# What's the best way to learn Tableau calculated fields and LOD expressions?

<p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">I've been trying to work out the best way to learn <a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/tableau/reviews">Tableau</a> calculated fields and LOD expressions. The drag-and-drop interface, connections to many data sources and interactive dashboards are what people value most, and they let viewers filter and drill down long before anyone writes an LOD expression. From the reviews I've gone through, the routes that work are hands-on practice on real data, training, and breaking complex calculations into smaller fields, since the learning comes once work moves into complex calculations, data relationships and table calculations.</p><p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">In <a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/categories/analytics-platforms">analytics platforms</a>, the useful question is how far a team pushes past standard dashboards. Business users exploring through filters get value quickly. Analysts building logic for others are who advanced calculations are for, and the time they invest shows up as dashboards that answer questions without anyone rebuilding a report.</p><p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">What I'd like to hear from analysts:</p><ul>
<li>Which calculation type took you longest to understand?</li>
<li>Did training or practice on your own data help more?</li>
<li>Do you break complex calculations into smaller fields?</li>
</ul><p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">What would you tell someone about to write their first LOD expression?</p>

##### Post Metadata
- Posted at: about 7 hours ago
- Author title: Marketing Executive
- Net upvotes: 1


## Comments
### Comment 1

&lt;p&gt;Breaking complex calculations into smaller fields is what made LOD expressions click for me. Practising on our own data helped more than any tutorial.&lt;/p&gt;

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: about 5 hours ago
- Author title: Writer





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