Google Analytics Gtag JS: Code which sets custom dimension not working?

Question

in Analytics, under Admin -> Property -> Custom Dimension

I did create a Custom Dimension with index 1, scope session, the name abTestDesign

Also, I did create a custom segment with the name 'AbTestDesign=1' which is defined as abTestDesign (custom Dimension) contains 1. I can see this segment in Google Analytics.

For the potion of the website traffic, I did change the Analytics Code to the following (I did follow the instructions from https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/gtagjs/custom-dims-mets thanks @MichelePisani for help to reach this stage).

So the code which some pages add is the following:

<script>
  window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
  function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
  gtag('js', new Date());

  gtag('config', 'UA-10969791-1');
  gtag('config', 'GA_MEASUREMENT_ID', {
  'custom_map': {'dimension1': 'abTestDesign'}
  });

  gtag('event', 'abTestDesign_dimension', {'abTestDesign': 1});
</script>

The code doesn't produce any Javascript error but it doesn't seem to be working as it shows 0 entrances, while there were at least some entrances by myself.

Where did I get this wrong? (I guess the problem is with the code).

Mladen Adamovic · Accepted Answer · 2020-09-15 05:03:14Z

1

This question helped me:

gtag not sending custom dimensions for events

Installed in Chrome web browser, the Google Analytics Debugger extension. Opened the F12 Developer Tools and then visit a page that has your GTag script running.

The error message for me was:

Cannot parse target: ""GA_MEASUREMENT_ID"

So the correction for the code would be

<script>
  window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
  function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
  gtag('js', new Date());

  gtag('config', 'UA-xxxxxxx-x', {
  'custom_map': {'dimension1': 'abTestDesign'}
  });

  gtag('event', 'abTestDesign_dimension', {'abTestDesign': 1});
</script>

Replace the UA string with your own Analytics string.

answered Sep 15, 2020 at 5:03

Mladen Adamovic

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2 Comments

Alec Rust Over a year ago

I don't see how removing the GA_MEASUREMENT_ID line fixes this - that may be needed for initialising another property (example). I have this same "Cannot parse target" error, any ideas how to fix?

Mladen Adamovic Over a year ago

@AlecRust this is working in production for us, on website numbeo.com . Analytics shows this custom dimension in the reports and it looks correct (approx. half sessions with abTestDesign 1 and the rest with 0). The line with GA_MEASUREMENT_ID was errornes it is the same as 'UA-xxxxx-x' string.

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