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      Guide: Using Gmail with Databox (Custom API Integration)

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      Gmail Integration Details

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      Overview

      Gmail is a free Web-based email service that is provided by Google. 

      The Gmail integration is designed for more tech-savvy users, as it syncs data through a Custom API integration. In order to create Gmail metrics in Databox, you’ll need to use the Metric Builder. Learn more about the basics of Metric Builder for Custom API Integrations here. 

       If you need help getting set up with Gmail, feel free to reach out to our Support Team at help@databox.com.

      Custom API Integrations are available on Professional and higher plans. Request a trial of Metric Builder by following these steps. 

      If you'd like us to help you get set up with Gmail in Databox, please fill out this request form or book a call with one of our product experts: 

      - Free Databox users (or potential users) book a call here

      - Paying Databox customers book a call here

      Integration basics

      Integration status  Beta
      Type of Account access needed  Not Specified
      Authorization type  OAuth2
      Available endpoints  All REST endpoints
      Available requests  All GET requests
      Needed permissions (scopes)  Read data
      Allowed API versions

       All currently active API versions.

       Example: You can use a v1 of an API or v4, as long as they are both still supported. Deprecated APIs normally stop returning data.
      Timezone  PST (America / Los Angeles) as default
      Dynamic date range support  Yes
      Pagination support  Yes
      Type of Pagination supported  Learn more here.
      Rate Limits  Yes
      Official documentation
      Follow the status of the API on the official changelog 

      How to connect Gmail to Databox

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      How to connect Gmail to Databox

      Gmail GIF

      To connect a Gmail Account in Databox, go to Data Manager > + New connection. Type Gmail in the search bar and click on the Connect button. Next, click the green Connect now button.

      This will open the Authorization window, where you will be prompted to enter your Gmail login credentials and authorize the Databox app.

      What's the maximum amount of historical data initially available when you use a new Gmail Data Source Metric in Databox?

      The amount of historical data available in Databox is dependent on the custom metric setup, API limitations, pagination limitations, and the user’s Databox plan:
      • Custom Metric Setup: When a user creates a metric using an endpoint that supports date time parameters in the API request, those date time parameters determine the amount of historical data that will be pulled for the given metric. You can learn more about the date time parameters and pagination here.
      •  API Limitations: APIs may have limits set by the system itself on the amount of historical data that is stored/ can be accessed.
      •  Pagination Limitations: The pagination limit is set to 100 pages, which means that pagination will stop when the 100th page is reached. In cases where the metric is using pagination, of course, the interplay of date time parameters and pagination can have an impact on how much of the historical data the user can pull for a given metric.
      •  Databox Plan: The amount of historical data you're able to access in Databox is dependent on your Databox plan. Learn more here.

      Pro Tip: In order to start syncing data for a Metric, you can add it to your Metrics screen, use it in a Scorecard, set a Goal around it, create an Alert for it, or add it to a Databoard. Learn more here

      What time zone does Gmail data sync in? 

      Gmail data is synced in PST (America / Los Angeles) as default.

      Timezone is applied while making queries that include “after” and “before” fields inside the “q” parameter. 

      Using values in seconds means that you will be specifying other timezones. We do not recommend that, however if this approach fits your needs you can adjust the data source timezone as well.

      What type of pagination is supported by Gmail Integration

      The pagination limit is set to 100 pages, which means pagination will stop when the 100th page is reached. We recommend that you use the “limit” parameter. This parameter will increase the default number of records returned. 

      Learn more about pagination here 

      How to use and create Gmail Metrics

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      How to create custom Gmail Metrics

      Let’s walk through how to create a Custom Metric for Gmail.

      In order to prepare API requests, you should reference API-specific documentation that can be found in the Databox app through the API Docs link in the top right of the Prepare API Request page. Or, use this direct link.

      1.  Navigate to Metrics > Custom Metrics to access the Metric Builder for Gmail.
      2. Click the green + New Custom Metric button and select your connected Gmail Account from the Data Source drop-down list.
      3. Open the API documentation for Gmail to find the endpoint that will return the data needed for the given custom metric you wish to create.  
      4. Click the drop-down to select GET or POST as the HTTP Method. This is dependent on the information you found in the API documentation.
      5. The Base URL is already predefined, you will need to copy the missing part of your chosen endpoint to sync the appropriate data. 
      6.  Add Parameters based on your HTTP Method. Parameters limit the records returned for the API request.
        1. If you’re creating a GET request, define the Key and Value pair(s). The API documentation provides information on endpoints for a field/ argument, which will be the Key. The condition (i.e., an ID, true/ false, etc.) will be the Value. If the API documentation for Gmail states that the Integration supports dynamic date ranges, you will be able to click the calendar icon to add datetime parameters.
        2. If you’re creating a POST request, define the relevant JSON body. Click on the Calendar icon to add datetime parameters.
          1. Pro Tip: You can choose multiple Keys and Values for one Custom Metric. You can add an additional Key and Value by clicking on “+”. 
      7. You can add Headers that include Key and Value pairs if the API needs this to successfully return data.
      8. If the endpoint supports pagination, we recommend you select the appropriate method using the Pagination Method dropdown. 
      9.  Once you have the basic setup, click on the green Continue button. You will be directed to the Select value step.
      10. In the Select value step, select a property that includes the metric value you'd like to track in your Custom Metric. A metric value must be purely numeric. 
      11. Once you have selected the value, click on the green Continue button.
      12. The Segment by dimension step is optional. This step will be taken into account only when you are trying to create a dimensional metric. If you'd like to segment your metric by multiple dimensions, choose one to complete during this set up, then begin again and select a different dimension until each desired metric is created.

        1. To skip this step, select None. 

      13. The Select date step is optional as well. 
        1. Use current time of storing data (Dynamic): Select this option if you don’t want to select a date field
        2. Use a field from response (optional): Select this if you want to select a date in order to see your data in predefined intervals.
      14. In the Preview & Customize step, you can see the JSONata expression that has been created based on your selection of properties. 

        1. You can customize the JSONata expression (optional) in the right editor panel. 

      15. To continue, click on the Preview data button to validate the expression and returned data. 
      16. Once you have previewed your data, click on the green Continue button to proceed to the last step of setting up your Custom Metric.
      17. In the Describe metric step, you can set up the following:
        1. Name your metric: Enter a name for your custom metric.
        2. Data Aggregation: These selections determine how your data is handled. This especially impacts the way data is grouped and displayed for longer Date Ranges. Learn more here.
        3. Favorable trend: You can select when "Trending UP is positive" or "Trending DOWN is positive," since some metrics are better (positive) when the value is lower (like Bounce rate, Churn rate, etc.). This will affect how comparison values and goal comparisons are calculated and calculated.
      18. Once you completed the Describe metric step, click the green Continue button to finish the Custom metric setup.

      Additional Information

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      Integration Limitations

      • Databox limits the use of its integrations to GET requests. This is because our integration only reads your data.
      • Scopes: Learn more about the Scopes used here.
      • Rate limits: Using the Gmail API consumes limits. If all the limits are consumed, successful syncing of your data can be disrupted. Connecting your account to other services can consume the same limits as are used by Databox. Learn more about Rate limits here.

      • If you wish to test Gmail API with all available endpoints, you can use their official playground. Learn more here.

        WARNING: If specific scopes of an integration allow you to create, change, delete or manipulate data in any other way, using such API calls can result in unexpected behavior. Databox is in no way liable for such API calls. 

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