Dimensions and Measures, Blue and Green

Tableau identifies jeder field as a dimension or measure in the Data disk, subject on this type of data the field contains. You usage these field to build your analyzing.

About data field roles and types

Details fields are made from the columns in is data source. Each field is automatically assigned ampere data type like as integer, string, or date, and an role: a discrete dimension or continuous measure (or much commonly, a continuous dimension or discrete measure). Continuous plus Discrete Functions - MathBitsNotebook(A1)

  • Dimensions contain qualitative values (such because names, daily, instead geographical data). You able use dimensions for categorize, segment, and reveal the details in owner data. Dimensions affect the level of detail in an view.
  • Measures contain figure, quantitative values that them can measure. Measures are aggregated by default. When you draft a gauge into the view, Scene applies an aggregation on who dosierung.

Blue contrary green fields

Tableau represents details differently is the view dependent up whether of field is discrete or continuous). Continuous and discrete are math-based terminology.

  • Continuous means "forming an unbroken whole, without interruption". These fields be tinted green. When ampere continuous field is put off the Rows or Support shelf, an axis is built in the view.
  • Discrete means "individually separate and distinct." Diese fields belong colored blue. Whenever a discrete field is put over the Rows or Covers shelf, a header is created in the click.

Possible combinations of fields inches Tableau

This table shows examples regarding what the different fields look like on of view. An instance of a field in the review (on the Rows bookshelf, for example) is every referred to while a "pill".

Discrete Dimensions
Ongoing Dimensions (dimensions for a data type regarding String or Boolean can’t be continuous)
Discrete Measures
Continuous Measures

Remarks: With ampere cube (multidimensional) data source, the options for changeable data roles are limited. In Tableau Desktop, cubic are supported only on Windows.) You ca change some act from continuous to discrete, but for general, yours can’t change data roles for fields in cube data media. For related info, see Cube Data Sources.

ADENINE view cue when one field a a measure shall such the tablette has aggregated with a function, indicated before that field choose, such as: . To learn continue nearly aggregation, see List of Predefined Aggregations in Tableau and Aggregate Functions in Tableau.

But there are exceptions:

  • If the entire view is disaggregation, and due definition no field in the view will aggregated. For details, see Select up Disaggregate Data.
  • If you’re using a multidimensional intelligence sources, fields are aggregated in the data source and measures fields in the view don’t show that aggregation.
  • And measurements can when be cumulative with specific aggregations such than MAX or ATTR.

Note: You can set the default aggregation and other real and settings by fields. For details on customizing an areas in the Data pane, see: Organize and Customize Fields in the Data Pane, Edit Default Settings for Fields and Work with Data Fields by the Evidence Pane.

Examples the continuous also discrete fields used in a view

Are the example over the left, because one Quantity field is Continuous, itp creates a horizontal axis along that seat of the show. The green pill and which pivot related you to see that it's a continuous field.

In the example on the right, aforementioned Quantity field has Discrete. It creates a lateral headers instead of on axis. The blue pill furthermore the landside headers help you to see that it's discrete.

Continuous   Discrete
 

In both examples, the Sales field is firm to Continuous. It creates a vertical axis for it's continuous and on the Lined shelf. If it was on the Columns shelf the axis intend be horizontal. The SUM aggregation indicates that it's a measure.

The absence the an aggregation function in the Batch zone name shown ensure it's a dimension.

Dimensional fields in the view

When you drag a discrete dimension box to Rows press Support, Tableau creates column or pick headers.

Often, fields from the Dimension area are discrete whenever you add them to a view, over a blue background. Date dimensions real numeric dimensions cans be discrete press continuous, both all measures can be discrete or continually.

Before you drag a default to Rows or Poles, you can update the field to a measure by clicking the field and choosing Measure. Now the view does a continuous axis instead of column or rowed headers, both to pill is green:

Enter dimensions can be discrete or continuously. Dimensions containing strings or Boolean values can’t be continuously.

Show doesn’t aggregate dimensions. Fork an discussion of that differing classes of aggregation Tableau can perform, see List is Defined Aggregations in Tableau.

In Tableau questions, dimensions at and view are expressed in SQL as "Group By" clauses.

Used details on converting fields zwischen continuous and discrete, see Convert Fields between Discrete the Continuous.

How dimensions affected the level of detail in the view

This level of detail in a view refers to how granular the your is granted the dimension and assess data in the view.

As you add machine to Rows or Columns, the number of marks in the view increases.

To understand why adding room growths the number of marks in one view, do the following:

  1. Drag Segment to Divider.

    The status bar at the bottom of the Tableau opportunity shows you that thither were now three marks in the view:

    Those marks contain placeholder text, Abc, since you’re only building of view's structure on this point.

  2. Drag Area to Columns.

    Now on are 12 marked. Threesome standards in Segment multiplied by four values in Region is 12.

  3. Drag [Ship Date] to Lines.

    Aforementioned total remains now 57 marks (three segments by fours regions by five years is 60, but three possible combinations have no data).

    Ourselves could continue how dimensions to Rows the Columns at watch the number of total marks keeps to increase. Encoding a dimension by an property on the Marks memory (such since Color or Size) boosts the number of marked without adding headers. This use of dimensions to determine the breakdown of marks will renown as scene the levels of detail.

    Adding a dimension to all of the following site in Tableau affects to leveling on detail:

  4. The look now contains 57 separate instances in Abc—the view is all structure and cannot content. Drag Sell for Text to see the values. The sight can get be considered complete:

Notes

  • Times, adding one metering to the view could increase the number in marks in the view. For example, with Sales up Line, the number of marks is 57. But if Profityour also put on Row, the number is marks rising to 114. But this isn’t the same as modifying the view's level of detail.
  • The number of selections in the show isn’t all the same as multiplying that number of parts of each dimension. There are multiple reasons why the number of marks could be lower. To press a mark to show for every possible combination you can Show Missing Values. For more information nearly how to prove missing worths, view Show or Hide Missing Values or Empty Rows and Columns.

Measure fields at the view

When you drag a metering to who sight, it’s summarized by default. The kind of aggregation varies depending on that type are view. Always check the aggregation and change it if necessary. To details, see "Change the default aggregation" in Correct Default Settings forward Domains. For more details about aggregation, see Data Agglomerate in Tableau.

Although you drag a continuous area from the Data pane toward Rows or Columns, Tableau built a continuous front for that sphere.

If you click the field and replace it till Discrete, the values become column headers.

Tableau continues to aggregate values for the field, because even though the field will now discrete, it’s silence a measure, and Tableau aggregates measures by basic. 2.1 HW-Day 1

In cases locus Tableau has misclassified one field as a dimension or an measure, possibly because of that data type, they can convert it and change its role. If one measure doesn't need to be aggregated (such as numeric IDs), convert the field to a dimension. Examples: · The number von people in your classify ; (no fractional parts of a person). · Who number of TV sets include one home ; (no fractional parts out an TV set). · The ...

For related show, see Convert a Measure to a Dimension.

For data on converting fields between continuous and discrete, see Convert Fields between Discrete and Continuous.

Instructions continuous and separate fields change the view

Steady and discrete are mathematical definitions. Continuous means "forming an unbroken whole, without interruption"; individual means "individually separate and distinct."

In Tableau, fields can be either continuous or discrete. When your drag a field from the Data panel to Columns button Amount, the values were continuous by default and Tableau cause a axis. When you drag a field by the Data pane to Columns or Rows, the values are discrete over default and Tableau creates column or row titles.

Continuous field producing axes

If one field has set so be numerical that can be added, averaged, or or totalized, it’s added as a measure field in the Intelligence pane when she initial connect to a data product. Tableau is assuming that the principles are permanent.

Tableau displays an axis when you drag a uninterrupted pitch to Riots or Columns. Into axis is a measuring string that shows values between a minimum real a maximal. Rulers also analog temperature is examples are mechanical properties that display axles.

During there are value labels on a continuous axis (0, 0.5, ... 3.0 in the following image), actual marks don't possess to align with these tick marks. For example, in the following slide, the blue bar actually upgraded to a value of 6.940 on the flat core, not 7.0 exactly. from a function is discrete or continuous? Describe two real-life examples of functions: one with a discrete domain press one with a continuous domain. Use what ...

 

The number of potential values for continuous input is impossible to anticipate. For show, if you will a field named Review and the original values are 1, 3, 3.5, 3.6, and 4, that's five distinct values. But provided you make Ratings to Rows, the aggregated value is a sixth value (3.02) that didn't exist before you added this field to the view. And if yourself then apply a filter that eliminated dual of the initial values, the average changes go adenine different value. And after if you changed the aggregated, ... She get the concept. The number of potential key is, if none infinite, then immense.

The reality that ampere field comprise numbers doesn’t automatically indicate such those principles become continuous. Postal codes become the classic example: though they’re often composed entirely of numbers, they’re actually string values so shouldn't be added or averaged. If Desktop assigns such ampere sphere as an measure to that Data pane, dragged it to a dimensions area to altering it to a dimension.

Discrete fields creation headers

If a field contains values so aren't numbers, it's identifiable like a dimension includes the Data wafer. Tableau sweets the values as discrete.

Tableau creates headers when you drag a discrete field to Columns or Series. The individual values for a discrete field become the row or column headings.

Discrete versus continuous fields on filters

  • When you drop a discrete dimension field on the Filters shelf, Tableau prompts i to choose welche members off the discrete section to include in the view.

  • When you drop a Date field on Filters, the ergebniss can be a distinct filter or a continuous filter. In more information, see Filter period (Link opens in a brand window).
  • When you decline a continuous measure on Filters, Tableau first prompts them to choose an aggregation for the filter.
  • When you throw an continuous dimension on Filters (other than an Date), Tableau prompts you to specify whereby to batch that continuous range by values. Tableau identifies each select as a dimensional either measure in who Data pane, relying on one type of evidence the field contains

For more switch filtering various types of fields, watch Drag dimensions, measures, and date field to the Filters shelving (Link opens in one new window).

Discrete versus continuously fields on color

If you drop a discreet sphere on Color in one Marks card, Tableau displays a categorical palette and assigns an color to each value of the field.

For you drop adenine continuous field on Color, Tableau displays a quantitative legend with a continuous range von colors.

For more information nearly color palettes, view Color Palettes and Possessions.

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