There's a new connector for Google Analytics 4 in Tableau. In the video above, I show you how to connect and use the new connector but int he blog below I summarise the key changes.

If you have previously accessed Google Analytics data via Tableau, you should be aware that Google is updating it's Google Analytics product to Google Analytics 4. This means the existing connector won't work and so there's a new connector available in the Tableau Exchange.

The New Google Analytics Connector

The new connector can easily be downloaded from the Tableau Exchange - a marketplace for Tableau tools housing connectors, dashboard extensions, and accelerators.

After downloading the connector, you have to place the file in the My Tableau Repository for either Tableau Desktop or Tableau Prep. Make sure to keep checking the Tableau Exchange page regularly for any updates to the connector. You can bookmark the link for easier access and to troubleshoot if any issues arise.

Authenticating and Connecting to Google Analytics

On connecting to Google Analytics 4, Tableau opens a new window that prompts you to authenticate with Google. Make sure you're using the correct login credentials that have permission to access your desired Google Analytics property.

Setting up the Google Analytics 4 Connector

Post-authentication, there are four simple steps to follow:

1. Select the relevant Accounts: On clicking the Accounts tab, Tableau sends a query to Google Analytics requesting all properties and accounts associated with your login. Once the list is generated, select the relevant account.
2. Choose the Date Range: This step involves choosing the range of data you want to use. You can either select from the pre-suggested options or specify a start and end date.
3. Choose Fields: This step can be a bit tricky, as certain fields might disable other Google Analytics options. So, it's essential to understand what each field in Google Analytics implies. In general, be aware that selecting more granular fields can result in many more rows of data, which could impact performance.
4. Select Metrics: This step involves choosing the metrics to consider, such as views per session or views per user.

After setting these up, hit Connect, and Tableau will fetch the data via an API request.

Things to Note

Tableau stores the data as an extract because the data comes from an API request. You cannot connect to it live. But if you're using technology such as Fivetran, you can have the data regularly updated in your database, which you can then query live.

Another limitation is that you cannot add multiple connections to build a data model. However, you can add a second connection, essentially having two data sources, and blend them once in Tableau based on a common field.

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:17 Google Analytics 4
0:48 How to get the Tableau connector
2:21 How to use the connector
12:17 Build Charts

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