Calculated fields

Create ad-hoc custom dimensions and measures with Semantic SQL in workbooks, with help from AI or the field picker.

Calculated fields are ad-hoc dimensions and measures you add only to the current workbook report. They do not change the shared data model.

As described in Semantic SQL, Cube routes analysis through the semantic layer instead of sending arbitrary SQL straight to the warehouse. The runtime validates every request and applies your security policies. Semantic SQL builds on Postgres-compatible SQL—including the MEASURE() function—so you can express derived logic on top of existing semantic definitions with both flexibility and governance.

Calculated fields are expressed as Semantic SQL and pushed down to the Cube backend for evaluation. The semantic layer compiles them with the rest of the query—rather than applying them only in the browser—so the same validation, governance, and warehouse execution path apply as for any other Semantic SQL analysis.

Using AI to create calculated fields

You can ask the Cube AI agent to create custom calculations in natural language. The agent can add or refine calculated fields from different parts of the product—for example while exploring in Analytics chat or working in Workbooks—so you are not limited to a single entry point when you want a new metric or dimension for the analysis in front of you.

Creating calculated fields in UI

You can also build and edit calculated fields directly in the workbook. New fields appear in the Calculated fields section of the field picker sidebar.

Aggregations from existing dimensions

Right-click a dimension column header and choose an aggregation to create a calculated field automatically. Available aggregations depend on the column type:

Column type	Available aggregations
Number	Count Distinct, Sum, Average, Min, Max
Time	Count Distinct, Min, Max
String, Boolean	Count Distinct

Calculations from existing measures

Open the menu on a measure column header and use the Calculations submenu for derived calculations:

Calculation	Description
% of total	Ratio of the measure value to the total across all rows
% of previous	Ratio of the measure value to the previous row’s value
% change from previous	Percentage change compared to the previous row
Running total	Cumulative sum of the measure across rows

% of previous, % change from previous, and Running total require at least one dimension in the query.

Which calculations are offered depends on the measure’s aggregation type:

Aggregation type	Available calculations
Count, Sum	All calculations
Min, Max	Running total
Average, Count Distinct	None

Filtered measures

When working with query Results, pivot so at least one dimension is on columns, then open the header menu on a pivoted measure column and choose Create filtered measure. Cube adds a calculated measure that applies the column’s slice—for example, from Count broken down by Status, you get a measure that only aggregates rows matching that status (such as completed orders only).

The option appears only for native measures on pivoted columns, not for calculated fields. The same flow works in Explore when results are pivoted the same way.

Editing a calculated field

Select a calculated field in the sidebar to open the editor. You can change its name and SQL expression, then choose Update to apply.