In this section, we present how to connect Google Analytics to MindsDB.

Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic and also the mobile app traffic & events.

Data from Google Analytics can be utilized within MindsDB to train AI models, make predictions, and automate user engagement and events with AI.

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Prerequisites

Before proceeding, ensure the following prerequisites are met:

  1. Install MindsDB locally via Docker or use MindsDB Cloud.
  2. To connect Google Analytics to MindsDB, install the required dependencies following this instruction.
  3. Install or ensure access to Google Analytics.

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Connection

The required arguments to establish a connection are as follows:

  • credentials_file optional, is a path to the JSON file that stores credentials to the Google account.
  • credentials_json: optional, is the content of the JSON file that stores credentials to the Google account.
  • property_id required, is the property id of your Google Analytics website. Here is some information on how to get the property id.

⚠️ One of credentials_file or credentials_json has to be chosen.

Please note that a Google account with enabled Google Analytics Admin API is required. You can find more information here.
Also an active website connected with Google Analytics is required. You can find more information here.

To make use of this handler and connect the Google Analytics app to MindsDB, the following syntax can be used:

CREATE DATABASE my_ga
WITH
    ENGINE = 'google_analytics',
    PARAMETERS = {
        'credentials_file': '\path-to-your-file\credentials.json',
        'property_id': '<YOUR_PROPERTY_ID>'
    };

You need a Google account in order to use this integration. Here is how to get the credentials file:

  1. Create a Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Project:

    1.1 Go to the GCP Console (https://console.cloud.google.com/).

    1.2 If you haven’t created a project before, you’ll be prompted to do so now.

    1.3 Give your new project a name.

    1.4 Click Create to create the new project.

  2. Enable the Google Analytics Admin API:

    2.1 In the GCP Console, select your project.

    2.2 Navigate to APIs & Services > Library.

    2.3 In the search bar, search for Google Analytics Admin API.

    2.4 Click on Google Analytics Admin API, then click Enable.

  3. Create credentials for the Google Analytics Admin API :

    3.1 Navigate to APIs & Services > Credentials.

    3.2 Click on the Create Credentials button and choose Service account.

    3.3 Enter a unique Service account ID .

    3.4 Click Done.

    3.5 Copy the service account you created. Find it under Service Accounts.

    3.6 Now click on the service account you created, and navigate KEYS

    3.7 Click ADD KEY > Create new key.

    3.8 Choose JSON then click CREATE

    3.9 After this the credentials file will be downloaded directly. Locate the file and use the location to it in the credentials_file param.

  4. Add Service account to Google Analytics Property:

    4.1 In the Google Analytics Admin Console, select the Account or Property to which you want to grant access.

    4.2 Navigate to the Admin panel.

    4.3 Navigate Account > Account Access Management.

    4.4 Click on the ”+” icon to add a new user.

    4.5 Enter the service account you copied in step 3.5 as the email address.

    4.6 Assign the appropriate permissions to the service account. At a minimum, you’ll need to grant it Edit permissions.

    4.7 Click on the Add button to add the service account as a user with the specified permissions.

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Usage

This creates a database that comes with the conversion_events table.

Now you can use your Google Analytics data like this:

  • searching for conversion events:

    SELECT event_name, custom, countingMethod
FROM my_ga.conversion_events;

  • creating conversion event:

    INSERT INTO my_ga.conversion_events (event_name, countingMethod)
VALUES ('mindsdb_event', 2);

  • updating one conversion event:

    UPDATE my_ga.conversion_events
SET countingMethod = 1,
WHERE name = '<mindsdb_event_name>';

  • deleting one conversion event:

    DELETE
FROM my_ga.conversion_events
WHERE name = '<mindsdb_event_name>';

For more information about available actions and development plans, visit this page.