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How to track custom event occurrences with specific parameters in GA4 using the API?
So, I’ve created this custom event called “butt”, right? And I’ve been using the API to check how often the event is triggered, but only when a particular “userId” parameter matches one I provide.
So, when I record the event, it looks like this:
`javascript
gtag(‘event’, ‘butt’, {
userId: ‘VD5894237597126308723423’
});
`
To count that event, I’ve been checking the API like so:`javascript
const [response] = await analyticsDataClient.runReport({
property: ‘properties/’+process.env.GA4ID,
dateRanges: [{
startDate: ‘2020-03-31’,
endDate: ‘today’,
}],
dimensions: [
{name: ‘eventName’},
],
dimensionFilter: {
filter: {
fieldName: ‘eventName’,
stringFilter: {value: ‘butt’}
}
},
metrics: [
{name: ‘eventCount’}
],
});
`
The result I usually get is{ value: 'butt', oneValue: 'value' } { value: '1', oneValue: 'value' }, but I’m not sure if it’s accurate, especially since I’ve triggered the event multiple times but the number doesn’t seem to change.Now, here’s where the problem kicks in. I want to restrict the count to only events where the “userId” parameter matches the value ‘VD5894237597126308723423’. I’m not entirely sure how to go about this.
I tried using a metricFilter like this:
`javascript
metricFilter: {
filter: {
fieldName: ‘customEvent:userId?’,
stringFilter: {value: ‘894237597126308723423’}
}
},
`
But all I get is an error saying,StringFilter cannot be used as metric filter.I need some guidance on the right way to do this. Any ideas? -
2 Replies
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You need to use
dimensionFilteragain, rather thanmetricFilter, to filter by the “userId”. The “userId” is a dimension (a characteristic of your users), not a metric (a measurement of their behavior). Also, make sure thefieldNamevalue is correct for your user ID. -
Your approach is accurate, but you’ve encountered a problem because stringFilter cannot be used with metricFilter. Instead, you should continue to use dimensionFilter. When setting up the event, consider the “userId” as a parameter to your “butt” event, which means it considers to be a part of dimension, not metric.
Here’s how you should filter events where the “userId” parameter matches a certain value:
`javascript
const [response] = await analyticsDataClient.runReport({
property: ‘properties/’+process.env.GA4ID,
dateRanges: [{
startDate: ‘2020-03-31’,
endDate: ‘today’,
}],
dimensions: [
{name: ‘eventName’},
{name: ‘customEvent:userId’}
],
dimensionFilter: {
andGroup: {
filters: [
{
filter: {
fieldName: ‘eventName’,
stringFilter: {value: ‘butt’}
}
},
{
filter: {
fieldName: ‘customEvent:userId’,
stringFilter: {value: ‘VD5894237597126308723423’}
}
},
]
}
},
metrics: [
{name: ‘eventCount’}
],
});
`
This way, you’re checking for two filters: if the event name is ‘butt’ and if the userId matches ‘VD5894237597126308723423’. Now you should get the results filtered for specific userId.
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