Integrate Google Analytics Data in Pentaho Data Integration

The CData JDBC Driver for Google Analytics enables access to live data from data pipelines. Pentaho Data Integration is an Extraction, Transformation, and Loading (ETL) engine that data, cleanses the data, and stores data using a uniform format that is accessible.This article shows how to connect to Google Analytics data as a JDBC data source and build jobs and transformations based on Google Analytics data in Pentaho Data Integration.

Configure to Google Analytics Connectivity

Google uses the OAuth authentication standard. To access Google APIs on behalf on individual users, you can use the embedded credentials or you can register your own OAuth app.

OAuth also enables you to use a service account to connect on behalf of users in a Google Apps domain. To authenticate with a service account, register an application to obtain the OAuth JWT values.

In addition to the OAuth values, set Profile to the profile you want to connect to. This can be set to either the Id or website URL for the Profile. If not specified, the first Profile returned will be used.

Built-in Connection String Designer

For assistance in constructing the JDBC URL, use the connection string designer built into the Google Analytics JDBC Driver. Either double-click the JAR file or execute the jar file from the command-line.

Fill in the connection properties and copy the connection string to the clipboard.

When you configure the JDBC URL, you may also want to set the Max Rows connection property. This will limit the number of rows returned, which is especially helpful for improving performance when designing reports and visualizations.

Below is a typical JDBC URL:

Save your connection string for use in Pentaho Data Integration.

Connect to Google Analytics from Pentaho DI

Open Pentaho Data Integration and select "Database Connection" to configure a connection to the CData JDBC Driver for Google Analytics

1. Click "General"
2. Set Connection name (e.g. Google Analytics Connection)
3. Set Connection type to "Generic database"
4. Set Access to "Native (JDBC)"
5. Set Custom connection URL to your Google Analytics connection string (e.g.
   jdbc:googleanalytics:Profile=MyProfile;InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH
6. Set Custom driver class name to "cdata.jdbc.googleanalytics.GoogleAnalyticsDriver"
7. Test the connection and click "OK" to save.

Create a Data Pipeline for Google Analytics

Once the connection to Google Analytics is configured using the CData JDBC Driver, you are ready to create a new transformation or job.

1. Click "File" >> "New" >> "Transformation/job"
2. Drag a "Table input" object into the workflow panel and select your Google Analytics connection.
3. Click "Get SQL select statement" and use the Database Explorer to view the available tables and views.
4. Select a table and optionally preview the data for verification.

At this point, you can continue your transformation or jb by selecting a suitable destination and adding any transformations to modify, filter, or otherwise alter the data during replication.

Free Trial & More Information

Download a free, 30-day trial of the CData JDBC Driver for Google Analytics and start working with your live Google Analytics data in Pentaho Data Integration today.