# Top

Top() evaluates an expression at the first (top) row of a column segment in a table. The row for which it is calculated depends on the value of offset, if present, the default being the top row. For charts other than tables, theTop() evaluation is made on the first row of the current column in the chart's straight table equivalent.

Syntax:

Top([TOTAL] expr [ , offset [,count ]])

Return data type: dual

Arguments:

* expr: The expression or field containing the data to be measured.

* offset: Specifying an offset n, greater than 0, moves the evaluation of the expression n rows further up from the current row. Specifying an offset of 0 will evaluate the expression on the current row. Specifying a negative offset number makes the Above function work like the Below function with the corresponding positive offset number.

* count: By specifying a third argument count greater than 1, the function will return a range of count values, one for each of count table rows counting upwards from the original cell. In this form, the function can be used as an argument to any of the special range functions. [Range functions](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/September2026/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/ChartFunctions/RangeFunctions/RangeFunctionsInCharts.htm)

* TOTAL: If the table is one-dimensional or if the qualifier TOTAL is used as argument, the current column segment is always equal to the entire column.

  [Defining the aggregation scope](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/September2026/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/ChartFunctions/define-aggregation-scope.htm)

Information noteA column segment is defined as a consecutive subset of cells having the same values for the dimensions in the current sort order. Inter-record chart functions are computed in the column segment excluding the right-most dimension in the equivalent straight table chart. If there is only one dimension in the chart, or if the TOTAL qualifier is specified, the expression evaluates across full table.

Information noteIf the table or table equivalent has multiple vertical dimensions, the current column segment will include only rows with the same values as the current row in all dimension columns, except for the column showing the last dimension in the inter-field sort order.

Limitations:

* Sorting on y-values in charts or sorting by expression columns in tables is not allowed when this chart function is used in any of the chart's expressions. These sort alternatives are therefore automatically disabled. When you use this chart function in a visualization or table, the sorting of the visualization will revert back to the sorted input to this function.

* Recursive calls will return NULL.

Examples and results:

Example 1:

Example table output

| Customer | Sum(Sales) | Top(Sum(Sales)) | Sum(Sales) + Top(Sum(Sales)) | Top offset 3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 2566 | 587 | 3153 | 3249 |
| Astrida | 587 | 587 | 1174 | 1270 |
| Betacab | 539 | 587 | 1126 | 1222 |
| Canutility | 683 | 587 | 1270 | 1366 |
| Divadip | 757 | 587 | 1344 | 1440 |

In the representation of the table chart shown in this example, the table is created from the dimension Customer and the measures: `Sum(Sales)` and `Top(Sum(Sales))`.

The column Top(Sum(Sales)) returns 587 for the all rows because this is the value of the top row: Astrida.

The table also shows more complex measures: one created from `Sum(Sales)+Top(Sum(Sales))` and one labeled Top offset 3, which is created using the expression `Sum(Sales)+Top(Sum(Sales), 3)` and has the argument offset set to 3. It adds the Sum(Sales) value for the current row to the value from the third row from the top row, that is, the current row plus the value for Canutility.

Example 2:

In the representations of table charts shown in this example, more dimensions have been added to the charts: Month and Product. For charts with more than one dimension, the results of expressions containing the Above, Below, Top, and Bottom functions depend on the order in which the column dimensions are sorted by QlikView. QlikView evaluates the functions based on the column segments that result from the dimension that is sorted last. The column sort order is controlled under Sort and is not necessarily the order in which the columns appear in a table. (Some rows are not shown, to save space.)

Example first table output

| Customer | Product | Month | Sum(Sales) | First value |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  | **2566** | - |
| Astrida | AA | Jan | 46 | 46 |
| Astrida | AA | Feb | 60 | 46 |
| Astrida | AA | Mar | 70 | 46 |
| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Astrida | AA | Sep | 78 | 46 |
| Astrida | AA | Oct | 12 | 46 |
| Astrida | AA | Nov | 78 | 46 |
| Astrida | AA | Dec | 22 | 46 |
| Astrida | BB | Jan | 46 | 46 |

Example second table output

| Customer | Product | Month | Sum(Sales) | First value |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  | **2566** | - |
| Astrida | AA | Jan | 46 | 46 |
| Astrida | BB | Jan | 46 | 46 |
| Astrida | AA | Feb | 60 | 60 |
| Astrida | BB | Feb | 60 | 60 |
| Astrida | AA | Mar | 70 | 70 |
| Astrida | BB | Mar | 70 | 70 |
| Astrida | AA | Apr | 13 | 13 |
| Astrida | BB | Apr | 13 | 13 |

Please refer to Example 2 in the Above function for further details.

Example 3:

The Top function can be used as input to the range functions. For example: `RangeAvg 
 (Top(Sum(Sales),1,3))`.

In the arguments for the Top() function, offset is set to 1 and count is set to 3. The function finds the results of the expressionSum(Sales) on the three rows starting with the row below the bottom row in the column segment (because the offset=1), and the two rows below that (where there is a row). These three values are used as input to the RangeAvg() function, which finds the average of the values in the supplied range of numbers.

A table with Customer as dimension gives the following results for the RangeAvg() expression.

Example table output

| Customer | RangeAvg<br>(Top(Sum(Sales),1,3)) |
| --- | --- |
| Astrida | 603 |
| Betacab | 603 |
| Canutility | 603 |
| Divadip | 603 |

**Data used in examples:**

`Monthnames:` `LOAD * INLINE [` `Month, Monthnumber` `Jan, 1` `Feb, 2` `Mar, 3` `Apr, 4` `May, 5` `Jun, 6` `Jul, 7` `Aug, 8` `Sep, 9` `Oct, 10` `Nov, 11` `Dec, 12` `];` `Sales2013:
` `crosstable (Month, Sales) LOAD * inline [
` `Customer|Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|May|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Oct|Nov|Dec` `Astrida|46|60|70|13|78|20|45|65|78|12|78|22` `Betacab|65|56|22|79|12|56|45|24|32|78|55|15` `Canutility|77|68|34|91|24|68|57|36|44|90|67|27` `Divadip|57|36|44|90|67|27|57|68|47|90|80|94` `] (delimiter is '|');`

To get the months to sort in the correct order, when you create your charts, go to the Sort tab of the chart properties, and mark the checkbox Expression under Sort by. In the expression box write `Monthnumber`.

## Learn more

* [Bottom](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/September2026/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/ChartFunctions/InterRecordFunctions/bottom.htm)
* [Above](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/September2026/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/ChartFunctions/InterRecordFunctions/above.htm)
* [Sum - chart function](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/September2026/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/ChartFunctions/BasicAggregationFunctions/sum.htm)
* [RangeAvg - script and chart function](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/September2026/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/ChartFunctions/RangeFunctions/rangeavg.htm)
* [Range functions](https://help.qlik.com/en-US/qlikview/September2026/Subsystems/Client/Content/QV_QlikView/ChartFunctions/RangeFunctions/RangeFunctionsInCharts.htm)