Extracting Client ID as a custom dimension with audience dimensions through API - google-analytics-api

Question

I'm looking to get some answers here regarding the matter. There is no formal documentation available, would like some answers to my dilemma. Currently on analytics, I have Client ID setup as a custom dimension, session scope, I'm currently trying to match this Client ID with other dimensions via the Analytics Reporting API v4. (Reason having done so is that because in order for Client ID to be available outside of User Explorer on Analytics, one has to setup a custom dimension for this)
It's come to my attention that when I try to match Client ID, with an Audience Dimension, such as Affinity, nothing comes up. But say I do so with another dimension like PagePath + Affinity, the table exist. So I know that it is possible to pull Audience dimensions with other dimensions and it's possible for me to pull Client ID together with other dimensions. But what I'm trying to understand is why can't I pull Client ID together with Audience dimensions?
Some clarification on the matter would truly be appreciated, thanks.
For example (Can't show everything, but this is the response body of the python script)
In the case that i try to match my custom dimension (Client ID, session scope) with Affinity.
request_report = {
'viewId': VIEW_ID,
'pageSize' : 100000,
'dateRanges': [{'startDate': '2018-12-14',
'endDate': 'today'}],
'metrics': [{'expression': 'ga:users'}
],
'dimensions': [{'name': 'ga:dateHour'},
{'name':'ga:dimension1'},
{'name': 'ga:interestAffinityCategory'}
]
}
response = api_client.reports().batchGet(
body={
'reportRequests': request_report
}).execute()
Output:
ga:dateHour ga:dimension1 ga:interestAffinityCategory ga:users
Changing my dimensions, to pagePath + Affinity
request_report = {
'viewId': VIEW_ID,
'pageSize' : 100000,
'dateRanges': [{'startDate': '2018-12-14',
'endDate': 'today'}],
'metrics': [{'expression': 'ga:users'}
],
'dimensions': [{'name': 'ga:dateHour'},
{'name': 'ga:pagePath'},
{'name': 'ga:interestAffinityCategory'}
]
}
response = api_client.reports().batchGet(
body={
'reportRequests': request_report
}).execute()
Output:
ga:dateHour ga:pagePath ga:interestAffinityCategory ga:users
2018121415 homepage Business Professionals 10
2019011715 join-beta Beauty Mavens 16
2019011715 join-beta Frequently Visits Salons 21
Now say I change my combination to custom dimension + device category
request_report = {
'viewId': VIEW_ID,
'pageSize' : 100000,
'dateRanges': [{'startDate': '2018-12-14',
'endDate': 'today'}],
'metrics': [{'expression': 'ga:users'}
],
'dimensions': [{'name': 'ga:dateHour'},
{'name': 'ga:adContent'},
{'name': 'ga:deviceCategory'}
]
}
response = api_client.reports().batchGet(
body={
'reportRequests': request_report
}).execute()
Output:
ga:dateHour ga:dimension1 ga:adContent ga:deviceCategory ga:users
2018121410 10 ad1 desktop 1
2018121410 111 ad1 mobile 1
2018121410 119 ad4 mobile 1
2018121410 15 ad3 desktop 1
2018121410 157 ad3 mobile 1
In conclusion:
What I'd like to achieve is being able to pair my custom dimensions (Client ID) together with audience dimensions in order to be able to do segmentations. But first things first, if this permutation is not possible, I would like to understand as to why it's not possible? Is this a limitation from the API side? Or is this a policy thing (taking a guess here as I understand that there are identity protection policies)?

Answer 1

The BigQuery integration does not contain demographics/affinitys. The User Interface contains a variety of mechanisms to prevent you from isolating individual users, so in short no.