Explain the Table Calculation Function 'RUNNING_COUNT' in Tableau with Example?

 The RUNNING_COUNT function in Tableau is a table calculation function that calculates the running count of a field or expression over a specified scope or order. It provides the cumulative count of data points observed up to the current data point within the defined scope.

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

RUNNING_COUNT([expression])

• [expression]: The field or calculation for which you want to calculate the running count.

Here's an example to demonstrate how to use the RUNNING_COUNT function in Tableau:

Suppose you have a dataset that contains customer sales data. You want to calculate the running count of customers who have made purchases over time.

1. Open Tableau and connect to your dataset.
2. Create a view that includes the "Customer" field, the "Date" field, and any other relevant fields such as "Order ID" or "Product."
3. Right-click on the "Customer" field in the view and select "Add Table Calculation."
4. In the Calculation Type drop-down, select "Running Count."
5. In the "Compute Using" section, choose the appropriate dimensions to define the partitioning and addressing for the calculation (e.g., "Date").
6. Click "OK" to apply the table calculation.

Tableau will calculate the running count of customers who have made purchases over time. It increments the count for each unique customer observed, starting from the first data point and continuing cumulatively with each subsequent data point within the defined scope.

You can further customize the view, apply sorting, or add additional calculations based on the running count. For example, you can create a visualization that shows the trend of the cumulative customer count over time or identify periods with the highest or lowest customer activity.

The RUNNING_COUNT function allows you to calculate the running count of a field or expression within a specified scope. It helps you understand the cumulative number of data points or occurrences observed up to the current data point and track the count over time or within a particular grouping.