Looker Reports: an end-to-end demo

Key Concepts

Looker Studio in Looker, Looker Marketplace, Looker Blocks, LookML, ad hoc data, data visualization, BigQuery public data, data connectors, geographic data, combo maps, saving and sharing reports, folder permissions.

Studio in Looker Demo: Connecting Modeled and Ad Hoc Data

This demo walks through using Studio in Looker to create data visualizations by combining data modeled with LookML and ad hoc data. The process includes installing a Looker Block from the Looker Marketplace, connecting it to data, importing ad hoc data from an Excel file, building charts, and sharing the report.

Installing a Looker Block

1. Access Looker Marketplace: Navigate to the Looker Marketplace in the right-hand corner of the Looker instance.
2. Install ACS Demographic Data Block: Choose the "ACS Demographic Data Block." This block contains pre-written LookML, visualizations, and views for demographic data.
3. Follow Prompts: Click "Install" and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
4. Looker Blocks Explained: A Looker Block is a pre-built set of LookML containing visualizations and views, providing a foundation for data modeling. The ACS block contains pre-created views, simplifying the process of incorporating demographic data into reports.

Connecting Modeled Data and Building Visualizations

1. Open in Explore: Open the installed ACS Demographic Data Block in Explore to view the available data.
2. Open in a Report: Click "Open in a Report" to start building a Looker Studio report.
3. Delete Existing Charts: Remove any pre-existing charts that are not needed.
4. Add a Combo Map: Insert a new chart, specifically a "combo map," to visualize geographic data. Combo maps display data using colors on a 2D surface and 3D bars to represent variations in metrics.
5. Identify Geographic Data: The report initially may not recognize geographic data. Manually set the data type for the "Geography State" field to "geo data." This step might be necessary for other fields as well.
6. Model Data with the Map: Once geographic data is identified, it can be used to populate the map.
7. Select Metrics: Choose metrics to display on the map. In the demo, "aggregate travel time to work" and "income per capita by state" are selected.
8. Adjust Visualization: Modify the visualization by switching the metrics assigned to the bars and colors to highlight specific data variations. In this case, aggregate travel time is set to the bars to show greater variation between states.

Adding Ad Hoc Data

1. Import Ad Hoc Data: Import data from external sources, such as an Excel file containing industry data (number of people in each industry per state).
2. Connect to Data Source: Use a connector to link to the desired data source type and upload the data file.
3. Build a New Chart: Create a new chart to display the ad hoc data.
4. Identify Geographic Data (Again): Similar to the modeled data, the state field in the ad hoc data may need to be identified as geographic data. Edit the data type in the data source management settings.
5. Populate the Chart: Add the desired fields (industries and state) to the chart.

Saving and Sharing the Report

1. Save the Report: Click "Save and Share" to save the report.
2. Share with Team: Share the report with specific individuals or groups.
3. Folder Permissions: Sharing with a single person requires creating a top-level folder with access granted only to that person.
4. Move or Copy Report: To share with a group, copy the report to a folder that the group has access to.
5. File Management System: Use the file management system to locate the target folder and copy the report.

Conclusion

The demo showcases how Studio in Looker allows users to combine modeled data from LookML with ad hoc data sources to create comprehensive data visualizations. The process involves installing Looker Blocks, connecting to data sources, building charts, and sharing reports with appropriate permissions. The ability to integrate ad hoc data, previously unavailable in Looker, significantly expands the platform's analytical capabilities.