Sum() calculates the total of the values given by the expression or field across the aggregated data.
Syntax:
Sum([{SetExpression}] [DISTINCT] [TOTAL [<fld {,fld}>]] expr])
Return data type: numeric
Arguments:
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| expr | The expression or field containing the data to be measured. |
| SetExpression | By default, the aggregation function will aggregate over the set of possible records defined by the selection. An alternative set of records can be defined by a set analysis expression. |
| DISTINCT | If the word
DISTINCT occurs before the function
arguments, duplicates resulting from the evaluation of the function arguments are disregarded. Information noteAlthough the DISTINCT qualifier is supported, use it only with extreme caution because it may mislead the reader into thinking a total value is shown when some data has been omitted. |
| TOTAL |
If the word TOTAL occurs before the function arguments, the calculation is made over all possible values given the current selections, and not just those that pertain to the current dimensional value, that is, it disregards the chart dimensions. By using TOTAL [<fld {.fld}>], where the TOTAL qualifier is followed by a list of one or more field names as a subset of the chart dimension variables, you create a subset of the total possible values. |
Examples and results:
| Customer | Product | UnitSales | UnitPrice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astrida | AA | 4 | 16 |
| Astrida | AA | 10 | 15 |
| Astrida | BB | 9 | 9 |
| Betacab | BB | 5 | 10 |
| Betacab | CC | 2 | 20 |
| Betacab | DD | - | 25 |
| Canutility | AA | 8 | 15 |
| Canutility | CC | - | 19 |
| Examples | Results |
|---|---|
|
Sum(UnitSales) |
38. The total of the values in UnitSales. |
|
Sum(UnitSales*UnitPrice) |
505. The total of UnitPrice multiplied by UnitSales aggregated. |
|
Sum(TOTAL UnitSales*UnitPrice) |
505 for all rows in the table as well as the total, because the TOTAL qualifier means the sum is still 505, disregarding the chart dimensions. |
|
Make the selection Customer B. Sum({1} TOTAL UnitSales*UnitPrice) |
505, independent of the selection made, because the Set Analysis expression {1} defines the set of records to be evaluated as ALL, no matter what selection is made. |
Data used in examples:
ProductData:
LOAD * inline [
Customer|Product|UnitSales|UnitPrice
Astrida|AA|4|16
Astrida|AA|10|15
Astrida|BB|9|9
Betacab|BB|5|10
Betacab|CC|2|20
Betacab|DD||25
Canutility|AA|8|15
Canutility|CC||19
] (delimiter is '|');