Data Sources in Google Data Studio – Tutorial
What is a data source in Google Data Studio?
A data source is a Data Studio file that is used to define how a connector should provide data from a specific data set to the report(s) in Data Studio.
You create a data source for a specific data set. So if you want to display data from multiple data sets in your Data Studio report then you would need to create a separate data source for each data set and then add each data source to your report.
Introduction to data sets
A data set is a place where your collected data actually resides.
Every data platform is made up of one or more data sets.
For example, the Google Analytics platform is made up of one or more reporting views. So a specific Google Analytics reporting view is an example of a data set.
Similarly, the Google Sheets platform is made up of one or more spreadsheets. So a specific Google spreadsheet is an example of a data set.
Data source connection
A data source connection is a connection between your data source and data set.
Editing a data source connection means changing how a data source connects to your data set. When you create or edit a data source connection, you are asked to select the data set you to want to use:
Get the ebook on Google Data Studio (50+ Pages)
The data source editor
The data source editor is used to do data modeling in Google Data Studio.
In order to open the data source editor of an existing data source, follow the steps below:
Step-1: Navigate to the home page of the Google Data Studio.
Step-2: Click on the ‘Data Sources’ tab:
Step-3: Locate your data source and then click it to open the data source editor:
Here is how the data source editor looks like:
Following are the various Data source editor legends:
#1 Data Studio logo – click on it to navigate to the home page-
#2 Data Source name – click on it to change the name of your data source.
#3 Data Source Credentials
#4 Data Source Freshness
#5 Community visualization access
#6 Field editing in reports
#7 Data Source Version History
#8 Share data source
#9 Get help on Google Data Studio.
#10 Navigate to other Google Marketing product (like Google Analytics, GTM, etc)
#11 Edit data source connection
#12 Data Source fields
#13 Data source fields’ types
#14 Default aggregation
#15 Description of the data source field
#16 Search fields
#17 Make a copy of the data source
#18 Create a new report from the data source
#19 Create a new exploration from the data source
#20 Add a new calculated field
#21 Refresh data source fields
#22 Number of fields in the data source
#23 Sort the schema in ascending or descending order:
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Maths and Stats for Web Analytics and Conversion Optimization
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Master the Essentials of Email Marketing Analytics
This book focuses solely on the ‘analytics’ that power your email marketing optimization program and will help you dramatically reduce your cost per acquisition and increase marketing ROI by tracking the performance of the various KPIs and metrics used for email marketing.
Attribution Modelling in Google Analytics and Beyond
Attribution modelling is the process of determining the most effective marketing channels for investment. This book has been written to help you implement attribution modelling. It will teach you how to leverage the knowledge of attribution modelling in order to allocate marketing budget and understand buying behaviour.
Attribution Modelling in Google Ads and Facebook
This book has been written to help you implement attribution modelling in Google Ads (Google AdWords) and Facebook. It will teach you, how to leverage the knowledge of attribution modelling in order to understand the customer purchasing journey and determine the most effective marketing channels for investment.
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Digital Marketing Consultant and Founder of Optimizesmart.com
What is a data source in Google Data Studio?
A data source is a Data Studio file that is used to define how a connector should provide data from a specific data set to the report(s) in Data Studio.
You create a data source for a specific data set. So if you want to display data from multiple data sets in your Data Studio report then you would need to create a separate data source for each data set and then add each data source to your report.
Introduction to data sets
A data set is a place where your collected data actually resides.
Every data platform is made up of one or more data sets.
For example, the Google Analytics platform is made up of one or more reporting views. So a specific Google Analytics reporting view is an example of a data set.
Similarly, the Google Sheets platform is made up of one or more spreadsheets. So a specific Google spreadsheet is an example of a data set.
Data source connection
A data source connection is a connection between your data source and data set.
Editing a data source connection means changing how a data source connects to your data set. When you create or edit a data source connection, you are asked to select the data set you to want to use:
Get the ebook on Google Data Studio (50+ Pages)
The data source editor
The data source editor is used to do data modeling in Google Data Studio.
In order to open the data source editor of an existing data source, follow the steps below:
Step-1: Navigate to the home page of the Google Data Studio.
Step-2: Click on the ‘Data Sources’ tab:
Step-3: Locate your data source and then click it to open the data source editor:
Here is how the data source editor looks like:
Following are the various Data source editor legends:
 |
#1 Data Studio logo – click on it to navigate to the home page- |
 |
#2 Data Source name – click on it to change the name of your data source. |
 |
#3 Data Source Credentials |
 |
#4 Data Source Freshness |
 |
#5 Community visualization access |
 |
#6 Field editing in reports |
 |
#7 Data Source Version History |
 |
#8 Share data source |
 |
#9 Get help on Google Data Studio. |
 |
#10 Navigate to other Google Marketing product (like Google Analytics, GTM, etc) |
 |
#11 Edit data source connection |
 |
#12 Data Source fields |
 |
#13 Data source fields’ types |
 |
#14 Default aggregation |
 |
#15 Description of the data source field |
 |
#16 Search fields |
 |
#17 Make a copy of the data source |
 |
#18 Create a new report from the data source |
 |
#19 Create a new exploration from the data source |
 |
#20 Add a new calculated field |
 |
#21 Refresh data source fields |
 |
#22 Number of fields in the data source |
#23 Sort the schema in ascending or descending order:
Register for the FREE TRAINING...
"How to use Digital Analytics to generate floods of new Sales and Customers without spending years figuring everything out on your own."
Here’s what we’re going to cover in this training…
#1 Why digital analytics is the key to online business success.
#2 The number 1 reason why most marketers are not able to scale their advertising and maximize sales.
#3 Why Google and Facebook ads don’t work for most businesses & how to make them work.
#4 Why you won’t get any competitive advantage in the marketplace just by knowing Google Analytics.
#5 The number 1 reason why conversion optimization is not working for your business.
#6 How to advertise on any marketing platform for FREE with an unlimited budget.
#7 How to learn and master digital analytics and conversion optimization in record time.
My best selling books on Digital Analytics and Conversion Optimization
Maths and Stats for Web Analytics and Conversion Optimization
This expert guide will teach you how to leverage the knowledge of maths and statistics in order to accurately interpret data and take actions, which can quickly improve the bottom-line of your online business.
Master the Essentials of Email Marketing Analytics
This book focuses solely on the ‘analytics’ that power your email marketing optimization program and will help you dramatically reduce your cost per acquisition and increase marketing ROI by tracking the performance of the various KPIs and metrics used for email marketing.
Attribution Modelling in Google Analytics and Beyond
Attribution modelling is the process of determining the most effective marketing channels for investment. This book has been written to help you implement attribution modelling. It will teach you how to leverage the knowledge of attribution modelling in order to allocate marketing budget and understand buying behaviour.
Attribution Modelling in Google Ads and Facebook
This book has been written to help you implement attribution modelling in Google Ads (Google AdWords) and Facebook. It will teach you, how to leverage the knowledge of attribution modelling in order to understand the customer purchasing journey and determine the most effective marketing channels for investment.
Himanshu Sharma
Digital Marketing Consultant and Founder of Optimizesmart.com
