How to Use the Data Studio App – OptiSigns

In this article, we'll show how to display Google Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) information on your digital signs with OptiSigns.

What You'll Need
Creating a Data Studio App
Deploying a Data Studio App

With the Data Studio app, it's possible to display near real-time dashboards of information, allowing simple visualization of data. These dashboards can be customized then communicated throughout the company via digital signage.

Let's get started.

What You'll Need

An OptiSigns account - Pro Plus Plan or higher
Access to Data Studio
An OptiSigns-enabled device
A screen, set up and paired with OptiSigns

Creating Your Data Studio App

Once you have your report set up the way you'd like to display it, hit Share, and make sure the report is set to Public:

This allows it to be set up, and is necessary for it to display.

Now click Edit:

Now go to File → Embed report.

Now you should be on the Embed Report screen. Click Enable embedding, then make sure it is displaying an Embed Code. Change your Width and Height to match the resolution of the display you plan to use as a digital sign - we generally recommend 1920x1080 if you're unsure - then click Copy to Clipboard.

Next, go to the OptiSigns portal. Go to Files/Assets → Apps.

Select Data Studio:

Now you can set up your Data Studio app:

Name - The name of your Data Studio asset. This is for organizational purposes within OptiSigns only and will not display on your screens.
Embed Code - The Embed Code you retrieved a moment ago should be pasted into this field.
Update Interval - How often OptiSigns will ping your Embed URL to update the data displayed on it. This is measured in seconds.

NOTE

The Preview at this stage may display oddly. This is ok. We recommend pushing your Data Studio app to a real screen for proper testing. Afterward, we can come back to this and alter the Width and Height elements if they need adjusting.

Now, hit Save. You'll have created a Data Studio app.

Deploying a Data Studio App

You can deploy your new Data Studio app as an individual asset, or as part of a Split Screen.

To get your new Data Studio asset to a screen, go to the Screens tab, then click the screen you want to assign it to.

This brings up the Edit Screen tab:

Here, select Asset under Content type. If you already have an Asset, Playlist, or Schedule selected, you can hit Change.

Then, select your created Data Studio Asset:

Now hit Save. Your Data Studio asset will now display on screen.

NOTE

You may need to alter the Width and Height on the Embed Code to get it to display exactly the way you want it. Be sure to push it to the intended screen first to test it - the Preview sometimes looks odd.

You can also deploy it as part of a split screen, allowing you to show other assets at the same time. See how in our Split Screen app article. It can also be displayed in a Playlist or Schedule.

That's all!

If you have any additional questions, concerns or any feedback about OptiSigns, feel free to reach out to our support team at support@optisigns.com.