Both report totals and break totals for tables can be calculated based on the column’s data function applied to surface values, or the underlying formula of the column. This option is controlled by the “True Total Computation” feature.
Underlying values refer to values from the original Results section. Surface values refer to values in the actual report section. The two approaches produce values that may be displayed incongruous with the values in the report.
To understand this difference between underlying and surface values, consider a simple table with two values of 20 and 30. Each of these is already a total of underlying values (20 = 8 +12 and 30 = 10 + 20). An average of the underlying value yields the result of 12.5 = (8 + 12 + 10 + 20) /4). An average of the surface value An average of the surface values yields the results 25 = (20 +30) / 2).
The True Total Computation enables you to standardize how total values in a computed column are calculated. When this feature is enabled, all total values are calculated based on the column’s data function applied to the surface values. When this feature is disabled, all totals are calculated based on the underlying formula of the column.
Pre Release 8.3.2 tables (legacy) tables use the calculation method where one total is calculated by the underlying computed item formula for its computation, and the other total applies the column’s data function to the surface values. You can change this behavior by also using the True Total Computation feature.
For legacy computed item columns, the “True Total Computation” feature shows the text “Legacy Total Computation” on the shortcut menu. This indicates that the column is using the inconsistent legacy total/break total computations.
To use true totals for the legacy table total or break total in a computed column:
Select the legacy computed column to which you want to apply the true total.
On the shortcut menu, select Legacy Total Computation.
When you select a column, “Legacy Total Computation” is displayed on the shortcut menu. This means that the column is using an inconsistent total/break total computation.
Selecting the Legacy Total Computation from the shortcut menu disables the feature.
An Alert dialog box indicates that the change cannot be undone: “This action cannot be undone. Are you sure you want to use True Total Computations for Total and Break Totals?”
True Totals are enabled for both Totals and Break Totals of this column.
The next time that you display the shortcut menu, “True Total Computation” is displayed as an option in place of “Legacy Total Computation”. At this point, you can no longer apply the legacy behavior to this column.