Explain the Number Function ' SIGN ' in Tableau with Example?

In Tableau, the SIGN function is a number function that returns the sign of a given number. It indicates whether the number is positive, negative, or zero.

The syntax for the SIGN function in Tableau is as follows:

SIGN(number)

• number represents the numeric value for which you want to determine the sign.

Here's an example to illustrate the usage of the SIGN function in Tableau:

Suppose you have a dataset with a column called "Value" that contains different numeric values.

Value
-5
8
0
-2
4

To determine the sign of each value in the "Value" column using the SIGN function, you can create a calculated field in Tableau:

1. Right-click on a blank area in the "Data" pane in Tableau.
2. Select "Create Calculated Field."
3. In the formula editor, enter the following expression.

SIGN([Value])

4. Click "OK" to create the calculated field.

The calculated field, which utilizes the SIGN function, will return the sign of each value in the "Value" column. A positive value will be represented as 1, a negative value as -1, and zero as 0.

The resulting dataset will be as follows:

Value	Sign
-5	-1
8	1
0	0
-2	-1
4	1

In this example, the SIGN function determines the sign of each value in the "Value" column. For instance, the value -5 has a negative sign and is represented as -1, the value 8 has a positive sign and is represented as 1, and the value 0 has a sign of zero.

The SIGN function is commonly used in data analysis when you need to categorize or analyze values based on their sign. It can help identify the direction of change, calculate the absolute difference, or classify values into positive, negative, or zero categories. By utilizing the SIGN function in Tableau, you can easily incorporate sign-based analysis into your visualizations and calculations.