Connecting to Google Analytics

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1. Overview

Google Analytics is a service offered by Google that compiles statistics regarding visitors to a website.

This article shows you how to set up a data connector to extract data from your Google Analytics account.

Note
Upgrade to version 23.2 or higher to connect to a Google Analytics 4 property. The Google Analytics data provider from earlier versions supports only Universal Analytics properties.

2. Google Analytics account

You need a Google Analytics account in order to create this data connector in Dundas BI.

Google Analytics account
Google Analytics account

3. Setup

3.1. Cloud Console project

Create or use an existing project in the Google Cloud Console as a first step.

Go to https://console.cloud.google.com/cloud-resource-manager and sign into your Google account.

Once signed in, on this page you'll see a list of existing projects (if there are any) or you can click Create project to create a new one.

Create a new project
Create a new project

3.2. Enable the Analytics API

Click the menu button in the top-left corner of the Cloud Console, expand APIs & Services and click Library.

Click Library
Click Library

Ensure the correct project is selected at the top-left of the screen, then find and click on the API for your version of Google Analytics:

API Library
API Library

Click Enable for the appropriate API if not yet enabled.

Click Enable
Click Enable

Note
There are multiple APIs available with Google Analytics in the name and their names may change over time. The Dundas BI data connector should require the one mentioned above unless an error message specifies a different one when you try to connect.

3.3. Service account credentials

This section shows you how to generate Service account credentials which will allow Dundas BI to access your Google Analytics data.

From the left navigation, click Credentials. Click Create credentials and select the Service account option.

Add service account credentials
Add service account credentials

Enter a name and a role for the account.

When done, record the service account email address. Copy this from the account details and paste it somewhere to refer to later such as a Notepad app on your computer.

Service account email address
Service account email address

Next, add a new key for the service account. For example, click to edit the service account and click Add Key. Choose a JSON key type.

When finished, a certificate file should be downloaded. This file will be needed later to set up a data connector in Dundas BI.

3.3.1. P12 file type

If you need a P12 key type for a Universal Analytics property instead of the default JSON, additional details are needed.

A popup should be displayed that shows the password for the private key. Copy and paste this password with your service account e-mail to refer to later.

3.4. Authorization

Now that the client credentials have been generated, sign into your Google Analytics account in order to give authorization to these credentials.

Go to the Admin area and choose the option similar to User Management or Property Access Management.

Set up access management in Google Analytics
Set up access management in Google Analytics

If not already listed, click to add the service account, entering the email address that you recorded earlier. Ensure it has an appropriate role or permissions set up to read data. See Google Help for details.

Add permissions for the email address
Add permissions for the email address

4. New data connector

Create a new data connector, assigning a Name, and then setting the Data Provider dropdown:

Connect to Google Analytics
Connect to Google Analytics

Click Choose File and select the certificate file downloaded earlier, then review the options:

  • If the certificate file is of a P12 file type, you have to provide the Service Account E-Mail Address and Password For The .P12 File that you recorded previously.
  • When the Use Reporting API checkbox is selected, the core v4 version of the API will be used. If unchecked, the core v3 version will be used.
  • Choose from the available Sampling Level options.
  • For a Google Analytics 4 property, enter the numeric property ID. This is listed in various places in Google Analytics, or go to Admin, edit Property Settings, and click to copy the property ID.

Click Test connection to check the connection to your account.

Click the submit button at the bottom to save and check in the data connector, and perform data discovery.

5. Displaying Google Analytics data

To see the Google Analytics data, create a new metric set or dashboard.

Go to the Explore window, expand your data connector and its cube, then drag its measures and dimensions to the canvas.

Viewing your Google Analytics data
Viewing your Google Analytics data

6. See also

Dundas Data Visualization, Inc.
400-15 Gervais Drive
Toronto, ON, Canada
M3C 1Y8

North America: 1.800.463.1492
International: 1.416.467.5100

Dundas Support Hours:
Phone: 9am-6pm, ET, Mon-Fri
Email: 7am-6pm, ET, Mon-Fri