Looker Studio Date Functions and Formulas Explained

Looker Studio date functions can be a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of them, they're incredibly powerful.

The `DATE` function is a simple one, it takes three arguments: year, month, and day, and returns a date in the format YYYY-MM-DD. For example, `DATE(2022, 9, 1)` returns September 1, 2022.

As you start working with dates in Looker Studio, you'll quickly realize the importance of formatting them correctly. The `FORMAT_DATE` function allows you to change the format of a date to suit your needs.

Calculated fields in Looker Studio are metrics or dimensions you can create from existing fields by applying calculations or functions via formulas. They extend the capabilities and information in the data sources and are helpful when you want to process the field before using it.

You can create calculated fields to perform arithmetic calculations, manipulate string data, transform and manipulate time data, and perform logical operations. Calculated fields offer functionality equivalent to spreadsheet formulas and functions.

Here's what calculated fields look like in Looker Studio (you can identify them by the “fx” symbol):

To create a calculated field, you can start by selecting “Add a Field” and manually type in the formula. For example, to create an entirely new field to calculate the current date, you can type in CURRENT_DATE().

Using formulas in Looker Studio is a powerful way to manipulate and analyze data. You can use over 80 functions to create calculated fields and extend the capabilities of your data sources.

The MAX and MIN functions return the maximum and minimum values, while the UPPER function converts text to uppercase. You can also use the YEAR, MONTH, and DAY functions to extract the year, month, and day of a date or datetime value.

To create a new field or column, click the Formula button on the top of your data preview, enter the field details, and then click Add column when done. You can also check out the documentation on how to add formula-based columns.

Formulas are expressions that manipulate data to create new metrics or dimensions. In Looker Studio, formulas can be used to create calculations, mathematical operations, text manipulations, and date conversions.

You can create calculated fields to perform arithmetic calculations, manipulate string data, transform and manipulate time data, and perform logical operations. Calculated fields offer functionality equivalent to spreadsheet formulas and functions.

Here are some commonly used functions in Looker Studio:

You can use these functions to create custom formulas and calculated fields in Looker Studio. For example, you can use the AVG function to calculate the average order value (AOV) of your online sales.

Looker Studio provides over 80 functions that you can use inside your calculated field's formula. Each function handles specific needs, such as the MAX and MIN functions returning the maximum and minimum values.

You can use the UPPER function to convert text to uppercase, and the YEAR, MONTH, and DAY functions to extract the year, month, and day of a date or datetime value. For example, you can create a calculated field with an AVG function in its formula to display the average order value (AOV) of your online sales in a scorecard.

To create a new field or column with a formula, click the Formula button on the top of your data preview, enter the field details, and then click Add column when done. You can also check out the documentation on how to add formula-based columns.

Here's a quick rundown of common date formats:

Formatting your dates correctly is crucial, as Looker Studio's data formatting doesn't automatically transfer over to Google Sheets. To format dates in Google Sheets, highlight and select all the boxes with data sets in the American date format, then select the Custom Date and Time option under the Format menu.

Formatting in Google Sheets is crucial when working with data, especially when you're planning to use it in Google Looker Studio. The data formatting in Google Looker Studio doesn't automatically transfer over to Google Sheets.

Google Sheets defaults to the formatting used across the globe, which can lead to confusion when working with dates. The US format for a date is MM/DD/YYYY, whereas the format outside the US is DD/MM/YYYY.

To format dates in Google Sheets for compatibility with Google Looker Studio, select all the boxes with the data sets using the American date format. Then, go to the Format menu options and click on Number, then More Formats, and finally Custom Date and Time.

The best standard practice for dates in Google Looker Studio is to default to the format of YYYY-MM-DD. This format allows data sets to group more easily.

You can achieve this by selecting the year-month-day format from the Custom Date and Time options and then clicking Apply.

Using the right date format is crucial for clear visualizations. Google Looker Studio defaults to a specific format, but it's not always the most readable.

The US format for a date is MM/DD/YYYY, whereas the format outside the US is DD/MM/YYYY. This can cause confusion when trying to understand data sets.

To make your data sets more readable, you can format all the dates on a spreadsheet to be compatible with Google Looker Studio. The default format of YYYY-MM-DD functions as the best standard practice for dates written in Google Looker Studio.

A standard format like YYYY-MM-DD allows the data sets to group more easily. This makes it easier to compare and visualize data using different methods.

To format your dates correctly, follow these steps: highlight and select all the boxes with the data sets using the American date format, then click through the Format menu options.

Here's a summary of the most readable date formats:

Using a standard format like YYYY-MM-DD can make a big difference in the readability of your visualizations.

Looker Studio provides a wide range of functions that allow you to manipulate and transform your data, including date and time functions.

Date and time functions are used to format and manipulate date and time values. You can use functions like DATE, DATE_DIFF, YEAR, MONTH, DAY, TODAY, CURRENT_DATE, PARSE_DATE, and many more to work with dates and times.

Some commonly used date functions in Looker Studio include DATE, EXTRACT, DATE_ADD, and DATE_DIFF, which allow you to convert a string to a date value, extract a part of a date value, add a specified number of days to a date value, and calculate the difference between two dates, respectively.

Here are some of the most commonly used date functions in Looker Studio:

These date functions allow you to work with dates and times in a variety of ways, making it easier to analyze and visualize your data.

Time is a fundamental aspect of our lives, and working with it in Looker Studio can be a game-changer for data analysis. You can format dates and times in various ways to suit your needs.

The Looker Studio supports a variety of date and time types, including Year, Year Quarter, Quarter, and ISO Year Week, among others. These types allow you to be general when comparing times across a wide range or zoom in on the most specific aspects of the hour or minute.

To display the current date using calculated fields, you can create a new field by typing in CURRENT_DATE () and specifying a time zone. You can use the zone offset method, such as CURRENT_DATE (“+4”), for easier readability.

The calculated date field is a powerful feature in Looker Studio that allows users to manipulate and analyze data based on time. It offers flexibility to create custom date ranges, calculate time differences, or compare performance over specific periods.

Looker Studio provides a variety of date functions, including TODAY(), DATE_DIFF(), and EXTRACT(), which allow for advanced date-based reporting. These functions can be used to calculate how long a user remains active on a site or how long it takes to complete a transaction.

To format dates in Google Sheets for use in Looker Studio, you can select all the boxes with data sets in the American date format, go to the Format menu, and choose Custom Date and Time. This will allow you to select a year-month-day format, such as YYYY-MM-DD, which is the best standard practice for dates in Looker Studio.

Here are some common date and time types in Looker Studio:

By using these date and time types, you can improve readability for visualizations and make it easier to perform functions and edit formulas in Looker Studio.

You can display the current date using calculated fields in Looker Studio. To do this, start by selecting "Add a Field" and manually type in CURRENT_DATE ().

There are two ways to specify the time zone: typing in the Time Zone Name or using the Zone Offset Method. The zone offset method is easier to read and understand.

You can type in the time zone name, such as CURRENT_DATE ("America/Los Angeles, CA"), or use the zone offset method, such as CURRENT_DATE ("+4"). The zone offset method is more direct and user-friendly.

Calculated fields in Looker Studio are metrics or dimensions created from existing fields in the data schema or chart by applying calculations or functions via formulas. They can be used to perform arithmetic calculations, manipulate string data, transform and manipulate time data, and perform logical operations.

Here are the ways to display the current date using calculated fields in Looker Studio:

Note: You can use these methods to display the current date in any time zone.

When working with dates in Looker Studio, you'll often need to return a specific date value or calculate differences between dates. You can use the DATE function to construct a Date field or value from numbers, as seen in Example 3.

The DATE_DIFF function returns the difference in days between two dates, making it a powerful tool for analyzing time-based data. For instance, you can use DATE_DIFF to calculate the number of days between two dates, as shown in Example 3.

To return the current date, you can use either the TODAY or CURRENT_DATE function, both of which return the current date as of the specified or default timezone, as described in Example 3.

The DATE function can be used to convert a string to a date value, making it a useful tool for formatting date values. You can also use the EXTRACT function to extract a part of a date value, such as the year or month, as seen in Example 4.

Here are some commonly used date functions in Looker Studio:

You can also use the DATE_ADD function to add a specified number of days to a date value, as mentioned in Example 4.

Looker Studio provides over 80 functions that can be used inside calculated field formulas. Each function handles specific needs, such as the MAX and MIN functions for returning the maximum and minimum values.

You can use functions like UPPER to convert text to uppercase and YEAR, MONTH, and DAY to extract the year, month, and day of a date or datetime value. For example, you can create a calculated field with an AVG function in its formula to display the average order value (AOV) of your online sales in a scorecard.

To create a new field or column, click the Formula button on the top of your data preview, enter the field details, and then click Add column. You can also check out the documentation on how to add formula-based columns.

Formulas can be used to create calculations, mathematical operations, text manipulations, and date conversions. In Looker Studio, there are various types of formulas, including calculations, aggregations, and conditional statements.

To create a new calculated column, click the Formula button on the top of the data preview, fill in the Column Name and Formula fields, and select the appropriate data format and decimal precision. You can use various logical operators, functions, and existing fields to create the formula.

Here are some common functions used in Looker Studio formulas:

Formulas can be used to extract insights from data by creating new custom fields that are not directly available in the data source. By using formulas, you can manipulate data in different ways, such as hiding columns, applying filtering and sorting, and blending data from several apps into one dataset.

Looker Studio provides a wide range of functions that allow you to manipulate and transform your data. Over 80 functions are available to use inside your calculated field's formula.

To create effective and efficient formulas, keep it simple - simple formulas are easier to understand, maintain, and modify. Use comments, test formulas thoroughly, and use descriptive field names to help other users understand the purpose and functionality of the formula.

The MAX and MIN functions return the maximum and minimum values, while the UPPER function converts a text to uppercase. You can also use the YEAR, MONTH, and DAY functions to extract the year, month, and day of a date or datetime value.

Here are some commonly used functions in Looker Studio:

Keep it simple - Simple formulas are easier to understand, maintain, and modify. Avoid using complex expressions unless necessary.

Using comments in your formulas can help other users understand the purpose and functionality of the formula. This is especially important when working in a team or when you need to revisit your formulas after a while.

Testing your formulas thoroughly is crucial to ensure they produce the expected results. Always test your formulas before sharing them with others or using them in your reports.

Using descriptive field names is essential for clarity and understanding. Use intuitive names for your fields to help users understand their purpose.

Here are some tips to optimize performance in your formulas:

By following these best practices, you can create effective and efficient formulas that provide valuable insights into your data.

Looker Studio provides over 80 functions that you can use inside your calculated field's formula.

The MAX and MIN functions are commonly used to return the maximum and minimum values, respectively.

You can use the UPPER function to convert a text to uppercase.

The YEAR, MONTH, and DAY functions can be used to extract the year, month, and day of a date or datetime value.

To display the average order value (AOV) of your online sales in a scorecard, you can create a calculated field with an AVG function in its formula.

Annotations in Looker Studio can be used to highlight specific data points, making it easier to visualize and understand the data.

You can create annotations by using calculated fields, which can be used to assign a value of 1 to a metric on a specific date, as seen in the example where the date is "2023-09-03".

To display this as a vertical line on the chart, you can change the style of the metric to "Bar". This allows you to create a visual representation of the data point.

Looker Studio also supports data automation, which can be used to refresh reports at regular intervals. This feature can be especially useful for tracking data over time.

With 50+ data sources supported, including popular apps and services, you can automate data flow to Looker Studio and other destinations like Google Sheets, Excel, BigQuery, and Microsoft PowerBI.