In this section, we will explore how to add and configure basic charts in Google Data Studio. Charts are essential for visualizing data and making it easier to understand and analyze. We will cover the following topics:

1. Types of Basic Charts
2. Adding a Chart to a Report
3. Configuring Chart Settings
4. Practical Exercises

Google Data Studio offers a variety of basic charts that you can use to visualize your data. Some of the most commonly used charts include:

• Bar Chart: Used to compare different categories of data.
• Line Chart: Ideal for showing trends over time.
• Pie Chart: Useful for displaying the proportions of a whole.
• Table: Displays data in a tabular format.
• Scorecard: Shows a single metric value.
• Time Series: Similar to a line chart but specifically designed for time-based data.

To add a chart to your report, follow these steps:

1. Open your report: Navigate to the report where you want to add the chart.
2. Select the chart type: Click on the "Add a chart" button in the toolbar and choose the type of chart you want to add.
3. Place the chart: Click on the report canvas where you want to place the chart. You can drag and resize the chart as needed.

Let's add a bar chart to a report:

1. Open your report in Google Data Studio.
2. Click on the "Add a chart" button in the toolbar.
3. Select "Bar chart" from the dropdown menu.
4. Click on the canvas to place the chart.

Once you have added a chart to your report, you can configure its settings to customize its appearance and behavior. Here are some common settings you can adjust:

• Data Source: Select the data source for the chart.
• Dimensions and Metrics: Choose the dimensions and metrics to be displayed in the chart.
• Style: Customize the appearance of the chart, including colors, fonts, and labels.
• Filters: Apply filters to the chart to focus on specific data.

Let's configure the settings for the bar chart we added:

1. Select the chart: Click on the bar chart to select it.
2. Data Source: In the "Data" tab on the right panel, select the appropriate data source.
3. Dimensions and Metrics: Choose the dimension (e.g., "Category") and metric (e.g., "Sales") for the chart.
4. Style: Switch to the "Style" tab and customize the colors, fonts, and labels as desired.
5. Filters: Add any necessary filters to focus on specific data.

Here is an example of how you might configure a bar chart using the Google Data Studio interface:

To reinforce the concepts learned, complete the following exercises:

1. Open a new or existing report.
2. Add a line chart to the report.
3. Configure the line chart to display "Monthly Sales" over time.
4. Customize the style of the line chart to use a green line and larger data points.

1. Open your report.
2. Click on "Add a chart" and select "Line chart".
3. Place the chart on the canvas.
4. In the "Data" tab:
   • Data Source: "Sales Data"
   • Dimension: "Month"
   • Metric: "Monthly Sales"
5. In the "Style" tab:
   • Line Color: Green
   • Data Point Size: 8pt

1. Add a pie chart to your report.
2. Configure the pie chart to show the distribution of "Sales by Region".
3. Apply a filter to exclude regions with sales less than $10,000.

1. Open your report.
2. Click on "Add a chart" and select "Pie chart".
3. Place the chart on the canvas.
4. In the "Data" tab:
   • Data Source: "Sales Data"
   • Dimension: "Region"
   • Metric: "Total Sales"
5. Add a filter:
   • Filter: "Total Sales >= 10000"

In this section, we covered how to add and configure basic charts in Google Data Studio. We explored different types of charts, how to add them to a report, and how to customize their settings. By completing the practical exercises, you should now be comfortable with creating and configuring basic charts to visualize your data effectively. In the next section, we will delve into customizing reports further by using themes and styles.