Buttons in Looker Studio allow users to interact with the report even if they do not have editing privileges. They can be configured with three types of actions: as a link, as an action, or as a filter.
We covered the filter option in the post about the preset filter control.
Visit the post on how to add controls to your report in Looker Studio, if you need a refresher.
1. When to Use It?
When to use a button depends on the action you want to perform:
As a Link
Use this option when you want your user to access other pages of your report or an external link.
In Button action type, in its set-up, choose Navigation.
When you click on Insert link in the set-up, it allows you to add a specific page or the next, previous, first, or last pages.
You can also write the URL of the external link you want to add and click Apply.
As an Action
Use this option when you want your users to perform one of the four available actions:
- Invite users
- Get a link to the report
- Download the report
- Clear filters
In the dropdown under Button action type, you can choose one of the four actions mentioned above.
2. Example
If you want your dashboard to be downloadable by users who view it, you should add the button with the action Download Report.
Remember to modify the button text so that users know what function it serves.
In the example above, I’ve modified the style to make it look more like a button than its default appearance. I used the style shown in the following image.
What type of action do you usually use buttons for?