SQL and dashboards have not made spreadsheets obsolete. When two exports disagree and someone needs an answer this afternoon, a spreadsheet is often the quickest place to look at the actual rows. It also lets a colleague follow every step without any special tools.
You do not need many functions for that. This guide uses one realistic task, reconciling GA4 purchases with shop orders, and only the skills that task needs: checking an import, cleaning keys, looking up values, highlighting problems and drawing one chart.
The data is invented, and the formulas have not been run on a real export. The totals below were worked out by hand. Formulas use Excel and Google Sheets names in English with commas. Your version may need a different separator, such as a semicolon, or localised function names.
Keep the raw export untouched
Put each export on its own sheet and never edit those columns. Add your work in new columns beside them. If a result looks odd later, you can then tell whether the fault lies in the source or in your own steps.
Here are the two hypothetical exports. The shop's report says five orders worth 505.50. GA4 says five purchases worth 380.05.
GA4 transaction_id | GA4 revenue |
|---|---|
| A1001 | 120.00 |
