A key point users will need to come to terms with is that LOD expressions are not just a new form of table calculations. Technically they operate quite differently and although there is some overlap in the problems they can solve there is generally a clear line in determining which to use. The following table shows how the two types of calculation differ:
| Table Calculations | LOD Expressions | |
| Table calculations are generated from the query results.
WINDOW_AVG(SUM([Sales])) |
LOD expressions are generated as part of the query to the underlying data source. They are expressed as a nested select so are dependent on DBMS performance:
SELECT T1.[State],SUM(T2.[Sales per County, State]) |
|
| Table calculations can only produce results that are less granular than the Viz LOD. | LOD expressions can produce results that are more granular than, less granular than or totally independent of the Viz LOD. | |
| Dimensions that control the operation of a table calculation are separate from the calculation syntax and specified in the “compute using” or “running along” menus. | Dimensions that control the calculation for a LOD expression are embedded in the calculation syntax. For INCLUDE and EXCLUDE expressions these are relative to the Viz LOD, for FIXED expressions these are absolute. | |
| Table calculations are always aggregated measures. | Calculated fields with LOD expressions can be measures, aggregated measures or dimensions. INCLUDE/EXCLUDE expressions are always measures or aggregated measures. FIXED expressions are dimensions by default but can also be used as measures. | |
| Table calculations cannot be used in other constructs. | LOD expressions can be used in other constructs such as bins, groups, etc. | |
| Filters on table calculations act as a hide – they do not remove records from the result set. | Filters on LOD expressions act as an exclude – they remove records from the result set. Depending on whether the expression is FIXED or INCLUDE/EXCLUDE it is evaluated at different stages of the visualisation pipeline. |
The Last Data Bender 
Very helpful! Thanks for compiling these comparisons.
Great series Alan! Definitely helpful for me to wrap my mind around LoD expressions. Thanks!