How to work with Google Ads Data in Apache Spark using SQL

Apache Spark is a fast and general engine for large-scale data processing. When paired with the CData JDBC Driver for Google Ads, Spark can work with live Google Ads data. This article describes how to connect to and query Google Ads data from a Spark shell.

The CData JDBC Driver offers unmatched performance for interacting with live Google Ads data due to optimized data processing built into the driver. When you issue complex SQL queries to Google Ads, the driver pushes supported SQL operations, like filters and aggregations, directly to Google Ads and utilizes the embedded SQL engine to process unsupported operations (often SQL functions and JOIN operations) client-side. With built-in dynamic metadata querying, you can work with and analyze Google Ads data using native data types.

Install the CData JDBC Driver for Google Ads

Download the CData JDBC Driver for Google Ads installer, unzip the package, and run the JAR file to install the driver.

Start a Spark Shell and Connect to Google Ads Data

1. Open a terminal and start the Spark shell with the CData JDBC Driver for Google Ads JAR file as the jars parameter: $ spark-shell --jars /CData/CData JDBC Driver for Google Ads/lib/cdata.jdbc.googleads.jar
2. With the shell running, you can connect to Google Ads with a JDBC URL and use the SQL Context load() function to read a table.

   Google uses the OAuth authentication standard. To access Google APIs on behalf on individual users, you can use the embedded credentials or you can register your own OAuth app.

   OAuth also enables you to use a service account to connect on behalf of users in a Google Apps domain. To authenticate with a service account, you will need to register an application to obtain the OAuth JWT values.

   In addition to the OAuth values, specify the DeveloperToken and ClientCustomerId.

   See the "Getting Started" chapter of the help documentation for a guide to using OAuth.

   Built-in Connection String Designer

   For assistance in constructing the JDBC URL, use the connection string designer built into the Google Ads JDBC Driver. Either double-click the JAR file or execute the jar file from the command-line.

   java -jar cdata.jdbc.googleads.jar

   Fill in the connection properties and copy the connection string to the clipboard.

   Configure the connection to Google Ads, using the connection string generated above.

   scala> val googleads_df = spark.sqlContext.read.format("jdbc").option("url", "jdbc:googleads:DeveloperToken=MyDeveloperToken;ClientCustomerId=MyClientCustomerId;").option("dbtable","CampaignPerformance").option("driver","cdata.jdbc.googleads.GoogleAdsDriver").load()
3. Once you connect and the data is loaded you will see the table schema displayed.

4. Register the Google Ads data as a temporary table:

   scala> googleads_df.registerTable("campaignperformance")

5. Perform custom SQL queries against the Data using commands like the one below:

   scala> googleads_df.sqlContext.sql("SELECT Device, Clicks FROM CampaignPerformance WHERE Device = 'Mobile devices with full browsers'").collect.foreach(println)

   You will see the results displayed in the console, similar to the following:

Using the CData JDBC Driver for Google Ads in Apache Spark, you are able to perform fast and complex analytics on Google Ads data, combining the power and utility of Spark with your data. Download a free, 30 day trial of any of the 200+ CData JDBC Drivers and get started today.