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Computed Sets

You can quickly discover and analyze subsets of your data in Tableau using computed sets. For example, you can use sets to view the top 20 responses to a survey, the bottom 10 automobiles by sales, or all customers with more than 5 orders OR more than $2000 in sales. Whatever it is you are looking for, computed sets can help you create a subset of your data to use in your analysis.

Here's how it works.

1. Let's isolate the top performing products in a data set using computed sets. Start by creating the example below using the Sample -- Superstore Sales (Excel) data source.
A view showing the sales for all the products in a superstore.
This view shows the SUM of the Sales field for each product in Product Category 4. You can scroll through the list of thousands of products and search for the ones you are interested in, or you can create a computed set containing just the top products.
2. To create a set, right-click the field that will be the basis for the group and select Create Set. In this example, right-click Product Category 4 in the Data window.
Right-click the field in the schema and select Create Group.
3. In the Create Set dialog box, give the set a name like "Top 30 Products by Profit" and select the products you want to include in the computation. In this case, let's start by selecting all the products in Product Category 4. (To select everything in the list, click All).
4. Now we can define an additional limit that refines the set. For instance, click the Top tab at the top of the dialog box.
Select the products that you want to include in the computation and then click the Top tab.
5. On the Top pane, select By Field. Then specify Top 30 -- by SUM(Gross Profit) using the drop-down lists. When finished, click OK twice to close the set dialog boxes.
Further define the group with a Top N formula.
6. The new set displays in the Sets area of the Data window. Drag it to the Rows shelf and replace the Product Category 4 field.
The new view shows the sales for the products with the highest profit margin
The new view is more interesting and easier to analyze. The view shows the sales for the products with the highest profit. One discovery that jumps out is that the Canon PC1080F Personal Copier is a top 30 product by gross profit but low in total sales.
 

To Learn More

  • Learn more about sets by searching for Sets in the Tableau Online Help.
  • Contact Tableau Technical Support at: (206) 633 3400 x2
  • Learn this trick and many more at the Tips and Tricks index. Don't forget to bookmark it.