13.8. Optional Metrics

Optional metrics provide users with the ability to choose which metrics they want to view on a chart from a predefined list. This feature is particularly useful when there are multiple metrics to choose from, and you want to avoid overcrowding the chart with too much information.

Use Case for Optional Metrics

Consider a car dealership with a website that has various buttons, filtering options, and interactive features. They define 20 different types of engagement metrics for their vehicle detail pages. Including all these metrics on a table would make the chart too crowded and hard to read. Enabling optional metrics allows the viewer to select which metrics they want to see on the chart from a list provided by the report creator.

Enabling Optional Metrics

To enable optional metrics in Looker Studio:

1. Click on the chart for which you want to enable optional metrics.
2. Under the chart's settings, enable "Optional Metrics".
3. Add the desired metrics to the list of optional metrics.

Once enabled, a new icon will appear in the chart header. Users can click on this icon to select and deselect the metrics they want to view on the chart.

Compatibility with Other Charts

Optional metrics work with various types of charts, including tables, bar charts, and time series. Users can choose different metrics from the list of optional metrics, and the chart will update accordingly.

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