1. Generate Data with
Google Analytics
SQL Saturday 2019
26/04/2019

2. Introduction
Bio
Sam is the Web Services Librarian at the Edmonton Public Library (EPL), where she works with the library’s Google Analytics data. She has worked in digital libraries for 3 years, picking up data management and coding skills along the way. She holds a Masters in Library and Information Studies (MLIS) from the University of Alberta.

3. Background
Presentation titled: “Create Open Data with Google Analytics”

4. Outline Analyze data with Google Analytics
Visualize data with Data Studio
Export data with Google Sheets Add-On
Automate with Google Apps Script

5. Analyze Data
with Google Analytics

6. Google Analytics Demo Account
Link doesn’t work in Firefox! Use Chrome or Edge
You will be prompted to log into your Google account
If you don’t have a Google Analytics account, this will create one; if you do, the demo account will be added to your existing account

7. Google Analytics Reports
Real-time: monitor user activity as it happens on the site
Audience: high-level look at your site’s users - includes sessions (pageviews, duration), location, technology (browsers, devices, etc.)
Acquisition: where your users come from to reach your site
Behaviour: what your users do on your site - including what pages they view, what search terms they use, what they click, download, etc. (“events”)
Conversions: view the status of goals you’ve set up

8. Example Report: Device Category
Audience > Mobile > Overview
- From a web design / development perspective, it’s good to know what devices your audience uses to access your website

9. Edit GA Report
Example: Change date range

10. Visualize GA Report Select dimension(s) > Plot Rows
- Limitation of visualizations in GA: limited to two dimensions

11. Edit GA Report Example: Add Secondary dimension
Recommended secondary dimensions: browser, browser size, operating system, etc.
Limited to two dimensions in GA report view

12. Export GA Report
Can export GA reports to pdf, Google Sheets, Excel, csv

13. 2. Visualize Data
with Data Studio

14. Data Studio https://datastudio.google.com/data
Use Chrome for best results

15. Connect to Google Analytics
Example: Demo Account > Google Merch. Store > Master View

16. Create Data Studio Report
Some authorization required to continue

17. Customize Report: Add Chart

18. Example Chart: Device Category
DATA
Data Source = GA Demo Account
Time Dimension = Month of Year
Breakdown Dimension = Device Category
Metric = Sessions
Sort = Sessions

19. Edit DS Report
Example: Add date range

20. Filter Chart
Add Filter > Create Filter > Save

21. View DS Report
Can share Data Studio reports like any other Google Drive file (doc, sheet, etc.)

22. Download DS Report
Can download as a PDF

23. 3. Export Data
with Google Sheets Add-On

24. Get Google Sheets Add-Ons

25. Create New Report
Add-ons > Google Analytics > Create new report

26. Create Report Required Configuration Options Report Name Account
Property
View
Metric(s)
Dimension(s)*
Benefit of Analytics Add-On: multiple dimensions!
*Dimensions are technically not required, but they’re necessary for a meaningful report
Account = Demo Account
Property = Google Merch. Store
View = Master View
Metrics = Users, Sessions
Dimensions = Device Category, Browser, Operating System

27. Configuration Options
Additional Options
Start / End Date
Order
Filter(s)
Limit
Each field is editable
Filters: differ from “Limit” by including / excluding data based on the filter parameters
Limit: differs from “Filters” by including results up to designated limit based on “Order”
Start Date =
End Date =
Order = -ga:users
Spreadsheet URL = copy the url of the current spreadsheet

28. Configuration Options: Filters

29. Run Report(s)
NOTE: Demo Account doesn’t grant sufficient permissions to access Google Analytics Reporting API
Add-ons > Google Analytics > Run reports

30. Schedule Reports Schedule reports to automatically export data!
Add-ons > Google Analytics > Schedule reports
*Remember to change the start / end dates!
Start Date =EOMONTH(B5,-1)+1
End Date =EOMONTH(TODAY(),-1)
Example: 1st of every month

31. Schedule Reports Settings

32. Export Reports
File > Download as…
.xlsx
.ods
.pdf
.html
.csv
.tsv

33. with Google Apps Script
4. Automate
with Google Apps Script
“Google Apps Script is a JavaScript cloud scripting language that provides easy ways to automate tasks across Google products and third party services and build web applications”

34. Create GAS Project in Sheets
Tools > Script editor

35. Write Script to Create Chart

36. Debug & Run Script Save script Select function Click bug icon to debug
Click the play icon to run
NOTE: debugging will also run the script if no bugs are found!

37. Create Custom Menu
Menus are useful for activating functions without having to open up the script editor. Also handy for those who aren’t familiar / comfortable with script editor

38. Add Trigger

39. Edit Trigger Settings
After saving, we can refresh the spreadsheet to see the new menu
Run function = onOpen
Event source = From spreadsheet
Event type = On open

40. Wrap-Up

41. Resources Scripts Tutorials Google Apps Help
Analytics:
Sheets:
Scripts Tutorials
GAS:
Codecademy – JavaScript:
W3schools – JavaScript:

42. Thanks to Our Sponsors

43. Thank You! Sam Hamilton Digital Marketing Specialist
Edmonton Public Library