Replace the data source for a component, page, or report

You can replace the data source for selected charts and controls, the current page, or the entire report. Reasons you might want to do this include:

• Copying a report and replacing your data source with a client's data source.
  • See also: Add a data control to a report.
• Testing a report with no email filters applied, then switching to a data source with email filtering.
• Switching the data source for a selected component from one account, sheet, or database table to another.
• Overriding the default page or report-level data source.

What happens when you replace a data source

When you replace a data source in your report, Looker Studio tries to map the fields in the old data source to the fields in the new data source based on a number of matching criteria, including field ID, field name, and other configuration information from the report itself. Looker Studio won't try to map your old fields in calculated fields and filters.

If no suitable match is found, your report may display components with the following message:

Chart configuration incomplete
Invalid/Missing dimensions, metrics, filters.

To fix this, edit the incomplete components and select new dimension, metric, sorting, and/or date range fields.

We strongly recommend that you review your entire report for accuracy after you replace any data sources that are used in the report.

Replace a component data source

1. Edit your report.
2. Select one or more charts or controls.
3. In the selected component's Properties panel, select the Setup tab.
4. In the Data source section, click the current data source name.
5. Select an existing data source from the options that are listed, or click + Add data to add a new data source.
   1. Learn more about creating a data source.
6. If prompted, click Add to report.

Replacing the data source for one component has no effect on the other components in your report.

Replace a page or report-level data source

Most reports won't have page or report-level data sources unless you've explicitly set them. Setting a data source at the page or report level has no effect on existing components in your report. Instead, new components that you add use the page or report-level data source by default.

Replacing a page or report-level data source follows the same process as outlined previously.

Replace the data source for the current page

1. Edit your report.
2. Navigate to a specific page.
3. In the top navigation, first select Page and then select Current page settings to open the Current Page Settings panel.
4. In the Current Page Settings panel, select the Setup tab, and then click the current data source (or Select Data Source, if no data source has been added).
5. Select an existing data source or create a new one.
6. If prompted, click Add to report.

Replace the data source for the entire report

1. Edit your report.
2. In the top navigation, select File and then select Report settings to open the Report Settings panel.
3. In the Report Settings panel, click the current data source (or Select Data Source, if no data source has been added).
4. Select an existing data source or create a new one.
5. If prompted, click Add to report.

Related resources

Edit the data source connection.