In this section, we will explore how to create interactive and insightful dashboards using Google Data Studio, leveraging data from BigQuery. Data Studio is a powerful tool that allows you to visualize your data in a user-friendly and customizable way.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

1. Connect BigQuery to Data Studio.
2. Create and customize various types of charts and tables.
3. Build interactive dashboards.
4. Share and collaborate on dashboards.

1. Open Google Data Studio:

   • Navigate to Google Data Studio.
   • Sign in with your Google account.

2. Create a New Report:

   • Click on the + button to create a new report.
   • Select Blank Report.

3. Add Data Source:

   • Click on Add Data in the toolbar.
   • Choose BigQuery from the list of connectors.
   • Authorize Data Studio to access your BigQuery data.

4. Select Your BigQuery Project:

   • Choose the appropriate project, dataset, and table you want to visualize.
   • Click Add to include the data source in your report.

• Bar Chart: Useful for comparing categories.
• Line Chart: Ideal for showing trends over time.
• Pie Chart: Good for showing proportions.
• Table: Displays data in a tabular format.
• Geo Map: Visualizes data geographically.

• Dimensions and Metrics:

  • Dimensions are qualitative data (e.g., country, platform).
  • Metrics are quantitative data (e.g., number of users, events).

• Styling:

  • Customize colors, fonts, and sizes.
  • Add labels, legends, and tooltips.

1. Add a Chart:

   • Click on Add a chart in the toolbar.
   • Select Bar chart.

2. Configure Data:

   • Drag and drop dimensions and metrics from the data source.
   • For example, set country as the dimension and event_count as the metric.

3. Customize Appearance:

   • Use the Style tab to change colors, add labels, and adjust the layout.

• Date Range Control:

  • Allows users to filter data by date.
  • Click on Add a control and select Date range control.

• Dropdown List:

  • Enables users to filter data by specific dimensions.
  • Click on Add a control and select Dropdown list.

1. Add Control:

   • Click on Add a control in the toolbar.
   • Select Date range control.

2. Configure Control:

   • Link the control to the appropriate date field in your data source.

• Drill-Downs:

  • Allow users to click on a chart element to see more detailed data.
  • Enable drill-down in the chart settings.

• Cross-Filtering:

  • Filters applied to one chart affect other charts on the dashboard.
  • Enable cross-filtering in the report settings.

• Invite Collaborators:

  • Click on the Share button.
  • Enter the email addresses of your collaborators.
  • Set permissions (view or edit).

• Publish to Web:

  • Click on File > Publish to web.
  • Generate a public link to share your dashboard.

1. Click Share:

   • Click on the Share button in the top-right corner.

2. Add Collaborators:

   • Enter the email addresses of your team members.
   • Choose whether they can view or edit the report.

In this section, you learned how to connect BigQuery to Google Data Studio, create and customize various types of charts, build interactive dashboards, and share your work with others. These skills will enable you to transform raw data into meaningful insights and make data-driven decisions.

Next, we will explore real-world use cases of BigQuery, where you can apply these skills to analyze web and app analytics, financial data, IoT data, and more.