Change the data source for a chart, page, or report

Creates reports that use multiple data sources.

You select a default data source when you first create a report. Every chart and control you add to the report gets its data from that data source, unless you select a different one. You can specify a data source for each chart, control, or page. You can also set a default data source for the entire report.

This article describes how to change a single data source associated with a chart, a page, or the entire report. To learn how to combine multiple data sources in a single chart, please see this topic.

Change a chart's data source

These instructions also work for controls or other component's with data properties.

  1. Edit the report.
  2. Select a chart.
  3. In the selected component's Property panel, select the DATA tab.
  4. At the top of the left-hand panel, click the current data source name.
  5. In the Select Data Source panel, select an existing data source, or, at the bottom, click CREATE NEW DATA SOURCE.
    1. If desired, create the new data source.
    2. If prompted, click ADD TO REPORT.
  6. At the top of the Select Data Source panel, click the arrow to return to the properties panel. 
Changing the data source for one chart has no effect on the other charts in your report.
If the new data source has a different structure (schema) from the original one, the chart may display errors. You can fix those by selecting dimensions and metrics from the new data source.

What's the difference between "Attached data sources" and "Available data sources?"

The data source selector will usually show 2 lists of data sources: attached and available. An "attached" data source is one you've already added to the report. If you share the report with other editors, they can use any attached data sources, as long as they also have access to the underlying data set.

An "available" data source is one to which you have access, but have not yet added to the report. Sharing a report does not share your available data sources with other people.

Learn more about managing the data sources added to your reports.

Change the data source for the page or report

Setting a data source at the page or report level overrides the default data source you selected when you first created the report. New charts or components you add will use this data source instead of the default.

Set a data source for the current page

  1. Edit the report
  2. Navigate to the specific page (e.g. page 2)
  3. Select Page > Current page settings
  4. In the Current Page Settings panel, select the DATA tab, then click Select Data Source
  5. Select an existing data source or create a new one
  6. If prompted, click Add to report.

Set a data source for the entire report

  1. Edit the report
  2. Select File > Report settings
  3. In the Report Settings panel, click Select Data Source
  4. Select an existing data source or create a new one
  5. If prompted, click Add to report.
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