[UA] Create and edit explorations

This feature is only available in Analytics 360, part of Google Marketing Platform. Learn more about Google Marketing Platform.

In this article:

• Access Explorations
• Create a new exploration
• The exploration editor
• Add techniques to the exploration
• Add variables to the exploration
• Add data to the technique
• Work with segments and filters
• Select a different view
• Change the time frame
• Export the exploration

Quick Tips: Navigating the Advanced Analysis interface

NOTE: The Explorations feature was previously known as "Advanced Analysis." The information in this video is still useful, however, some elements in the user interface now also have different names.

Access Explorations

1. Sign in to Google Analytics.
2. On the left, click Explore.

Create a new exploration

1. In the Explorations home page, in the upper left, click
2. The exploration editor appears.

The exploration editor

1. Exploration name. Click the name to edit it.
2. Variables panel. Contains the dimensions, metrics and segments available for use in this exploration. Minimize the panel by clicking -
3. Tab Settings panel. Configures the currently displayed visualization. Minimize the panel by clicking
4. Canvas. Your exploration appears here. Interact with your data by right-clicking a cell. Add new canvasses to the exploration by clicking
5. Data set controls. Choose your Google Analytics account, property, and view, and set the date range for this exploration.
6. Exploration technique selector. Determines the type of exploration appearing on the current canvas.
7. Segments menu. Import segments to the available variables. Publish segments you've created in Explorations for use in Google Analytics.
8. Visualization selector. Visualize the free form technique as a table, pie chart, or line graph.
9. Dimension selector. Add dimensions to the available variables.
10. Segment comparison control. Add segments to the current technique.
11. Metric selector. Add metric values to the available variables.
12. Additional Tab Settings controls (not shown) vary by technique and allow you to customize the exploration.

Add techniques to the exploration

Techniques visualize your data in different ways. The default technique for a new blank exploration is the free-form table. You can add tabs with different (or the same) techniques:

1. At the top of the canvas, click
2. Select the technique for the new tab
3. If desired, click the tab name to edit it.

To duplicate or remove a tab from the exploration, click the down arrow to the right of its name.

Add variables to the exploration

In Explorations, the term variable refers to the dimensions, metrics, and segments that come from your Google Analytics account. Adding variables to the Variables Panel makes them available for use in your exploration and preloads the data for faster visualization.

Add dimensions and metrics

1. In the Variables panel, in the right of the DIMENSIONS or METRICS section, click
2. Select the dimensions or metrics you want from the list, then click APPLY.

Use the search box to locate the dimension or metric faster.

You can apply up to 20 dimensions and 20 metrics to an exploration. To remove a field and make space for different fields, mouse over the field in the Variables panel and click X.

See below to learn how to import and create segments.

Add data to the technique

Adding a variables to the Tab Settings panel applies its data to the currently selected exploration technique. There are 2 ways to add a variable:

Double-click a variable. That variable is applied to the Tab Settings in a default location. For example, double-clicking a dimension applies it to the ROWS section of a free-form exploration, or to the BREAKDOWN DIMENSION section of a Funnel exploration.

You can also drag a variable into Tab Settings or directly onto the canvas. When you pick a variable up, the possible landing spots are highlighted.

Select a different view

Create explorations for any Analytics view to which you have access:

1. At the top of the Variables panel, click
2. Browse or search for your view, then click to select it.

Change the time frame

Your explorations can include up to 13 months of data:

1. At the top of the Variables panel, click the currently selected date range
2. Select one of the presets, or use the calendar to select a custom range
3. Click OK.

Date ranges are "rolling": your explorations stay current as time rolls on.

Export the exploration

You can export the data from the currently displayed tab to several different formats. This lets you share your data with other tools that can handle those formats.

1. In the upper right, click
2. Select the export format:
   1. Google Sheets
   2. TSV (tab separated values)
   3. CSV (comma separated values)

All the data in the view matching the current Tab Settings is exported. This may be more data than is displayed in the current visualizations.