Knowledge visualization is essential to understanding and speaking advanced data. A well-designed dashboard will help you monitor progress, establish traits, and make higher choices. Looker is a robust enterprise intelligence device that may aid you create stunning and informative dashboards. On this article, we’ll present you how you can construct a dashboard utilizing Looker with Google Sheets as your knowledge supply.
Looker is a cloud-based enterprise intelligence platform that means that you can discover, analyze, and visualize your knowledge. It’s straightforward to make use of and might be built-in with quite a lot of knowledge sources, together with Google Sheets. Google Sheets is a robust spreadsheet software that’s broadly used for knowledge storage and evaluation. By combining the ability of Looker and Google Sheets, you possibly can create dashboards which might be each visually interesting and informative.
On this article, we’ll stroll you thru the steps of constructing a dashboard utilizing Looker with Google Sheets as your knowledge supply. We’ll begin by creating a brand new Looker undertaking after which connecting it to your Google Sheets knowledge. We’ll then create a brand new dashboard and add some visualizations to it. Lastly, we’ll publish the dashboard so that you could share it with others.
Connecting Looker to Google Sheets
To attach Looker to Google Sheets, you’ll need to:
- Create a Google Sheets API key.
- Authorize Looker to entry your Google Sheets knowledge.
- Configure a Looker connection to your Google Sheets knowledge supply.
Making a Google Sheets API Key
1. Go to the Google Builders Console (https://console.builders.google.com/).
2. Click on on the “Credentials” tab.
3. Click on on the “Create credentials” button.
4. Choose “API key” from the drop-down menu.
5. Click on on the “Create” button.
6. Copy the API key that’s generated.
7. **Authorization and Configuration**
1. Go to the Looker admin panel (https://[your-looker-instance]/admin).
2. Click on on the “Integrations” tab.
3. Click on on the “Google Sheets” tab.
4. Click on on the “Authorize” button.
5. Enter the API key that you just created within the earlier step.
6. Click on on the “Join” button.
7. Upon getting licensed Looker to entry your Google Sheets knowledge, you possibly can configure a connection to your knowledge supply.
8. Click on on the “Connections” tab within the Looker admin panel.
9. Click on on the “New Connection” button.
10. Choose “Google Sheets” from the drop-down menu.
11. Enter a reputation for the connection.
12. Enter the URL of the Google Sheets spreadsheet that you just need to connect with.
13. Click on on the “Save” button.
Now you can use the Looker connection to entry your Google Sheets knowledge in Looker.
Making a New Dashboard
To create a brand new dashboard, click on on the “New Dashboard” button within the top-right nook of the Looker interface. It will open a brand new dashboard editor, the place you possibly can drag and drop visualizations onto the canvas. You can even add textual content, photos, and different parts to your dashboard.
Constructing a Dashboard from a Google Sheet
To start, you’ll need to create a brand new dataset in Looker based mostly in your Google Sheet. Upon getting created a dataset, you possibly can construct a dashboard based mostly on that dataset.
Steps to construct a dashboard utilizing a Google Sheet:
- Click on on the “Discover” tab within the Looker interface.
- Choose the dataset that you just need to use in your dashboard.
- Click on on the “Dashboard” tab within the top-right nook of the interface.
- Drag and drop visualizations onto the canvas.
- Prepare the visualizations as desired.
- Add textual content, photos, and different parts to your dashboard.
- Click on on the “Save” button within the top-right nook of the interface.
Upon getting saved your dashboard, you possibly can share it with different customers. To share a dashboard, click on on the “Share” button within the top-right nook of the interface. You may then enter the e-mail addresses of the customers that you just need to share the dashboard with.
| Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Dashboard Title | The title of your dashboard. |
| Dataset | The dataset that your dashboard relies on. |
| Visualizations | The visualizations which might be included in your dashboard. |
Filtering the Knowledge within the Chart
Looker Studio means that you can filter the info in your chart to give attention to particular subsets of your knowledge. To use a filter, navigate to the ‘Filters’ tab within the chart configuration panel. Right here, you will discover the ‘Dimension filters’ part, the place you possibly can choose the scale on which you need to apply the filter. Choose the specified dimensions and specify the filter situations, akin to equaling a particular worth or falling inside a specific vary.
Along with dimension filters, Looker Studio additionally provides ‘Metric filters’. Metric filters are used to filter the info based mostly on the chart’s metric values. Merely choose the ‘Metric filters’ part and select the related metric. You may then specify the filter situation, akin to being larger than or equal to a specific threshold.
The mix of dimension and metric filters supplies a robust technique to refine the info displayed in your chart, guaranteeing that you’re solely specializing in essentially the most related data. These filters might be added, eliminated, and edited as wanted to dynamically alter the chart’s presentation.
Utilizing a Management to Filter the Chart
You can even use a management, akin to a slicer or drop-down listing, to permit customers to interactively filter the info within the chart. To create a management, drag and drop a ‘Management’ object onto the dashboard. Configure the management’s settings, together with the info supply, dimensions, and filter choices. As soon as the management is ready up, customers can work together with it to dynamically change the info displayed within the chart, making it a wonderful device for empowering end-users with self-service filtering capabilities.
| Filter Kind | Description |
|---|---|
| Dimension Filter | Filters knowledge based mostly on the values of a dimension |
| Metric Filter | Filters knowledge based mostly on the values of a metric |
| Management Filter | Makes use of a management component to permit customers to interactively filter the info |
Making a Scorecard
A scorecard is a kind of dashboard that shows key efficiency indicators (KPIs) in a visually interesting and easy-to-understand means. Looker means that you can create scorecards by dragging and dropping KPIs onto a canvas, after which customizing the looks of the scorecard.
Including KPIs to a Scorecard
So as to add a KPI to a scorecard, merely drag and drop the KPI from the KPI Explorer onto the scorecard canvas. You can even add KPIs by clicking on the “Add KPI” button after which choosing the KPI you need to add.
Customizing the Look of a Scorecard
Upon getting added KPIs to a scorecard, you possibly can customise the looks of the scorecard by altering the structure, colours, and fonts. You can even add notes and descriptions to the scorecard to assist customers perceive the info.
Sharing a Scorecard
Upon getting completed making a scorecard, you possibly can share it with different customers by clicking on the “Share” button. You may share a scorecard with particular person customers or teams, and you may also set permissions for the scorecard.
Embedding a Scorecard
You can even embed a scorecard on a web site or weblog by clicking on the “Embed” button. It will generate an HTML code that you would be able to copy and paste into your web site or weblog.
Including a Textual content Field
Textual content packing containers let you add static textual content, akin to titles, subtitles, or labels, to your dashboard. So as to add a textual content field to your dashboard, comply with these steps:
- Within the modifying view, choose the “Textual content” form from the shapes toolbar.
- Drag and drop the form onto the canvas the place you need to place it.
- Click on on the form to open the properties panel.
- Within the properties panel, enter the textual content you need to show within the **”Textual content Content material”** subject.
- Customise the looks of the textual content by adjusting the **”Font”** kind, **”Measurement”**, and **”Coloration”**. You can even align the textual content **”Left”**, **”Middle”**, or **”Proper”**.
- So as to add formatting, akin to daring, italic, or underline, choose the textual content and use the formatting choices within the toolbar.
You can even add textual content packing containers to your dashboard utilizing the next keyboard shortcut:
**Home windows:** Ctrl+T
**Mac:** ⌘+T
Extra choices for textual content packing containers:
Along with the fundamental formatting choices, you may also use the next choices to customise your textual content packing containers:
- **Wrap textual content:** This selection will wrap the textual content within the field in order that it suits throughout the field’s boundaries.
- **Background coloration:** This selection will add a background coloration to the textual content field.
- **Border:** This selection will add a border across the textual content field.
- **Padding:** This selection will add padding to the within of the textual content field, which can improve the house between the textual content and the field’s borders.
- **Margin:** This selection will add margin to the surface of the textual content field, which can improve the house between the field and different parts on the dashboard.
| Possibility | Description |
|---|---|
| Wrap textual content | Wraps the textual content within the field in order that it suits throughout the field’s boundaries. |
| Background coloration | Provides a background coloration to the textual content field. |
| Border | Provides a border across the textual content field. |
| Padding | Provides padding to the within of the textual content field, which can improve the house between the textual content and the field’s borders. |
| Margin | Provides margin to the surface of the textual content field, which can improve the house between the field and different parts on the dashboard. |
Customizing the Dashboard
Looker provides a variety of customization choices to personalize your dashboard and improve its usability. Listed here are some key concerns:
Dashboard Structure and Design
Prepare the tiles and filters in your dashboard to create a logical stream and maximize consumer engagement. Make the most of coloration coding, icons, and labels to information customers and improve readability.
Knowledge Visualization
Discover numerous visualization choices akin to charts, tables, and maps to current knowledge in a compelling and accessible method. Regulate the chart sorts, axes, and legends to optimize knowledge presentation.
Filtering and Sorting
Incorporate filters into your dashboard to allow customers to refine the displayed knowledge. Present sorting performance to permit customers to prioritize and arrange the data based mostly on their preferences.
Interactivity and Collaboration
Add interactivity to your dashboard by permitting customers to drill down into knowledge, discover particulars, and share insights. Allow collaboration by offering choices for customers to share dashboards and add feedback or annotations.
Branding and Aesthetics
Customise the dashboard’s aesthetics to align along with your firm’s branding and preferences. Change the colour scheme, logos, and fonts to create a cohesive {and professional} visible expertise.
Exporting and Sharing
Export your dashboard in numerous codecs akin to PDF, PNG, or CSV to facilitate sharing and archiving. Allow straightforward sharing choices by means of social media integration or direct hyperlinks.
Superior Customization
For superior customization, make the most of Looker’s scripting capabilities to create customized widgets, calculations, and knowledge manipulation. This lets you lengthen the performance of your dashboard and cater to particular necessities.
Sharing the Dashboard
As soon as your dashboard is full, you possibly can share it with others to collaborate and supply insights. To share your dashboard:
- Click on the “Share” icon within the prime proper nook of the dashboard.
- Enter the e-mail addresses of the individuals you need to share with.
- Choose the extent of sharing permissions you need to grant (View, Edit, Admin).
- Add an optionally available message to allow them to know you have shared the dashboard.
- Click on “Share”.
Managing Shared Dashboards
After you have shared a dashboard, you possibly can handle the sharing settings from the “Shared with” tab.
- Click on the “Share” icon within the prime proper nook of the dashboard.
- Click on the “Shared with” tab.
- You will see an inventory of individuals you have shared the dashboard with.
- For every particular person, you possibly can see their sharing permissions degree.
- Click on “Edit” to vary the sharing permissions.
- Click on “Take away” to take away the particular person from the shared dashboard.
Collaborating on Shared Dashboards
As soon as a dashboard is shared, a number of individuals can collaborate on it on the similar time. Collaborators can:
- Make adjustments to the dashboard design and knowledge.
- Add or take away widgets.
- Filter or type knowledge.
- Share the dashboard with others.
Troubleshooting Dashboard Points
1. Test your knowledge supply
Make certain your knowledge supply is related correctly and that the info is up-to-date.
2. Test your filters
Make certain your filters are utilized accurately and that they aren’t excluding the info you need to see.
3. Test your visualizations
Make certain your visualizations are configured accurately and that they’re displaying the info you need to see.
4. Test your dashboard structure
Make certain your dashboard is specified by a means that is sensible and that the info is simple to learn.
5. Test your sharing settings
Make certain your dashboard is shared with the individuals who must see it.
6. Clear your cache
Generally, clearing your cache can resolve dashboard points.
7. Refresh your dashboard
Refreshing your dashboard can typically resolve points.
8. Contact help
When you’ve got tried all the above and are nonetheless having issues, please contact help.
9. Extra Troubleshooting Suggestions for Particular Points
| Problem | Resolution |
|---|---|
| Dashboard is loading slowly | Improve the dimensions of your knowledge supply or use a extra environment friendly knowledge supply. |
| Dashboard just isn’t displaying any knowledge | Test your knowledge supply connection and ensure your filters are utilized accurately. |
| Dashboard is displaying incorrect knowledge | Test your knowledge supply and ensure your visualizations are configured accurately. |
| Dashboard just isn’t updating mechanically | Make certain your dashboard is ready to refresh mechanically. |
Looker: How you can Construct a Dashboard Utilizing Google Sheets
Looker is a robust enterprise intelligence (BI) platform that enables customers to create interactive dashboards and studies. Looker can connect with quite a lot of knowledge sources, together with Google Sheets. This makes it straightforward to create dashboards and studies that visualize knowledge out of your Google Sheets spreadsheets.
To construct a dashboard utilizing Looker with Google Sheets, you’ll need to first create a Looker account and join it to your Google Sheets spreadsheet. Upon getting carried out this, you possibly can create a brand new dashboard and add visualizations to it. Looker provides quite a lot of visualization sorts to select from, together with charts, graphs, and tables.
Upon getting added visualizations to your dashboard, you possibly can configure them to show the info you need. You can even add filters and different controls to your dashboard to make it simpler to discover your knowledge. If you end up completed, you possibly can share your dashboard with others or embed it in your web site.
Individuals Additionally Ask About Looker How To Construct Dashboard Utilizing With Google Sheets
How do I join Looker to Google Sheets?
To attach Looker to Google Sheets, you’ll need to first create a Looker account and join it to your Google Sheets spreadsheet. Upon getting carried out this, you possibly can create a brand new dashboard and add visualizations to it. Looker provides quite a lot of visualization sorts to select from, together with charts, graphs, and tables.
Can I take advantage of Looker to create dashboards for my staff?
Sure, you need to use Looker to create dashboards in your staff. Looker provides quite a lot of options that make it straightforward to collaborate on dashboards, together with the flexibility to share dashboards with others and add feedback.
How do I embed a Looker dashboard on my web site?
To embed a Looker dashboard in your web site, you’ll need to first create a Looker account and join it to your Google Sheets spreadsheet. Upon getting carried out this, you possibly can create a brand new dashboard and add visualizations to it. Looker provides quite a lot of visualization sorts to select from, together with charts, graphs, and tables.
