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You can use Level of Detail (LoD) calculations to perform cohort analysis without creating query views or complex joins. This guide shows you how to identify a user’s first order date to track behavior and retention over time.

Requirements

To follow the steps in this guide, you’ll need:
  • Access to a dataset with an Order Date and User ID.
  • Restricted Querier or above connection permissions to build in the workbook .
1

Create the LoD field

First, define the aggregation that identifies the first order for each user.
  1. In the field browser in a workbook, find the Order Date field.
  2. Hover over the field and click the that displays, then Modeling > New Level of Detail field: New level of Detail Field
2

Configure the calculation

Set the scope of the calculation to ensure the date is fixed to the user regardless of other filters in your query.
  1. In the editing pane, select Fixed LoD Grouping.
  2. Under Fixed Dimension(s), select User ID to isolate each individual user’s activity. This sets the aggregation to find the minimum (first) Order Date for each User ID. Level of Detail field configuration pane showing Fixed LoD Grouping, User ID grouping, and minimum Order Date aggregation
3

Visualize the cohort

Once the field is defined, you can build your cohort grid to analyze user patterns.
  1. Using the field browser, select the new LoD field to serve as your cohort date.
  2. Select the original Order Date and Order Count.
  3. Pivot the LoD field by clicking the  icon next to the Level of Detail field header in the workbook, then select Pivot. This will allow you to see how these cohorts have purchased products over time. Level of Detail Cohort Visualization

Video walkthrough

Next steps

Now that you have built your cohort using LoD, you can further refine your analysis: