Community Connector Error: Current Combination of Data Breakdown Columns Is Invalid

Community Connector Error: Current Combination of Data Breakdown Columns Is Invalid

When using your Facebook Ads reports in Looker Studio, you may receive a connector error from trying to combine two or more dimensions that Facebook's API cannot combine. This article will show you how to identify and fix the error.
This article will assist you with the following error:
"Current combination of data breakdown columns (action_type, publisher_platform, region) is invalid"

A Community Connector Error popup message in a Looker Studio report.

Cause

Facebook Ads' API only allows using some combinations of two or more dimensions as breakdowns. This is a limitation of Facebook Ads. 

Solution

When combining dimensions in your Facebook Ads report, make sure that the two or more dimensions you choose follow these requirements.
  1. Breakdowns that are not usable with off-Facebook action metrics - These fields cannot be used for off-Facebook action metrics. This limitation does not apply to on-Facebook metrics or to campaigns limited to Web, Android, iOS 14.4 and below, or SKAN modeled data.
    1. Country
    2. Region
    3. DMA
    4. Hour of Day - Audience Time Zone
    5. Hour of Day - Advertiser Time Zone
    6. Age (Ad Set Settings)
    7. Gender (Ad Set Settings)
    8. Conversion Device
    9. Device Platform
    10. Placement
    11. Publisher Platform
    12. Impression Device
    13. Target ID
    14. Product ID
    15. Carousel Card ID
    16. Carousel Card 
  2. Dynamic Creative breakdowns - The following Dynamic Creative asset breakdowns can only be used with the metrics Impressions, Clicks (All), Amount Spent, and Reach: 
    1. Ad Format Asset
    2. Body Asset ID
    3. Body Asset Text
    4. Call To Action Asset ID
    5. Call To Action Asset Name
    6. Description Asset ID
    7. Description Asset Text
    8. Image Asset Hash
    9. Image Asset ID
    10. Image Asset Name
    11. Image Asset URL
    12. Link URL Asset ID
    13. Link URL Asset Website URL
    14. Title Asset ID
    15. Title Asset Text
    16. Video Asset ID
    17. Video Asset Thumbnail Hash
    18. Video Asset Thumbnail URL
    19. Video Asset Video ID
    20. Video Asset Video Name
    21. Video Asset Video URL
  3. No aggregation of multiple attribution settings - Facebook Ads does not allow aggregation across multiple attribution settings.
  4. Action breakdown limitation - Action breakdowns can only be used with the following dimensions:
    1. Conversion Device
    2. Instant Experience Component
    3. Carousel Card ID
    4. Carousel Card
    5. Destination (insights)
    6. DEPRECATED - Post Reactions
    7. Target ID
    8. Post Reaction Type
    9. Video Sound
    10. Video View Type
  5. Hourly breakdowns - The following fields cannot be combined with hourly breakdowns:
    1. Reach
    2. Frequency
    3. Fields beginning with unique_ 
    4. Fields beginning with video_
  6. Frequency Value limitation - Frequency Value can only be used with Reach.
  7. DMA limitation - The following metrics cannot be broken down by DMA:
    1. Estimated Ad Recall Lift Rate
    2. ThruPlays
    3. Video Thruplay Watched Actions Raw
  8. Regional breakdown limitation - The following fields cannot be combined with the region breakdown:
    1. Video Average Play Time
    2. Video Avg Time Watched Actions Raw
    3. Video P25 Watched Actions Raw
    4. Video Plays at 25 percent
    5. Video P50 Watched Actions Raw
    6. Video Plays at 50 percent
    7. Video P75 Watched Actions Raw
    8. Video Plays at 75 percent
    9. Video P95 Watched Actions Raw
    10. Video Plays at 95 percent
    11. Video P100 Watched Actions Raw
    12. Video Plays at 100 percent
  9. A full list of valid combinations of breakdowns can be found at Combining Breakdowns.


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