Create a custom group

The Group calculated field type lets you create ad hoc custom groups for dimensions without needing to develop CASE WHEN expressions in calculated fields or logic in SQL.

This can be helpful when you want to assign fixed labels or category names to values that match specific conditions, for example, by grouping specific states or countries into regions or order costs into categories.

This page provides an overview of how to perform the following tasks:

• Create a custom group in your data source
• Edit a custom group in your data source
• Create a chart-specific custom group
• Edit a chart-specific custom group
• Reuse a chart-specific custom group

For more information about custom groups, see the Related resources section on this page and the Create a custom group example on the About calculated fields page.

Create a custom group in your data source

Custom groups that are created in data sources are available in any report that uses that data source. To create a custom group in a data source, follow these steps:

Alternatively, you can create a custom group in your data source from a report by following these steps:

1. Create or edit your report.
2. Click Add a field in the Data panel.
3. Select Add group.
4. From the Selected field to group by drop-down menu, select an existing field to group by.
5. Specify a name in the New field name field.
   • This name is the default name that appears in your reports. You can change this name for individual charts by editing the name in the dimension picker.
   • The field name must be unique.
   • You can't use a reserved keyword as the field name.
6. Edit the default ID that is provided in the New field ID field, as desired. This ID is used by Looker Studio to identify a field as an alternative to the field name.
7. Define the criteria for each group.
   • In the Group Name field, specify a label for the first group of values.
   • Select Include or Exclude from the Include or Exclude drop-down menu. This specifies whether the group will include or exclude the condition criteria that you create in the next step.
   • Select a condition from the Condition drop-down menu.

   • Specify the values for the condition in the Group values field.

     If you select the IN function, press the Enter key (PC) or Return key (Mac) to input each value.

   • To add more groups for that dimension, click the Add group button, and repeat the previous steps to set the group condition.

     A maximum of 195 total groups can be created for each Group calculated field.
   • Optionally, select the Group remaining values as a new group checkbox to create a category for grouping all other values that do not satisfy any group conditions.
     
     In the Group name for remaining values field, specify a label.
8. Click Save.

See the Create a custom group example on the About calculated fields page.

Edit a custom group in your data source

Custom groups and calculated fields appear in the data source with an fx symbol. To edit the formula, click fx next to the field name. This action opens the formula editor, where you can adjust the field as needed.

Create a chart-specific custom group

Chart-specific custom groups exist only in the chart in which you create them.

To create a chart-specific custom group, follow these steps:

1. Create or edit your report.
2. Add a new chart or select an existing chart.
3. In the Setup tab of the Properties panel, click + Add dimension.
4. At the bottom of the field list, click + ADD GROUP.
5. From the Selected field to group by drop-down menu, select an existing field to group by.
6. Specify a name in the New field name field.
   • This name is the default name that appears in your reports. You can change this name for individual charts by editing the name in the dimension picker.
   • The field name must be unique.
   • You can't use a reserved keyword as the field name.
7. Define the criteria for each group.
   • In the Group Name field, specify a label for the first group of values.
   • Select Include or Exclude from the Include or Exclude drop-down menu. This specifies whether the group will include or exclude the condition criteria that you create in the next step.
   • Select a condition from the Condition drop-down menu.

   • Specify the values for the condition in the Group values field.

     If you select the IN function, press the Enter key (PC) or Return key (Mac) to input each value.

   • To add more groups for that dimension, click the Add group button, and repeat the previous steps to set the group condition.

     A maximum of 195 total groups can be created for each Group calculated field.
   • Optionally, select the Group remaining values as a new group checkbox to create a category for grouping all other values that do not satisfy any group conditions.
     
     In the Group name for remaining values field, specify a label.
8. Click Save.

Edit a chart-specific custom group

Chart-specific calculated fields appear in the chart Properties panel on the Setup tab.

When you hover your cursor over the field type next to the field name, an fx symbol will appear. To edit the formula, click fx. This brings up the formula editor, where you can adjust the field as needed.

Reuse a chart-specific custom group

Chart-specific calculated fields exist only in the chart in which you create them. You can't directly reuse a chart-specific calculated field nor reference it in other calculated fields.

However, you can copy a chart that contains chart-specific calculated fields. The copy will contain any calculated fields that were defined in the original. You can then edit the fields as needed in the new chart.

Related resources

• About calculated fields
• Create a custom group example
• Add, edit, and troubleshoot calculated fields
• Edit fields