How to use Google Public Data Explorer

How to use

Forskartorget, Gothenburg Book FairSunday 25 September 2011

Alf Fyhrlund

[email protected]

Organizer: Stockholm University

Select a datasetPick a datasets to explore from the list of datasets on the public data labs page.

Dataset content pageEvery dataset has a profile page listing it's content. In the right section you can pick what data to look at. In the left column you can choose what to compare by. 

Four visualizationsClick the small icons to look at the data in a line chart, bar chart, map or bubble chart.

Line chartCompare data over time for multiple lines. Add and remove lines by using the check boxes to the left.

Bar chartAdd labels to bars by selecting check boxes. The bars are ordered so the highest one is always to the left.

MapsData with for different geographies can be put on a map as the size and colors of bubbles.

Bubble chartYou can combine multiple indicators for vertical and horizontal positions of bubbles, as well as size and color.

Time controlsWhenever data is available over time there is a play button and a time slider below the bar charts, bubble charts and the maps. Use it to control what point in time is being visualized and to animate over time. 

Right below the line chart you can click Show time options, to zoom in a shorter time range on the x-axis.     

Change indicator and filtersThe chart title above the line chart and bar chart is a drop down that let you change to a different indicator in the same dataset, apply filters and change between logarithmic and linear scale. Maps and bubble charts have multiple data drop downs for size, color and the two axises. 

Change what to compare The compare picker let you change what to compare by. This will change what the bars, lines and bubbles represent.

Link and embedClick the small link icon in the top right corner to copy a link to the current visualization that you can send in an email. The link icon also gives you a html snippet that you can paste into your blog post or html page.