Custom definitions add much more specific data gathering than included dimensions and metrics. NinjaCat provides methods for adding your custom definitions to your networks to collect custom data alongside the native data from Google Analytics. This article displays the steps for adding Google Analytics Custom Definitions.

Section Links

Adding Custom Definitions for Google Analytics Universal Analytics (UA)

Adding Custom Definitions for Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

Specifying a Mapping for a Datasource

Using a Mapping in a Template

Adding Custom Definitions for Google Analytics Universal Analytics (UA)

1. Go to the Setup Settings

2. Click on the "Add Network" button near the top right or select the desired already existing Google Analytics Network from the list

3. Click on "Edit Mapping" after clicking on the button labeled, "More Actions"

4. Click on "UA Custom Mapping" after clicking the button labeled, "Add Mapping" in the top right

5. FILL IN THE NEEDED INFORMATION IN EACH OF THE REQUIRED TABS

INFORMATION Tab

     1. Give the Mapping a distinct name that you will use to identify the data being pulled through it

     2. Use the drop-down menu to select the desired option under Account and Web Property

DIMENSIONS Tab -- Repeat the instructions below for each desired custom dimension

     1. Click the "Add Dimensions" button near the center or top right

     2. Fill in the needed fields in the "Dimension Editor" pop-up window

• Name - A title for the Dimension that will be visible in the Template Builder
• Header Mapping - Select the actual column from your sheet that contains the right data for the Dimension
• Aggregation Mapping - (If appropriate) The common Dimension set that this data could fall under if being combined with data from other data sources
• Display As - The specific format that the data from the sheet should be represented as

     3. Click the "OK" button near the bottom right of the pop-up window after all the fields are filled

METRICS Tab -- Repeat the instructions below for each dimension you need to pull from your sheet

     1. Click the "Add Metrics" button near the center or top right

     2. Fill in the needed fields in the "Metrics Editor" pop-up window

• Name - A title for the Metric that will be visible in the Template Builder
• Header Mapping - Select the actual column from your sheet that contains the right data for the Metric
• Display As - The specific numeric format that the data from the sheet should be represented as
• Calculate totals as... - For combining metric values choose Summation or Average
• Aggregation Mapping - (If appropriate) The common Metric set that this data could fall under if being combined with data from other data sources

     3. Click the "OK" button near the bottom right of the pop-up window after all the fields are filled

6. Click on the "Save" button in the bottom right

Adding Custom Definitions for Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

1. Go to the Setup Settings

2. Click on the "Add Network" button near the top right or select the desired already existing Google Analytics Network from the list

3. Click on "Edit Mapping" after clicking on the button labeled, "More Actions"

4. Click on "GA4 Custom Mapping" after clicking the button labeled, "Add Mapping" in the top right

5. FILL IN THE NEEDED INFORMATION IN EACH OF THE REQUIRED TABS

INFORMATION Tab

     1. Give the Mapping a distinct name that you will use to identify the data being pulled through it

     2. Use the drop-down menu to select the desired option under Account

     3. Under "Sample Properties To Pull Custom Dimensions And Metrics" use the drop-down to select any and all web properties that contain your desired custom dimensions/metrics to create a composite set of custom definitions

     4. Click on the button labeled "Pull" below the drop-down 

DIMENSIONS / METRICS Tabs

     1. Once on these tabs you will see a list of all of the custom definitions contained in all of the web properties designated on the previous tab

     2. You will need to select the custom definitions that you actually want to keep in your list by clicking the checkboxes on the left of each desired line item

NinjaNote: If you need to edit an aspect of any of the custom definitions, you can click on the line item itself to display the "Editor" window. In the "Editor" window, the Name, Aggregation Mapping, and Display options are editable in the window.

• Name - A title for the Dimension that will be visible in the Template Builder
• Header Mapping - The uneditable distinct indicator used to identify the custom definition in the NinjaCat system
• Aggregation Mapping - (If appropriate) The common Dimension set that this data could fall under if being combined with data from other data sources
• Display As - The specific format that the data from the sheet should be represented as

 3. Click the "OK" button near the bottom right of the pop-up window after all the fields are filled

6. Click on the "Save" button in the bottom right

Specifying a Mapping for a Datasource

Follow the instructions in this section of this linked article to specify a mapping for the desired Google Analytics data source connection to the desired NinjaCat Account 

Using a Mapping in a Template

Follow the instructions in this section of this linked article to specify the desired mapping to use to display the desired custom definitions in a NinjaCat Template Data Widget