Google Analytics App + Web Property: Mapping Variables to Event Parameters

[pascal]

Hello,

I've been trying to map variables to event parameters for the new Google Analytics App + Web property with little success. I can get specific custom events to fire but when I try to map custom event parameters using a custom destination, these do not populate. There are also no vendor predefined mapping destinations for this new property. Is there a way to do this?

[jenniferkaye]

The App + Web property is somewhat different from the regular GTAG.js implementation of Google Analytics. With the new App + Web property, you need to send your "dimensions" in a "set" command as opposed to in the payload with the event being sent (https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/app-web/persistent-values). Since this differs from how our tag template currently works for GTAG.js, it will need to be modified. I suggest submitting a support ticket, as this type of request will require some expertise with the tag template and how everything is being sent to Google.  

[robinjowett]

Jennifer - when will Tealium provide a tag template for Google's new app+web tag?

[jcertain]

Hi Jennifer,
I am messing about with the gtag template at the moment. Sure, I could deep-dive into custom containers but it would be extremely helpful to have an official tag template added to the marketplace. Please add it to the product roadmap. Thanks.

[jenniferkaye]

I believe our integrations team is working with Google to get a new tag set up, but I do not know if there is an ETA on when it will be available. You can add a request in our "Product Ideas" forum and that will help it get fast-tracked: https://community.tealiumiq.com/t5/Product-Ideas/idb-p/product-ideas as it lets our development team know there is a need from our clients.

[jcertain]

I have a solution partially working:

Mind you, it is a workaround until Tealium comes up with a proper tag template (bump ladies and gents...). Don't make me spin up a custom tag template for it, please.

However, I set up a gtag template, added a simple load rule and some custom mappings. Most of the event-related built-in property mappings concerning web & app don't work.

Some config settings work (I tested page_title, page_path, content_id). 

As longs as only one gtag exists on a page, things run smoothly. You can supress the automatically triggered page_view from web & app if required ( I do that in a custom extension scoped to the tag and I adjusted the gtag template slightly). I invoke a custom pageview event in my extension to add a bunch of properties to it. You can't add custom properties to the default page-view event unfortunately.

Once you have multiple gtags running on the page, things become messy because every click which is triggered by extensions scoped to other gtags is now automatically triggered by the web & app gtag again. (*sigh*). I haven't found a solution to suppress this behavior yet. It inflates the events measured on other GA properties.

As soon as I have found a working solution, I'll update it here. I need some spare time to look into this more thoroughly.

[TealiumJustin]

@pascal The most recent version of the Google Analytics tag supports App + Web. No template modification is necessary.

Google Analytics with App + Web Tag Setup Guide 

[mc111217]

Hi @TealiumJustin 

Thanks for the documentation but I still don't understand how I should map data layer variables to parameters and user properties in the new GA4.

Kind regards

[TealiumJustin]

@mc111217 User properties (as described here) will be available in an upcoming update to our GA4 tag. Send me a specific example of the gtag() feature you want and I'll find out when (or if) it will be available.

[mc111217]

Hi @TealiumJustin 

Thank you for your answer. If I understand correctly, a specific GA4 tag template will be released, and currently there is no possibility to set up custom events, parameters or user properties for GA4 in the current gtag.js tag template ? Do you have a release date for the GA4 tag template ?

Kind regards

[TealiumJustin]

@mc111217 Correct. While the current gtag.js tag supports some of the new App+Web features, it does not support all of the new GA4 features. However, we are getting ready to release a new GA4 tag in February.  You can subscribe to the announcement blog to get notifications of updates.