My step-by-step blueprint for using Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio)
Get the FREE ebook on Looker Studio (75 Pages)
Yes I want the FREE ebook
Last Updated: November 26, 2022
Note: Google Data Studio is now known as Looker Studio.
If a data field in your data source can have only one of the two possible values: true or false then you should use the Boolean field while setting up your data source schema.
For example, consider the following Google Sheets data source:
Here the field ‘Is Revenue > Forecasted Revenue’ can have only two possible values: TRUE or FALSE.
For Google Sheets, the values TRUE and FALSE are of type boolean.
So, when setting up the data source schema, we should set the data type of the field ‘Is Revenue > Forecasted Revenue’ to ‘Boolean’:
This seems pretty straightforward, doesn’t it?
But here is the thing.
This is not going to work.
When you create a report from this data source schema which uses the ‘Is Revenue > Forecasted Revenue’ field, you will get a system error:
That happened because Looker Studio did not recognize the boolean values stored in Google Sheets as a boolean value. Instead, it treats these boolean fields as ‘text’ fields:
No matter how you store boolean values in Google Sheets (whether as true/false, TRUE/FALSE, 0/1, yes/no), Looker Studio won’t recognize them as boolean values.
So, if you want to use a boolean field in Looker Studio then you would need to create and use a calculated metric.
Step-1: Navigate to your data source schema editor and then change the data type of the field ‘Is Revenue > Forecasted Revenue’ from boolean to text:
Step-2: At the top right-hand side of your data source schema editor, find and click on the ‘ADD A FIELD’ button to create a new calculated field:
Step-3: Enter the name of your new calculated field. For example: ‘[NEW] Is Revenue > Forecasted Revenue’:
Step-4: Type the following text in the ‘Formula’ field:
case when
followed by a white space:
Step-5: Hover your mouse over the field ‘Is Revenue > Forecasted Revenue’ then click on the + button:
After clicking on the + button, your formula field would look something like the one below:
Step-6: Enter a white space and then type the following text in your formula field:
= “TRUE” then true else false end
Make sure you see the green-colored checkmark at the bottom of the formula box.
This checkmark indicates that you have entered the formula correctly.
If the formula that you have entered is not correct then you will see this symbol instead of the green checkmark.
I entered the following formula:
case when Is Revenue > Forecasted Revenue = “TRUE” then true else false end
This means if the value of the field ‘Is Revenue > Forecasted Revenue’ is ‘TRUE’ then return true.
Otherwise, return false.
The following formula won’t work:
In Looker Studio, you can compare a dimension or metric only with a literal value.
Here we are comparing the ‘Revenue’ dimension with another dimension called ‘Forecasted Revenue’ via the logical expression: Revenue > Forecasted Revenue
Step-7: Click on the ‘FORMAT FORMULA‘ button to make your formula more readable:
After clicking on the ‘FORMAT FORMULA‘ button your formula would look like the one below:
Step-8: Click on the ‘Save’ button.
Step-9: Now click on ‘All Fields’ in order to navigate back to the data source schema editor:
You should now see the new calculated field, listed in your data source schema:
Note: All calculated fields have got this ‘fx’ symbol through which you can easily spot them.
Now when you create a report based on this data source schema which uses the new calculated field, it would look like the one below:
Following is a short video that shows how I created the calculated field and then used it in my report:
"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 BeyondSECOND EDITION OUT NOW!
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.
About the Author
Himanshu Sharma
Founder, OptimizeSmart.com
Over 15 years of experience in digital analytics and marketing
Author of four best-selling books on digital analytics and conversion optimization
Nominated for Digital Analytics Association Awards for Excellence
Runs one of the most popular blogs in the world on digital analytics
Consultant to countless small and big businesses over the decade
Get the FREE ebook on Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio) (75 pages)
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.