Google Fusion Tables

Google recently released Fusion Tables, which they like to call as data

management on the cloud (it's in Beta). This allows you to manage data better by

visualizing it. Currently it allows users to upload data tables through CSV or

spreadsheet format files with a maximum of 100 MB per table and 250 MB per user.

Once you upload a spreadsheet to Fusion Tables, the data can be instantly viewed

on a chart or a map. Tables can also be merged with other tables having the same

entity. Also, you can share tables with others and multiple people can edit data

or comment on simultaneously. When a table is shared, the owner can also specify

which columns to be visible to other users. Fusion Tables, though looks like

Google Docs, is slightly different. It's largely meant for large databases and

users can perform tasks like data filtering, aggregation, merge, etc. Also

compare to Google Docs, table can be shared as a contributor, collaborator,

owner or just a viewer.

Another useful feature of Fusion Table is that once a visualization is

created, users can get its embeddable code, just with a click of a button and

embed the visualization into a web page or blog.

How to use



Using Fusion Tables is very simple. Just go to the above mentioned URL and sign
in with your Google id. To get started, you can browse through the already

available public tables, otherwise just click on the New Table. This will launch

Import New Table Wizard. Simply choose the file you wish to upload or you can

also import a spreadsheet from Google Docs. Now depending upon the type of data,

you can create graphs or maps from the 'Visualize' option. To merge the table

with any other table, click on the 'Merge' option. Here you will see the columns

available in the sheet, choose the column which is common in the sheet, you wish

to merge. Next choose the second table or provide its URL. Again select the

column, provide a name for the table and click on the Merge Tables button.

Users can discuss data present in a table, by posting comments on anycell. All discussions going on a table can be viewed under 'Discussions'.

Users can instantly view graphs from the table. Graphs can also be created for filtered entities and shared with other users.

Fusion Tables also allows to create a small view. This can be done by

choosing View option from file and specifying the columns for the view. To

instantly share the entire table with anyone over email or IM, click on 'Snap

it' button. This will give you a link to the table, which can be easily shared

with anyone.