax error
- Both are row-level
Correct answer: An aggregate ratio of totals vs. an average of row ratios
SUM/SUM aggregates first then divides, while AVG of row ratios averages each row's ratio—usually different values.
Question 5: Which keyword makes an INCLUDE LOD differ from the view's grain?
- It adds dimensions into the calculation not present in the view (Correct answer)
- It removes all dimensions
- It fixes a constant
- It disables aggregation
Correct answer: It adds dimensions into the calculation not present in the view
INCLUDE computes at a finer grain by adding the listed dimensions, then aggregates up to the view level.
Question 6: What is the result type of the expression IIF([Sales] > 1000, 'High', 'Low')?
- String (Correct answer)
- Boolean
- Number
- Date
Correct answer: String
IIF returns the second or third argument here, both strings, so the result is a string.
Question 7: Why might a FIXED LOD ignore a quick filter on a dashboard?
- FIXED is computed before dimension filters unless they are in context (Correct answer)
- Quick filters never affect calculations
- FIXED only works on measures
- Quick filters run after table calcs only
Correct answer: FIXED is computed before dimension filters unless they are in context
Because FIXED runs before dimension filters, those filters must be added to context to influence the FIXED result.
