Create item-scoped custom dimensions if you have an ecommerce website or mobile app so you can analyze the additional information you collect in the items array within ecommerce events like 'purchase' or 'add_to_cart.' The information you collect in the items array is called item-scoped parameters.
Before you begin
- Don't create a custom item-scoped parameter if a predefined dimension already exists.
- Add the custom item-scoped parameter to your website or mobile app.
- Make sure the custom item-scoped parameter is being collected. For example, you can select an event in the "Event count by Event name" card in the Realtime report.
- Make sure you're an editor or administrator.
Limits
To give you the flexibility to choose from a larger pool of parameters without having to retag your site or app, you can send up to 27 item-scoped custom parameters, of which you can configure:
- 10 item-scoped custom parameters for standard properties
- 25 item-scoped custom parameters for Analytics 360 properties
Instructions
- In Admin, under "Data display", select Custom definitions.
Note: The previous link opens to the last Google Analytics property you accessed. You must be signed in to a Google Account to open the property. You can change the property using the property selector. You must be an Editor or above on the Google Analytics account at the property level to create item-scoped custom dimensions.
- Select the Custom dimensions tab.
- Select Create custom dimension.
- Complete the following fields:
Field Description Dimension name Enter a unique name for the new dimension. The name you choose will appear in your reports and ad platform.
You can't use hyphens in the name, but you can use underscores and spaces instead.
Scope Select Item to create an item-scoped custom dimension.
You can't change this field after you save the new dimension.
Description Optional text used to identify the item-scoped custom dimension. Event parameter Enter the name of the custom event parameter in your website or app code.
You can't change this field after you save the new dimension.
- Click Save.
Example
In addition to the recommended event parameters for the add_to_cart event, you configure a color item-scoped parameter so you know the color of each shirt in the add_to_cart event. To analyze the color event parameter, you create the following item-scoped custom dimension:
- Dimension name: Color
- Scope: Item
- Description: The color of an item
- Item parameter: color
Next steps
Analyze the custom dimension in a report
Analyze the custom dimension in an exploration
- In Google Analytics, select Explore on the left.
- Create or open a free-form exploration.
- In the "Variables" column on the left, select + next to "Dimensions".
- Select the Custom tab at the top.
- Expand the Custom drop-down. then select a dimension.
- In the top right, select Confirm.
- Drag the dimension from the "Variables" column.
- Drop the dimension into "Rows" or "Columns" in the "Settings" column.
Build an audience using the dimension
- In Admin, under "Data display", select Audiences.
Note: The previous link opens to the last Google Analytics property you accessed. You must be signed in to a Google Account to open the property. You can change the property using the property selector. You must be a Marketer or above at the property level to build an audience using the dimension.
- In the top right, select New audience.
- Select Create a custom audience.
- Expand the Add new condition drop down.
- Select the custom dimension.
- Add a filter, then select Save.