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 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 you review your entire report for accuracy after replacing any data sources used in the report.

Replace a component data source

1. Edit your report.
2. Select one or more charts or controls.
3. On the right, in the selected component's property panel, select the Setup tab.
4. Click the current data source name.
5. Select an existing data source, or, at the bottom, click 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 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 above.

Replace the data source for the current page

1. Edit your report.
2. Navigate to a specific page.
3. Select Page > Current page settings.
4. On the right, in Current Page Settings, select the Setup tab, 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. Select File > Report settings.
3. On the right, in Report Settings, 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.