Name Game: step 1 - simple measures
Jan 15, 2016
Step 1: Adding simple measures
In LookML, a measure is a summary or aggregate computation. The model below is really simple. We've just added a couple of measures: name count and total population. Now we should be able to answer lots of pretty basic questions about names.
Note: The code added in each step could be added to the view in Step 0. For this series of articles, we will instead use Looker's extend functionality to extend the prior step's view and then add new dimensions and measures. This enables us to just focus on the new functionality added for the current step.
#
# Add some very basic computations to
# calculate the number of different names
# the total size of the population
# make a new view, names_step_1
view: names_step_1 {
# use all the fields in names_step_0
# and add or change the following fields
extends: [names_step_0]
# number of Different Names
measure: name_count {
type: count_distinct
sql: ${name} ;;
drill_fields: [name, total_population]
}
# sum the populations
measure: total_population {
type: sum
sql: ${number} ;;
}
}
Explore!
All of the queries below can be created by Exploring from here. Select dimensions and measures, add filters and bonk the 'Run Button'.
Most common names
Notice that we have to go down to the 6th name to find a common female name.
Most common female names
Most common female names in recent years (in 2000 or later)
Population By state
Population by state for Mary
Population by state for Mary before 1920
Are there more names now, than in the past?
Yes, and you can see the baby boom too.
Are there more boy or girl names?
Girl names, by a wide margin.
Let's compare Lisa, Elijah, Emily, Lloyd and Frank over Time.
Simple widget that lets you compare names
Here is a simple widget that lets you compare names. CHANGE the Filters and see what you can learn about names.
Here's a list of all of the steps:
