10 Replies Latest reply on May 11, 2016 8:12 AM by Dmitry Chirkov

Tableau Data Engine Error: 4: cannot resolve type

Thijs Kloosterman Jan 7, 2016 5:48 AM

Hi,

I get the above error when I switch my workbook (in Tableau Desktop) from a live database connection to an extract. It only occurs after I introduced a LOD expression into one of the views...

The expression that seems to cause the problem:

{ FIXED [CountryName], [Sector], [Date] :

CASE [Select KPI]

WHEN 3 THEN [Select Turnover Growth Period]

WHEN 4 THEN [MGR/Turnover12M]

WHEN 5 THEN [OCR]

END}

Again, there are no issues when I use a live connection, but I get the error once I use an extract. Which is a real problem given that I need to upload the workbook to Tableau Online!

After I get the error, I can click OK and continue, but then the view that the expression is in, is completely broken.

Any help?

Thanks,

1. Re: Tableau Data Engine Error: 4: cannot resolve type

Dan Cory Jan 8, 2016 4:43 PM (in response to Thijs Kloosterman)

What are the types of the columns [Select Turnover Growth Period], [MGR/Turnover12M], and [OCR]? They all need to be the same. Can you post the contents of the "Describe Field" dialog for each one?

Dan
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2. Re: Tableau Data Engine Error: 4: cannot resolve type

Thijs Kloosterman Jan 11, 2016 4:53 AM (in response to Dan Cory)

Select Turnover Growth Period

Role:
Continuous Measure
Type:
Calculated Field
Status:
Valid

MGR/Turnover12M

Role:
Continuous Measure
Type:
Calculated Field
Status:
Valid

OCR

Role:
Continuous Measure
Type:
Calculated Field
Status:
Valid
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3. Re: Tableau Data Engine Error: 4: cannot resolve type

Dan Cory Jan 11, 2016 8:15 AM (in response to Thijs Kloosterman)

Thanks Thijs! If they are all calculations, then the issue will relate to the calculation expressions and the definitions of the fields mentioned in the calculations. Can you post all of that?

Dan
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4. Re: Tableau Data Engine Error: 4: cannot resolve type

Thijs Kloosterman Jan 11, 2016 8:48 AM (in response to Dan Cory)

Yeah sure I could do that, but I've used those calculated fields in other views without a problem. Only when I added the fixed part in the first expression, things 'broke'....

Select Turnover Growth Period is a case when that selects 1 of 6 similar calculated fields, of which this is one example:
TurnoverGrowth1M

Role:
Continuous Measure
Type:
Calculated Field
Status:
Valid

This field is then achieved by making a growth calculation of two measures in the databases: (value current year - value previous year) / value previous year. This is all repeated 6 times with similar fields.

MGR/Turnover12M just divides the sum of those two measures in the datasource.

OCR divides two measures as well, one original measure from the datasource, and the following field:
OccupancyCost_reportOCR

Role:
Continuous Measure
Type:
Calculated Field
Default aggregation:
Sum
Status:
Valid
Formula
IF [LeaseReportOCR] = 1
THEN[OccupancyCosts]
END

That is everything happening with the fields. But again, these never gave any problems until the intro of the FIXED calculation.

Thanks!
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5. Re: Tableau Data Engine Error: 4: cannot resolve type

Dan Cory Jan 11, 2016 9:00 AM (in response to Thijs Kloosterman)

Thijs - The error message you hit occurs when the Data Engine can't figure out the data type of a calculation. We see this occasionally with complex CASE expressions. One of the branches of the CASE isn't like the others or is just NULL and that's causing the problem. The FIXED expression is involved because that creates a new level of detail which also changes how we optimize the expression. Unfortunately I don't think I will be able to diagnose this without your workbook (just the TWB) and the logs. Since we don't like to post logs in the forums, you should talk to support and send that information to them. Refer to this thread so they'll know to contact me if they don't see the problem. Sorry you are having trouble and I was unable to help you directly here.

Thanks,
Dan
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6. Re: Tableau Data Engine Error: 4: cannot resolve type

Thijs Kloosterman Jan 12, 2016 12:28 AM (in response to Dan Cory)

Hi Dan,

Many thanks for your time and replies and for pointing me in the right direction! I will investigate the types I am using and proceed with support if necessary!

Thank you again,

Thijs
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7. Re: Tableau Data Engine Error: 4: cannot resolve type

Kelly McFerren May 10, 2016 8:17 AM (in response to Thijs Kloosterman)

Hi Thijs,

I'm wondering if you were able to get this resolved? I am running into the same issue using FIXED calculations... my live connection is working, but I receive the Tableau Data Engine 4 error when I switch to using an extract.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks,
Kelly
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8. Re: Tableau Data Engine Error: 4: cannot resolve type

Dan Cory May 10, 2016 8:33 AM (in response to Kelly McFerren)

Kelly -
I'm happy to have a look if you can post a workbook. I would need to be able to trace through all the calculations.

Dan
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9. Re: Tableau Data Engine Error: 4: cannot resolve type

Kelly McFerren May 11, 2016 8:06 AM (in response to Dan Cory)

Hi Dan,

I appreciate your offer to help... I actually forwarded my logs to our support rep and he will investigate further. I will post any feedback I receive in case it can help others!

Thanks,
Kelly
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10. Re: Tableau Data Engine Error: 4: cannot resolve type

Dmitry Chirkov May 11, 2016 8:12 AM (in response to Kelly McFerren)

Have you tried adding ELSE clause?
I've seen Tableau freaking out in cases when it's missing so internally we'd return NULL if none of conditions are met (might somehow happen).

-Dmitry
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