Amazon QuickSight – Preparing Data Fields

You can prepare the fields (columns) in your dataset for analysis before you begin analyzing and visualizing it. Field names and descriptions can be edited, data types can be changed, drill-down hierarchies can be set up, and much more.

Editing field names and descriptions

You can alter any field name and description from what the data source provides. If you update the name of a field used in a calculated field, ensure to modify it in the calculated field function as well; otherwise, the function will fail.

To change a field name or description:

• In the Fields pane on the data preparation page, click the three-dot icon next to the field you wish to modify. Then, select Edit name & description.

• Enter the new name or description you want to apply and click Apply.

Additionally, you can change the name and description of a field directly on the data preparation page. To do so, select the column header of the field you want to modify in the Dataset table at the bottom of the page. Make your changes there.

Setting fields as a dimensions or measures

Overview

In Amazon QuickSight, dimensions and measures play different roles in data analysis. Dimensions are text or date fields representing items or attributes, while measures are numeric values used for measurement, comparison, and aggregation. In the Field list pane, dimension fields have blue icons and measure fields have green icons.

Sometimes, Amazon QuickSight may interpret a field as a measure when you want to use it as a dimension, or vice versa. This guide will help you change the setting for a specific field.

Changing a Field’s Dimension or Measure Setting

Follow these steps to change a field’s dimension or measure setting in Amazon QuickSight:

• Locate the field: In the Field list pane, hover over the field you want to change.
• Select the appropriate option: Choose the selector icon to the right of the field name, and then select either “Convert to dimension” or “Convert to measure” as needed.

Keep in mind that changing a field’s measure or dimension setting will affect all visuals in the analysis that use that dataset. However, it will not change the setting in the dataset itself.