# Google Cloud Storage

> Connect Google Cloud Storage to sanda: what to prepare, the fields the connection form asks for, and how its data lands in your warehouse.

## Connect Google Cloud Storage

:::steps
1. **Open the catalogue.** In the console, go to **Data · Connections** and press **New connection**.
2. **Choose Google Cloud Storage.** It is listed under files and storage; you can also search for it by name.
3. **Fill in the form.** Enter the fields below. Credentials go straight to sanda’s sync engine and are never stored in sanda’s database.
4. **Choose what to sync.** Pick the tables you want, and a sync mode for each. See [choose what to sync](https://docs.sanda-os.com.au/connections/choose-tables).
5. **Run the first sync.** sanda tests the connection, then lands each table you chose in your warehouse.
:::

## Configuration fields

What the connection form asks for. Required fields are marked; the rest are optional.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Authentication** | one of 2 options | Yes | Credentials for connecting to the Google Cloud Storage API. |
| **Start Date** | string | No | UTC date and time in the format 2017-01-25T00:00:00.000000Z. Any file modified before this date will not be replicated. |
| **Bucket** | string | Yes | Name of the GCS bucket where the file(s) exist. |
| **Sanitize File URLs** | boolean | No | Deprecated: this option has no effect. Default `false`. |
| **The list of streams to sync** | array | Yes | Each item defines one table in your warehouse: which files belong in it, their format, and how they are parsed and validated. |

### Authentication

Credentials for connecting to the Google Cloud Storage API.

Choose one of the following. Each asks for its own fields.

**Authenticate via Google (OAuth)**

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Access Token** | string, secret | Yes |  |
| **Client ID** | string, secret | Yes |  |
| **Client Secret** | string, secret | Yes |  |
| **Access Token** | string, secret | Yes |  |

**Service Account Authentication.**

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Service Account Information.** | string, secret | Yes | Enter your Google Cloud service account key in JSON format. |


## Related

:::links
- [Sync modes](https://docs.sanda-os.com.au/connections/sync-modes): How sanda reads each table on every run.
- [Sync schedules](https://docs.sanda-os.com.au/connections/schedules): How often a connection runs.
- [Allowlist sanda’s address](https://docs.sanda-os.com.au/connections/allowlist): For a system behind a firewall.
- [Troubleshoot connections](https://docs.sanda-os.com.au/connections/troubleshooting): What an error means and how to fix it.
:::