YouTube connectors for GDataStudio

Google Data Studio connectors to fetch data from YouTube Data API.

Connectors organization

There is a main connector called Core: it retrieves and handles data to bring it properly for GDS and it sets the authentication method. Children connectors (like Channels-data) use Core functions and also use specific functions for their API endpoint.

How to use them on GDS

Setup Core connector

1. Go to Google Apps Script
2. Create a new project
3. Name it
4. Go to project settings
5. Check Display appsscript.json manifest file
6. Take note about Script ID (useful for children connectors)
7. Go back to code window
8. Create files and set code for Core connector

Setup child connector

1. Go to Google Apps Script
2. Create a new project
3. Name it
4. Go to project settings
5. Check Display appsscript.json manifest file
6. Go back to code window
7. Create files and set code for the child connector
8. In appsscript.json, change Dependencies > Libraries > LibraryID to the Core script ID you took note
9. Deploy it (easiest by going through Use old editor button > Publish > Publish from manifest file)

Use connectors in GDS

1. Go to Google Data Studio
2. Create > Data source
3. Search for your deployed child connector
4. Fill credentials
5. Now you can import it in your GDS reports

Get access token

1. Check this video
2. Use API key to fill your connector credentials

How to create a new YouTube connector

First, copy Channels-data connector as template.

You can find the documentation here.

Then you have 4 things to change:

1. Change endpoint global var to the GET method you want.

// core.gs
var endpoint = 'channels';

2. Change fields array items: fields can be found in each endpoint list page > Parameters section > part required parameter.

// core.gs
var fields = ['brandingSettings','contentDetails','contentDetails','id', ...];

3. Put fetchable fields from API

// fields.gs
function getFields(request) {
  var fields = cc.getFields();
  var types = cc.FieldType;
  var aggregations = cc.AggregationType;

  fields.newDimension()
    .setId('YouTube_Data_Channels_id')
    .setType(types.TEXT); // BOOLEAN, TEXT, ...
    
  fields.newDimension()
    .setId('Users-followers_field_example')
    .setType(types.TEXT); // BOOLEAN, NUMBER, ...
  
  // put all fetchable fields
  
  return fields;
}

4. Handle each data row

// dataHandler.gs
function responseToRows(requestedFields, response) {

  var rows = new Array();

  var fields = requestedFields.asArray();
  
  // Filter for requested fields
  fields.forEach(function (field) {
    
    switch (field.getId()) {
      case 'YouTube_Data_Channels_field_example':
        rows.push(response.field_example);
        break;
      default:
        break;
    }
  });

  return rows.map(function(row) {
    return { values: [row] };
  });
  
}