Google Analytics Desktop vs. Online

[rpm1984]

Ok so forgive me if this is a stupid question. When I pull in the analytics data to the web based app I get an entirely different format for the data than when I pull the data into the desktop app. Presumably I get more control over what to pull with the desktop app? However, there are many things I can only get on one or the other. For instance, one thing I get online is the "daysfromtoday" filter and I can not find that through the desktop analytics connection. I like the control of the desktop but the format that the online app used to pull in the information is great as well. Is there a way to make a report with elements from both? If not does anyone know how to get the "daysfromtoday" filter for google analytics data on the desktop app?

Thank you all in advance!

[Greg_Deckler]

In the Service, you are utilizing a Content Pack. Content Packs are pre-packaged data models, reports and dashboards. So, work has been done on them to include convenient measures, friendly names, etc. With the Desktop, you are essentially pulling raw data (more or less) and building your own data model, reports and dashboards. I've seen this with the Microsoft CRM Content Pack in the Service versus the data connection in the Desktop as well as a number of other content packs.

It is highly likely that "daysfromtoday" can be recreated in your model in the Desktop but you would have to tell me what "daysfromtoday" does. Is it just a measure that shows that data on a certain date was 10 days ago for example?

[rpm1984]

Thank you for explaining that.

Yes "daysfromtoday" allows you to only show the data over the last 15,30,90 days or whatever. I can not find that option when I access Google analytic data through the desktop app. Currently I am selecting things like clicks or users and then the year and month of the year under the time option in analytics. Then when I make a report i select the year and month I want and it gives me the last 30 days. However, I have to manually change the month for the next report. The "daysfromtoday" option automatically gives you the data from the time frame from the day you run the report.

THank you so much for the help!

[Greg_Deckler · Accepted solution]

So, what you want is to create a new measure (or could be a column) in your data model for whatever table you are dealing with. Let's say you have a table like:

Page Name,Clicks,Date

Home Page,14,11/15/2015

Home Page,13,11/20/2015

Home Page,20,11/25/2015

Home Page,23,11/30/2015

Home Page,5,12/5/2015

Home Page,10,12/10/2015

Home Page,15,12/15/2015

Home Page,12,12/20/2015

Home Page,22,12/25/2015

Home Page,21,12/30/2015

Make sure Date is formated as a date time field and you could create a column in your data model:

daysfromtoday = ROUNDUP(1.*TODAY()-[Date],0)

You could then use that in a filter, slicer, etc.

I actually have a number of potentially useful formulas from my article on building dashboards in Microsoft CRM:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/building-ultimate-microsoft-crm-dashboard-under-hour-greg-deckler

[rpm1984]

I am trying to implement this but I cant seem to figure out where to put the "daysfromtoday = ROUNDUP(1.*TODAY()-[Date],0)" Sorry to be a pain I am not very experienced. Thank you again for your help and time!

[Greg_Deckler]

Well, in Desktop, go to the second icon on the left that looks like a table. Click on the table on the right that has the Date column in it. Click on "New Column" in the ribbon. You will be placed in the column formula area with a default of "Column = ". Select all of that and replace it with the "daysfromtoday = ..." formula. Hit Enter and that will give you a column called "daysfromtoday" that should show up in your right-hand columns and measures area.

[rpm1984]

ok awesome thank you!

[rpm1984]

Awesome thank you very much!!!! I just wasnt thinking of it that way. So helpful!!!