13.6. Page vs Report Level Parameters

In this lesson, we'll explore the differences between page-level and report-level parameters in Looker Studio and discuss how to manage them.

Page-Level Parameters

Page-level parameters are specific to individual pages within a report. When you change a page-level parameter, it doesn't affect other pages in the report.

For example, let's say you have a parameter called "forecast" with a default value of 2. If you change the value to 4 on one page, the value will remain 2 on other pages in the report.

Report-Level Parameters

Report-level parameters, on the other hand, apply across the entire report. When you change a report-level parameter, it updates the value on all pages in the report.

To make a parameter report-level, simply select the "Make Report-Level" option in Looker Studio. This ensures that user input is retained across the entire report.

Handling Different Scopes

In some cases, you might want a parameter to apply to the whole report, but with one exception—a single page that doesn't inherit the report-level value. To achieve this, create a page-level filter for that specific page.

However, managing these exceptions can be complex due to the hierarchy of parameters. When a page-level parameter is changed, it doesn't automatically update the report-level parameter. Conversely, when a report-level parameter is changed, it updates the page-level parameter only if the page-level parameter is still at its default value.

This hierarchy is important to understand, as it may lead to unexpected behavior when managing parameters in Looker Studio.

Key Takeaways

To effectively use page-level and report-level parameters in Looker Studio, remember the following:

Page-level parameters are specific to individual pages and don't affect other pages in the report.
Report-level parameters apply across the entire report and update the values on all pages.
Understand the hierarchy between page-level and report-level parameters to manage exceptions and avoid unexpected behavior.

Mastering these concepts and you'll able to create complex reports with different parameter scopes in Looker Studio!