BigQuery Table Explorer

BigQuery Console Feature to Help You Generate SQL Queries

Author

Anil Batra
July 26, 2024

In partnership with

BigQuery Table Explorer provides a way for you to explore the data contained in various fields (columns) of a table and also create no-code SQL queries based on your selection of the fields.

This feature is great for both beginners who are learning SQL and getting familiar with BigQuery, SQL and the GA4 data, as well as for those who are experts and need to quickly review the distinct values in a a column.

Below are the step to use Table Explorer feature in BigQuery.

In the Google Cloud console, go to the project that contains the data that you want to explore.

In the Explorer pane, select the table that you want to explore and create the query for.

This opens up table schema. You can select the columns from the schema or click the “TABLE EXPLORER” tab, and then click “SELECT FIELDS” button.

Table Schema view

Table Explorer Tab

In the Select fields pane, you can select up to 10 table fields to explore.

Once you select the columns click on “EXPLORE” button on top (if you go from the Schema tab) or click “Save” button when you from “TABLE EXPLORER” tab.

This will now show you cards for each column that you selected and SQL Query based on your selection.

You can copy this query into a new query in query editor, or apply the query in table explorer.

Video of Table Explorer

If you want to watch the video of BigQuery Table Explorer then click on the following link.

A few more things to know

  1. Exceptions: Nested record type columns such as event_params are not supported in this feature.

  2. Cost: Table explorer runs queries to display table exploration results. These queries incur compute pricing charges. You can also incur compute charges if you run a query generated by table explorer.

  3. Permissions: You will BigQuery Job user on the project and BigQuery Data Viewer permissions on all the tables that you want to explore.

    If you created the account are admin then you have all the required permissions.

  4. Learn BigQuery with GA4 data at https://academy.optizent.com/courses/bigquery-for-marketers-and-marketing-analysts

Happy Learning!

Anil Batra, Your Digital Analytics Coach
Optizent.com

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