Update data links for all plots in a Grapher project

Whether you have moved your data to a new folder, renamed your data files, or need to Remap worksheets to a new project folder, Grapher's Remap Worksheets command allows you to bulk-update all file paths and data sources in a single dialog. 

When to choose Remap Worksheets over Templates

Grapher’s new Template Experience is great for turning raw data into publication-ready visualizations with virtually zero manual setup. However, if you have already spent time fine-tuning a specific project, the Remap Worksheets tool may be a more efficient way to swap in new data while preserving your custom adjustments. This section outlines how to choose the right workflow so you can move from raw data to a finished graph as quickly as possible.

Use Remap Worksheets when:

• Updating an Existing Project: You already have a finished .GRF or .GPJ file and simply need to "swap out" the data source for a newer version (e.g., moving from January_Data.csv to February_Data.csv).

• Identical Data Structure: Your new data file is organized exactly like the old one (same column headers and data types).

• Preserving Manual Tweaks: You have made specific manual adjustments to the current project (i.e. custom text callouts, specific axis overrides, custom data limits, etc.) that you want to keep exactly as they are.

• Bulk Path Updates: You moved your data files to a new server or folder and need to point multiple plots to the new directory simultaneously.

Use a Template (GRT) when:

• Starting Fresh: You have a new dataset and want to apply a complex, pre-defined style without manual setup.

• Variable Data Ranges: Your new data has different scales (e.g., different years or sites), and you want Grapher to automatically adjust axes and labels to fit the new range.

• Different Data Structure: Your new data may be laid out differently than your original data file, the template experience allows you to easily update which columns your data is in.

• Sharing Standards: You are providing a "blank" starting point for colleagues or clients to ensure every report looks identical, regardless of the underlying data.

• Data Security: You want to share a graph layout without including any proprietary or sensitive source data.

How to Remap Worksheets

The Remap tool works best when your new data file has the exact same column structure as the old one. If your columns have moved, you may still need to adjust the column assignments in the Property Manager after remapping or consider using the Template Experience. 

Change the Parent Folder for All Plots

If your file names are exactly the same but they have moved to a new folder:

1. Click Browse next to Change parent folder for all.

2. Select the new folder location and click Select Folder.

3. All plots will automatically update to look for their respective files in this new directory.

Change Individual Files or Sheets

If you have renamed files or need to point to a specific sheet in a multi-sheet Excel file. If your new data file contains multiple tabs, the Remap tool will automatically prompt the XLSX Import Options dialog so you can  choose the correct sheet for each plot.

1. In the Worksheets in use table, select the specific file path you wish to change.

2. Click Browse in the Change path column.

3. Select the new data file and click Open.

4. If the file is an Excel workbook, the XLSX Import Options dialog will appear, allowing you to select the specific sheet.