Basic Calculated Fields (String, Number & Date Math)0%
Basic Calculated Fields (String, Number & Date Math)
Beginner12 min read•Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Basic Calculated Fields in Tableau
Reading Time: 8 Mins | Level: Beginner to Advanced
1. What is a Calculated Field?
A Calculated Field allows you to create new data fields from existing data in your data source using formulas, logic, and math.
2. Common Calculation Types
1. Arithmetic Calculations:
Output
// Profit Ratio
[Profit] / [Sales]
// Net Margin After Tax
([Sales] - [Cost]) * 0.82
2. Logical Statements (IF-THEN-ELSE & CASE):
Output
IF [Profit Ratio] > 0.20 THEN "High Margin"
ELSEIF [Profit Ratio] > 0.05 THEN "Moderate"
ELSE "Low / Loss Making"
END
3. String & Date Functions:
Output
// Extract uppercase customer initials
UPPER(LEFT([Customer Name], 1))
// Calculate age of account in days
DATEDIFF('day', [Order Date], [Ship Date])
Interactive Quiz
Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1
What keyword must always terminate an
IF...THEN...ELSE logical block in Tableau calculations?Question 2
Which function calculates the number of days between an Order Date and a Ship Date?
Question 3
What does the
ZN() function do in Tableau?Question 4
How are field names referenced inside a Tableau calculation editor?
Question 5
What does the calculation
SUM([Profit]) / SUM([Sales]) compute compared to [Profit] / [Sales]?Next Lesson
Table Calculations: Running Total, Percent of Total, Rank & Moving Average
Continue learning with hands-on practice, examples, and exercises in the upcoming topic.
Related Lessons
Practice Quiz
Test your understanding of this lesson with 5 questions. Each question has one correct answer.