def get_col_total(self, col_label, default=None):
        """
        Return the total for the specified column. The default arg makes it possible to specify the return
        value if the column label is not found.

        Parameters
        ----------
        col_label: string
        default: string, optional, default None
            If column is not found determines the return value

        Returns
        -------
        total: int
        """
        grp_across_list = self.data["groupingsAcross"]["groupings"]
        col_dict = {grp['label']: int(grp['key']) for grp in grp_across_list}

        try:
            col_key = col_dict[col_label]
            return self.data["factMap"]['T!{}'.format(col_key)]["aggregates"][0]["value"]

        except KeyError:
            return default