Error in agregation using GA4 to looker studio default connector + CASE filter

[zoercalm]

Hello there.

I have really hard time migrating dashboards from GA3-looker studio to GA4 to looker studio.

The thing is we use CASE function for filters and after applying this filter the data shows NULL. Moreover, some metrics like average session duration start to show not AVG but SUM

Here is a fast report with Google Merch Shop connected where you can see this issue.

 1 data without filtering:

2 data with filtering:

I have shared the report for anyone who wants to hands on

I would be super grateful if anyone can share a solution on how to get the correct result or any useful information))

[Rick_E · Accepted solution]

I apologize for the inconvenience here. Unfortunately, that is a limitation with the Google Analytics connector:

When a table is filtered by a calculated field, the Google Analytics connector doesn't support the display of totals in the table's Summary row, if present. When a table is the target of a filter of any type, and the filter condition is based on a calculated field, a custom group, or a bin, the grand total displays null.

For alternative solutions, you might try using the Google Analytics exploration tool or exporting your data to BigQuery.

[Rick_E · Accepted solution]

I apologize for the inconvenience here. Unfortunately, that is a limitation with the Google Analytics connector:

When a table is filtered by a calculated field, the Google Analytics connector doesn't support the display of totals in the table's Summary row, if present. When a table is the target of a filter of any type, and the filter condition is based on a calculated field, a custom group, or a bin, the grand total displays null.

For alternative solutions, you might try using the Google Analytics exploration tool or exporting your data to BigQuery.

[zoercalm]

@Rick_E Hello. Thank you very much for the fast reply - I appreciate it.

Can I know is there any official documentation about it?

My client wants me to build in Liiker studio to GA4 connection - the same as we had before in GA3 connection. I have to have some proof to them to explain why we have to switch to bigquery cause with bigquery it will be more complexity/costs/time to get "the same result".

Recently I started to see in Looker Studio warnings about aggregation and the link from those warnings leads us to this article - even if it is a useful article - the main point here is about ratio metrics but not about recalculating data in the table precalculated in filters.

I understand these limitations (honestly, I think it is the way how Google "hints" us to use bigquery with a free connector to GA4 but unfortunately without backfill) - I just need to show some articles where this information is explained. I didn't find it that's how I join this community))

Thank you very much for your help.

[zoercalm · Accepted solution]

A particular answer I have in the article from your reply. It is about NULL in the Summary row.

I think the second part of my question is about that article which I mentioned earlier: 

What does the "Unable to aggregate ratio metrics" error mean?

@Rick_E Thank you very much, now reading both of the articles I see it clearer. Thank you so much for your help 🤝