How I Added Google Analytics Tracking Code instead of using a plugin

How I put the Google Analytics in my ZenCart without A plugin

The Short Answer

Get your Google Analytics Code, open this file on your Zen Cart site:
\includes\templates\MY_Custom_Template\common\tpl_main_page.php

Scroll to the bottom of the file and just before the final line that is:

Paste in your code from google. Save the file, upload to your live site and that's it.

The Longer Answer

I wanted to add the Google Analytics code (GA code) direct to my site and not to use a plugin for my own reasons. But when I got the tracking code from Google, their instructions were to:

Google:

2. Paste this code on your site
   Copy the following code, then paste it onto every page you want to track immediately before the closing </head> tag.

So, I did the sensible thing and created a new google-analytics.js file, and uploaded it to:
*\includes\templates\MY_Custom_Template\jscript*

Then I couldn't figure out why it wasn't working.

I searched about on here, and found that some other had the same issue, and suggested adding it before the </body> tag instead. I was a bit concerned, because the post I read were from a while ago, and things change online so quickly.

But, I had a go at the method I mentioned above (see my short answer), and the new Real-Time beta reporting on GA showed results immediately :) So, all I know that this method works today 18 June 2012 on Zen Cart v 1.5.0

I wrote this to hopefully save others having to search through tons of posts in mixed threads to find the answer to this problem.

Should you want a Plugin instead, you could try this one: http://www.zen-cart.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=272
(I am not connected with this)

If you want a bit more help with the whole process of setting up a GA account, getting the code and integrating it, one of the contributors on here wrote an article on this: http://pro-webs.net/tutorials/setting-up-google-analytics-w-conversion-tracking-basic/

I don't know if the way that I have outlined here is the 'proper' or 'recommended' way of doing this, but it appears to work.

I hope this helps to save some some time for some people.

Paul

So, I did the sensible thing and created a new google-analytics.js file, and uploaded it to:
\includes\templates\MY_Custom_Template\jscript\

Then I couldn't figure out why it wasn't working. If you named the file like that, it would not work in any case. You need to start filenames in /jscript/ folders with jscript_, so your file could be like jscript_google-analytics.js.

gjh42:

If you named the file like that, it would not work in any case. You need to start filenames in /jscript/ folders with jscript_, so your file could be like jscript_google-analytics.js.

Sorry, yes you are quite right - my bad.
I was more concerned about writing the post, and by the time I had written it, I had done it the other way on Zen Cart and deleted the .js file.

Thanks for clearing up any confusion.

Paul

Hi ardhill, may be a silly question but when you created the jscript_google-analytics.js file, did you remove the <script></script> tags? I just tried it and it seems to work fine. FWIW, I used jscript_ga.js

JaspalX:

Hi ardhill, may be a silly question but when you created the jscript_google-analytics.js file, did you remove the <script></script> tags? I just tried it and it seems to work fine. FWIW, I used jscript_ga.js

Yes, you are correct.

These .js files are loaded and run as Javascript by Zen Cart, so you don't need to add the <script></script> tags.

In fact the ZenCart wiki states:

ZenCart wiki:

NOTE: jscript_*.js files must not contain any <script...> .... </script> tags. They should contain ONLY the contents that are to go "between" those tags.
http://www.zen-cart.com/wiki/index.php/Customisation_-_Templates_-_Javascript#JavaScript_Override_How-To

Hi there,

I'm trying to find a way to add Google -remarketing code to my pages - this seemed like a simple way to "hardwire" it into the page code - I tried, but it simply doesn't show up...

I'm a little lost - any help would be most appreciated....

Thanks

stickleback:

I'm trying to find a way to add Google -remarketing code to my pages

Personally, I had to google - "Google remarketing code" to see what you were talking about :blush:

Sorry, but right now I personally just don't have time to read it up and play with the code. Maybe you could start a new thread on this as there aren't that may people involved in this thread. Others may be able to help that won't read this thread. There is bound to be other people who have done what you want, or are working on it and read the forums here.

BTW, do you have a short desription of what Google remarketing is?

Regards,

Paul

Thanks for this; Google Analytics works now.
Reports are strange. Google analytics shows one visitor per day & google adwords show 30/40?

ardhill:

How I put the Google Analytics in my ZenCart without A plugin

The Short Answer

Get your Google Analytics Code, open this file on your Zen Cart site:
\includes\templates\MY_Custom_Template\common\tpl_main_page.php

Scroll to the bottom of the file and just before the final line that is:

</body>

Paste in your code from google. Save the file, upload to your live site and that's it.

Paul

Thanks Paul. Worked perfectly! :clap:

I was previously referencing an external file and I can't figure out where I have the code that's referencing it. It stopped working because Google changed the code. I added the new script to the html_header.php file so it would be right before the </head> tag. But I need to delete the old script reference and I can't figure out where it's coded.

Here's a snippet of /includes/templates/mytemplate/common/html_header.php

<script>
  (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
  (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
  m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
  })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');

  ga('create', 'UA-43155911-1', 'oldsummit.com');
  ga('send', 'pageview');

</script>
</head>

But the view source shows up like this:

<script>
  (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
  (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),
  m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)
  })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga');

  ga('create', 'UA-43155911-1', 'oldsummit.com');
  ga('send', 'pageview');

</script>
[B]<script src='/google_analytics_auto.js'></script>[/B]</head>

I can't find how the google_analytics_auto.js is being inserted. Searching for it using the Developers Tool Kit, or using BBEdit on a local version of the files comes up empty.

Any ideas what could be inserting it? The javascript file itself has been deleted so it's not autoloading it and anyways it is in the root directory, not one of the special javascript directories. It has be referenced somewhere and I can't find it. Using v. 1.5

In general, using the autoload feature of the jscript_whatever files would avoid any edits to existing files, thus saving you time and effort during an upgrade. There might possibly be some advantage to having the script show up at the bottom of the page source instead of in the head; an expert on Google & javascript would know.

Hello, I am using 1.5.1.

I am not programming savvy and trying to find a good instruction of how and where to add Google conversion tag (code).

Google says:

"Install your tag:
Copy the tag in the box below and paste it between the <body></body> tags of the page you'd like to track. You can then use Google Tag Assistant plugin on Chrome to make sure your tag is correctly placed."

I see suggestion to paste it to: \includes\templates\MY_Custom_Template\common\tpl_main_page.php>

1. Is this still correct in 2017?

2. Is there anything else to do? If yes, is there a link with step by step instruction?

Thank you for your answer in advance.

Simplest way, which doesn't affect any other files, is to create a new file:

/includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE_FOLDERNAME_HERE/jscript/jscript_google_analytics.js

and paste your google snippet in there.

All of the **/includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE_FOLDERNAME_HERE/jscript/jscript_****.js **files will automatically be inserted before the </body> tag.

Thank you for reply.

So, I will create a folder /jscript/ as I do not have one there.

Where can I borrow good jscript_google_analytics.js file to paste Google snippet?

Sorry for this silly question.

Google gives you their javascript snippet, which is all you need to put into the jscript_google_analytics.js file

Will using the my_template/jscript method listed above allow for advanced features such as conversion tracking and enhanced ecommerce or is a full blown module necessary to get the most out of google analytics?

I use Bing ads and Google ads.
All I want to know is when customer click on Submit Order button is the sale from Bing or Google.
After reading all of this I am confused. No one mention Bing ads. I find it hard to believe I am the only one using Bing.

So could someone please tell me in simple details where to paste both of these codes?

DrByte:

Simplest way, which doesn't affect any other files, is to create a new file:
**/includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE_FOLDERNAME_HERE/jscript/jscript_google_analytics.js **and paste your google snippet in there.
All of the **/includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE_FOLDERNAME_HERE/jscript/jscript_****.js **files will automatically be inserted before the </body> tag.

Hi DrByte,
I have a new 1.5.7c install using Responsive_Classic.
I installed my google analytics code as you suggested by creating the jscript_google_analytics.js and adding the code to it in /includes/templates/responsive_classic/jscript/.
The google analytics wasn't reading the conversions correctly and after speaking with their tech support, they advised me to paste the code in /includes/templates/responsive_classic/common/html_header.php just ABOVE the </head> tag, before line 215.
After doing so, they advised they can now see it working.

I asked them if I should remove the google .js file I created but they said to leave it.

Was their suggestion of where to input the code correct?
Also, is there really a point of leaving the .js file to run on every page?

rlexyd:

Hi DrByte,
I have a new 1.5.7c install using Responsive_Classic.
I installed my google analytics code as you suggested by creating the jscript_google_analytics.js and adding the code to it in /includes/templates/responsive_classic/jscript/.
The google analytics wasn't reading the conversions correctly and after speaking with their tech support, they advised me to paste the code in /includes/templates/responsive_classic/common/html_header.php just ABOVE the </head> tag, before line 215.
After doing so, they advised they can now see it working.

I asked them if I should remove the google .js file I created but they said to leave it.

Was their suggestion of where to input the code correct?
Also, is there really a point of leaving the .js file to run on every page?
If you've already modified your template's /common/html_header.php to include the Google Analytics code directly, you should delete that .js file since that would cause the analytics to be included twice on each page.

I, too, have a 1.5.7c site - https://sepialiterature.info.
I, too, was unable to get analytics working per Dr.Byte's directions. I too added the Google analytics snippet before the /public_html/includes/templates/sepia/common/html_header.php. It now seems to be working. As lat9 suggested, I did delete the snippet from the jscript_google_analytics.js file, too.