There are numerous customization options that you can do in Looker Studio, and one of them is changing the name of metrics and filters. Why would you do that, you ask? Well, there just might be some times when you would need or want to change the name of elements for whatever reason - be it for user-friendliness and understandability, to shorten, or simply preferences in naming convention. This quick and easy guide will show you how to change the name of metrics and filters in Looker Studio!
How to change the name of metrics and filters in Looker Studio
Select your Element
Navigate to the "SET-UP" column
Click on the pen icon next to the metric or dimension
Change the name and hit enter to apply
Frequently asked questions on changing the name of metrics and filters in Looker Studio
Why do you need to change the name of metrics and filters in Looker Studio?
You can change the name of any element, filter, data control, and other fields in Looker Studio following the same steps as outlined above. If you're wondering why this is important, there just might be some instances where you will need to change the name of metrics and filters for a variety of reasons.
For example, you might have an element such as a dropdown list. Let's say the dropdown list is for "Country", so you can filter the report to only show certain country's data. Now, if you're sharing this report with a stakeholder, you might want to change the name on the dropdown list to "Select Country" to make it more user-friendly and intuitive. This is just one area of application, but there might be other areas that necessitate a name change for these elements.
Can I use special characters or spaces in metric or filter names?
Looker Studio generally supports letters, numbers, spaces, and some special characters in metric and filter names. However, it's best to avoid overly complex characters to ensure compatibility and readability. Common special characters like underscores (_) and hyphens (-) are generally acceptable. However, it's best to avoid characters that may cause confusion or issues in formulas, such as slashes (/), backslashes (), and certain punctuation marks.
Can I rename multiple metrics at once?
Currently, Looker Studio does not support bulk renaming of metrics. Each metric must be renamed individually through the SET-UP column or data source settings.
Can I rename metrics and filters in shared reports?
Yes, if you have edit access to a shared report, you can rename metrics and filters. Be mindful that these changes will be reflected for all users who have access to the report. If you are a viewer or have only view access, you will not be able to make any changes.
What happens to the original metric name after renaming?
When you rename a metric through the SET-UP column, the metric name will only change for the particular element (e.g. scorecard, chart, etc) where the metric is displayed. It will not change the metric name in all instances throughout the report.
If you want the original metric name to be replaced in all instances throughout the report, you can instead navigate to the "Fields" section of your data source. Find the metric you want to rename, click on the pencil icon next to it, and enter the new name. Save the changes to update the metric name across your reports. Note that if the metric is used in other reports or dashboards, those will not be affected unless you update them manually.
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