Fusion Tables helps you summarize data sets. For example, when each row is an observation, you may wish to summarize the observations to find larger patterns in the data.
To summarize from a row layout in the New look:
- Select Tools > Summarize
- Choose the column or columns with categories to summarize the data by.
- Choose what to show in the summary report.
- By default, Fusion Tables provides a count, showing how many rows are in each category.
- You may also select to see a sum or average of all the rows in a category. Select the column with the appropriate number in it, and then the function to use on those numbers: sum, average, minimum, or maximum.
- Click Save.
Tip: Summaries are called Aggregation in Classic.
Try it yourself!
Let's look at the statements by SuperPACs to the Federal Election Commission about money spent through May 2012. Which candidate had the most money spent to support them?
- Open the SuperPAC expenses table.
- Click Filter and select "Support_oppose." Check the box next to "Support." Now we're only working with the money spent in support of candidates.
- Choose Tools > Summarize.
- Under Summarize by, choose "Candidate" from the menu. This will group spending by the candidate it was spent for.
- Under Show, choose "Amount" from the menu. This column has the money in it.
- Now check Sum. We want the report to add up all the money.
- Click Save.
- There's our report. To bring the highest-profile candidates to the top, click the column name "SUM Amount" and select Sort 100 to 1 from the menu.
Our report shows that Newt Gingrich and Richard Santorum had the most SuperPAC money spent in their favor.