# Summaries ## Overview

Variables can be summarised in two ways, both accessible from the **Summary** step of the **Variable** wizard. ## Row Summary A **Row Summary** is only applicable when the Variable has one or more [**Dimensions**](/dimensions/introduction-to-dimensions.md) applied. For instance, in the example below, the Variable has a `Membership Tier` Dimension applied, with three items: `Basic`, `Premium`, and `Platinum`. The Row Summary determines how the **All** line is calculated (in this case, a `Sum`).

Sum summary of a Variable with a Dimension

{% hint style="info" %} Note, when you apply Dimensions to a Variable, Models will try to apply the most appropriate type of Summary automatically for you, so most of the time you will not need to manually set one yourself. {% endhint %} The following Row Summary types are available:

Row Summary type	Details
`None`	No summary applied
`Sum`	Sum of all row values
`Auto`	Applies calculation of Variable (see details below)
`Rearranged`	Calculates value based on parent Variables (see details below)

A `Sum` Row Summary is commonly the desired output, but there are situations where a Sum total of rows is not a meaningful calculation, in which case you should choose between an `Auto` or `Rearranged` Summary. ### Auto Row Summary An `Auto` Row Summary is only available for **Calculation** Variables. In this case, the Summary is calculated by applying the default Calculation of the Variable to the Row Summary lines of the referenced Variables. > For instance, if the Variable's Calculation is `Profit Margin = Profit / Revenues` across several items, a Sum of Profit Margin is not meaningful. In this case, a useful Summary is to apply the calculation `Profit / Revenues` to the summary line of `Profit` and `Revenues`. {% hint style="warning" %} An Auto Row Summary will only work successfully if all referenced Variables have a Summary row themselves (or do not have a Dimension applied) {% endhint %} ### Rearranged Row Summary A `Rearranged` Row Summary is used when a meaningful summary value depends on the Variable parents' values. To apply a Rearranged Summary, we select the `Rearranged` option, and then select the parent Variable which we would like to rearrange. > For instance, if we have a Variable `Price`, across the `Membership Tier` Dimension (`Basic,` `Premium,` `Platinum)`, a meaningful summary output is the weighted average price across all tiers. > > Elsewhere in the Model, we calculate `Revenues = Price * Customers`. > > In the Summary step of the Variables wizard, we select `Rearranged` and then choose `Revenues` as the rearranged parent. Models then calculates the weighted average price as `Price = Revenues / Customers`, based on the Calculation of the `Revenues` Variable.

Screenshot showing Summary page of the Variable wizard, with a rearranged summary selected — Rearranged Summary example

## Column Summary A **Column** Summary generates a value for a Variable based on all periods of the Model. Column Summaries can be applied to all Variables and any number of Column Summaries can be added. The following Column Summary types are available:

Column Summary type	Details
Total	Sum of values across all periods
Average	Mean average of values across all periods
Min	Minimum value across all periods
Max	Maximum value across all periods
Last	Value at last period
CAGR	Compound Annual Growth Rate across all periods

Additional options: * A specific [**Number Format**](/number-formats/number-formats.md) can be selected for each Column Summary. * A divisor can be applied, to make the output smaller. Options are: `None`, `Thousands`, `Millions`, `Billions`, `Trillions` ## Multiple Summary Editing The Summaries of multiple Variables can be edited simultaneously by selecting the Variables and clicking the **Edit Summaries** button in the Variables context menu.

The Edit Summaries button — Edit summaries button

The `Rearranged` Summary option will not be available if edited multiple Variables at once. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://help.taglo.io/variables/summaries.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.