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How to chart your own data from a CSV or Google Sheet

Updated 8 Nov 20261 min read

In the studio, open Start with data, then paste a table, upload a CSV or TSV, or link a Google Sheet. Check how GeoLens reads it, add your source line and unit, say whether the numbers are counts or rates, and press Read this table. Own data files come with PLUS and PRO.

What shape your table needs

Countries down the first column and years across, or a Year column. One indicator per file. Files can hold up to 50,000 rows and 5 MB, and they stay private to you.

The example below uses invented numbers to show the shape.

How to chart your own data, step by step

Six steps on the Start with data tab of geolens.eu/create. Each picture shows the control to use, ringed in gold.

  1. Open Start with data and choose how to bring the table in: Paste a table, Upload a CSV or TSV, or Link a Google Sheet.

    The Start with data tab with the Paste a table door ringed.

  2. Paste the table, header row first. Here it holds a country column and five years.

    The paste box holding a small table of two countries and five years.

  3. Under How it reads, check that GeoLens took each column for what it is. A wide table is read as rows of country, year and value.

    The How it reads preview with the column roles named above each header.

  4. Fill in the source line, which prints on every export, a name for the dataset and the unit.

    The Source line field ringed beside Name this dataset and Unit.

  5. Say whether the numbers are counts or rates. A count can be summed; a percentage or an index cannot.

    The Do these numbers add up question with counts and rates ringed.

  6. A file or a Google Sheet works the same way: choose that door and the table appears under How it reads.

    The Upload a CSV or TSV and Link a Google Sheet doors ringed.

TipWrite the source line before you chart. A chart without a source is not ready to post.

Why counts and rates matter

A count is a total you can add up, such as drones, tonnes or people: a running total means something. A rate is a percentage, a price or an index: adding rates up would be nonsense. The studio keeps your answer with the dataset. To compare countries of different sizes, divide counts by population first.

When some rows do not read

Rows with a country GeoLens cannot match or a value it cannot read are listed with the reason. Map the names it offers, fix the file, or continue with the rows that read.