How to Change the Format for Each Item in a Dimension/Measure

Published: 02 Dec 2022
Last Modified Date: 05 Dec 2022

Question

How to set the format for each item in a dimension/measure.
For example, in the below crosstab, how to set the format for "Discount" as [percentage] and others as [Integer]?
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This technique is needed after you pivot many measure fields to one measure which should have different formats.

Environment

Tableau Desktop

Answer

Although it is possible to individually format each measure, the ability to change the format for each item in a measure is not implemented in Tableau Desktop at this time.

Please consider the below workaround:
Use the IF statement to format a numerical value in each item and then change it to a string (STR).

The steps are as follows.
1. Make a calculation to format each item and set them as Strings.

IF MIN([Field Names])="Discount" THEN STR(ROUND(AVG([Values]),1))+"%"
ELSEIF MIN([Field Names])="Profit" THEN STR(ROUND(AVG([Values]),1))
ELSEIF MIN([Field Names])="Quantity" THEN STR(ROUND(AVG([Values])))
ELSEIF MIN([Field Names])="Sales" THEN STR(ROUND(AVG([Values])))
END

2. Add the calculations make in Step 1 to [Text] mark
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