GA4 ‐ Explorations

GA 4 Exploration Instructions

This page provides an overview of how to access and edit explorations in Google Analytics 4. Explorations are essentially custom reports that allow you to create your own report, save them, and share them with others.

How to Access, Create, and Share Exploration Reports in GA4

1. Select the appropriate sub-property for your agency, we’ll use the GSA sub-property as an example.

2. Click on Explore in the main navigation.

Google offers a gallery of templates within the exploration landing page. We will focus on the blank template and creating a new exploration.

3. Select Blank to create an exploration from scratch

4. In the variables column, click the + button to add dimensions and metrics.

5. Select the dimensions and metrics you’d like to explore and select import. You can select more than one at a time.

6. Drag and drop the dimensions and metrics you added from the Variables panel to the settings panel. Notice how the colors correspond to one another. You can also double click on the dimension and metrics to bring them into the Settings panel.

7. Add filters to refine the data. In this example, we are refining the data to the hostname “analytics.usa.gov”.

8. Adjust the dates in the variables column.

Exploration Report Visuals

By default, your report will be generated as a table. In the settings panel, you can choose the report to display the data as a bar chart, line graph, etc.**

Export Exploration Report

You can export your report. The exploration interface limits the number of rows to 500 but exporting your data allows you to see the full data set

Share Exploration Report

You can also share the exploration you’ve customized, including the edits you’ve made. To do this, select the share icon. By sharing, it allows anyone to view your report in the explore landing page as read only. If you would like to edit another person's exploration simply duplicate the report.

Un-sampled Results

If the data quality icon is red or yellow the current metrics are currently sampled, and green if unsampled. To request unsampled results;

1. Click request unsampled results
2. Click Proceed

Note: Sufficient tokens within the property are required for unsampled requests. Once requests are completed, you will receive an email. Learn more about unsampled explorations.

Exploration Reports Shared by the DAP Team.

Access Shared Exploration Reports

The DAP team has created the File Download Report and the Search Term Report. To access these, select the appropriate subproperty and click on explore. You will find them in the exploration landing page.

Edit Shared Reports

To edit the reports, you will need to make a copy since shared reports are read-only. To make a copy;

1. Click on the three dots to the far right of the report name and select Duplicate. Remember to rename your exploration under the Variables panel.

Note: Once you duplicate the report, a copy of the report will generate at the top of list with your name on it. Click on the three dots to the far right of the report name and select Duplicate.