Google Analytics Conversion Tracking code install

**split63** · 11 Dec 2015, 09:28 PM

I know there are some plugins that provide this, but I just want the lowest risk approach which is just to add the Google conversion snippet to the checkout success page.

The threads I have found about this are all very old. So I would like to double check.

My understanding is:
1. create a empty file called jscript_google.php
2. Paste in Google provided code into jscript_google.php
3. Save here: /includes/modules/pages/checkout_success/jscript_google.php

Is this right?

Is there a way to test this on a live site without actually placing an order?

**DrByte** · 11 Dec 2015, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by split63

I know there are some plugins that provide this, but I just want the lowest risk approach which is just to add the Google conversion snippet to the checkout success page.

The threads I have found about this are all very old. So I would like to double check.

My understanding is:
1. create a empty file called jscript_google.php
2. Paste in Google provided code into jscript_google.php
3. Save here: /includes/modules/pages/checkout_success/jscript_google.php

Is this right?

That's where I'd start.

Originally Posted by split63

Is there a way to test this on a live site without actually placing an order?

No.

**split63** · 12 Dec 2015, 05:27 AM

There have been many transactions since inserting the above, and conversions are showing zero. So apparently I don't have it quite right.

There is a couple of things that don't quite connect....

1. The code from Google is javascript. Yet, I'm inserting it in a php file.
2. Google speaks of inserting the script between body tags, but this .php file only contains the script, nothing else.
3. How does this file, which I created, get executed?

**split63** · 12 Dec 2015, 03:37 PM

The next day.....still not working.

I have now put the conversion snippet into:
includes/templates/<my_template_name>/templates/tpl_checkout_success_default.php

I added it to the end of this php file.

Now waiting to see if this works.

**wingc3** · 13 Dec 2015, 12:12 PM

Any luck of this working?

**split63** · 13 Dec 2015, 03:52 PM

No luck....but It appears to be some issue with the google tag (snippet)
I inserted the tag on a test page...that essentially only has the tag. Google's tag assistant sees the tag, but it never shows up in Google Analytics as a conversion. I have a call scheduled with Google tomorrow...maybe they will have an answer.

**split63** · 14 Dec 2015, 06:52 PM

Okay, I ran a few tests.
Creating the file /includes/modules/pages/checkout_success/jscript_google.php is a no go. The reason is that this puts the tag in the <head></head> section. Google Tag manager flags this as an ERROR.

Placing the conversion tag in the includes/templates/<my_template_name>/templates/tpl_checkout_success_default.php file, does work...
however, while this is not flagged as an error, Google tag manager reports that the tag is improperly positioned. Google recommends that this tag be placed directly before the </body> tag. By placing the tag at the last line tpl_checkout_success_default.php, the tag ends up roughly in the middle of the checkout_success page.
Its not an error, so I assume it will still work.

**DrByte** · 17 Dec 2015, 04:09 AM

I'm sorry, I recall when the analytics code was first introduced for google it DID work fine to be in the <head>. But, many things have changed over the years, and both Google and Zen Cart want things done differently for it to work. Sorry for glossing over that in my previous reply.

Yes, if you're going to put it in a template file, it's okay to put it in tpl_checkout_success_default.php

Or you copy /includes/templates/your_template/common/tpl_main_page.php (or tpl_footer.php) into a NEW directory at /includes/templates/your_template/checkout_success/tpl_main_page.php (or tpl_footer.php) and put your google snippet in the bottom of that file.