The Google Ads connector lets you extract data from Google Ads into Dataddo and sync it to any dashboard, database, or data warehouse.
Authentication Methods
Google Ads supports more than one way to connect. Pick one when you create the authorizer in Dataddo:
- Google Ads - sign in with Google Ads and approve access (recommended).
- Google Ads (Service account) - connect with a service account key, without interactive sign-in.
- Google Adwords
- Google Ads Custom - use your own app credentials (for advanced setups).
Data Coverage
Google Ads exposes the following datasets. Each dataset maps to a table you can extract. Example fields are a representative sample; each dataset returns more columns.
| Dataset | Description | Example fields | Date range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reports with Metrics | Provide attributes and segments together with performance data such as impressions, clicks, costs, and conversions. | dynamic (from your account) | Yes |
| Reports without Metrics | Provide only attributes and segments, without performance statistics. | dynamic (from your account) | No |
How Data Extraction Works
What each extraction pulls depends only on whether a dataset supports a date range (see the Date range column above):
- Date range supported (Yes): the source reads a relative window (for example "last 7 days"), and that window slides forward with the current date. Every run re-reads the window, so a range of "1 day ago" always pulls the previous day (D-1). Each run replaces the window's data rather than adding older history. To load records from before the window, run a full data re-sync with a wider range. See Data Backfilling.
- No date range (No): every run pulls all currently available data.
Set the relative date range when you create the source.
Metadata Columns
When you create a source, you can add these Dataddo metadata columns to the extracted data:
- dataddo_hash - a fingerprint built from each record's key fields. It works as a natural key, so it is ideal for upserts (updating existing rows in your destination instead of creating duplicates).
- dataddo_extraction_timestamp - the date and time the row was extracted. Use it to track how records change over time, for example to build slowly changing dimensions.
How to Create a Google Ads Data Source
Creating a data source takes you through five steps, shown in the progress bar at the top of the wizard. Each step is explained below.
1. Pick the connector
On the Sources page, click Create Source, then select the connector from the catalog. Use the search bar or the category tabs if you do not see it right away. You can rename the source at any time using the pencil icon next to its name.
2. Choose the account
This step selects what Dataddo reads from.
- Authorizer: Select an account you have already authorized from the drop-down. If you have none yet, choose Add new account and follow the prompts. If no authorizer is selected, Dataddo asks you to authorize before you continue.
- What to extract from: Select the exact entity you want to pull data from. Depending on the service this may be labelled an account, property, profile, workspace, or similar, sometimes with a sub-level to choose as well.
- Multiple accounts: To pull the same data from every entity you can access, turn on Automatically collect data from all .... This is multi-account extraction. Leave it off to choose them by hand.
3. Build the data model
Choose exactly what to extract. What you can pick depends on the connector, and the wizard may group the fields differently for each one.
- Values: the measures you want, often called metrics, such as sessions, clicks, or revenue.
- Breakdowns: the fields you group or split those values by, often called dimensions or attributes, such as date, country, or campaign.
- Context metadata (when available): identifier fields that Dataddo derives from your selection, such as the account or property ID. They let you tell rows apart when you combine several sources.
Some connectors limit which fields can be queried together; the wizard flags this where it applies. Click Test on Sample Data at any point to preview the result before you continue.
4. Add metadata columns (optional)
Two optional columns help your destination handle the data.
- Dataddo Hash (Include Row Hash): a fingerprint built from the columns you pick. It works as a natural key, so your destination can deduplicate rows and run upserts instead of creating duplicates. Turn it on, then select the columns that uniquely identify a row.
- Dataddo Extraction Timestamp: the time each row was extracted. Use it to watermark the data, for example to build slowly changing dimensions or to track when a value last changed.
5. Set the schedule
Decide how often Dataddo runs the extraction.
- Frequency: how often the pipeline runs, for example daily. Click Show advanced settings to also set the exact hour and minute (UTC).
- Date range: the relative window each run extracts, for example "Yesterday". The window moves forward on every run.
- Historical data: a new source starts from the current window. To load older data, run a full data re-sync after the source is created.
- Allow Empty Data Extractions: when on, a run that returns no data records zero rows instead of failing. Turn it on if the source can legitimately have periods with no data.
Click Save. Your data source is ready.
Related Articles
- Google Ads metrics and attributes - the fields Dataddo exposes for this connector.
- Data Backfilling - load historical data from before the current date-range window.
- Multi-Account Extraction - extract from several accounts of the same service.