Advanced QuickSight Calculations & Parameters
Master calculated fields, parameters, and dynamic controls for powerful dashboards.
Understanding Calculated Fields
Calculated fields allow you to create new data from your existing fields using mathematical operations, string functions, date functions, and conditional logic. They're essential for deriving insights that aren't directly available in your raw data.
📊 Common Calculation Patterns
(sum({sales}) - sum({sales_ly})) / sum({sales_ly}) * 100runningSum(sum({revenue}), [{date} ASC])ifelse({status} = 'Active', 1, 0)Working with Parameters
Parameters are named variables that can transfer values to your analysis. They enable dynamic filtering, conditional formatting, and user-driven dashboard interactions.
String Parameters
Use for region selectors, category filters, or any text-based controls.
Integer Parameters
Perfect for top N filters, year selections, or numeric thresholds.
Decimal Parameters
Great for percentage thresholds, price filters, or precise numeric controls.
DateTime Parameters
Essential for date range filters and time-based analysis.
Dynamic Controls
Controls are UI elements that let users interact with parameters. QuickSight offers several control types including dropdowns, text fields, sliders, and date pickers.
🎮 Pro Tip: Cascading Controls
Create dependent dropdowns where the selection in one control filters the options in another. For example, selecting a country can filter the available cities in a second dropdown.
🚀 Best Practices
- ✓Always name your calculated fields descriptively for easier maintenance
- ✓Use null handling functions to avoid calculation errors
- ✓Document complex calculations with comments for your team
- ✓Test edge cases like zero values and null data