[UA] Additional kinds of measurement [Legacy]

You are viewing a legacy article about Universal Analytics. Learn more about Google Analytics 4 replacing Universal Analytics.

The following kinds of measurement are commonly used on websites:

In this article:

• Measure downloadable files
• Flash
• Ecommerce 
• Events
• Custom dimensions
• User timings

Downloadable files

Clicks on links to downloadable files (e.g. PDF, AVI, WMV) can be measured as Events or virtual pageviews. When you set up an Event to capture clicks on a link, Analytics counts the clicks as event hits. When you set up a virtual pageview to measure clicks on a link, Analytics counts the clicks as page hits.

To measure clicks as Events:

• If you use Google Tag Manager to manage your Analytics tags, read Analytics Events.
• If you have the Analytics tag added directly to your site, read Events on Analytics Developers.

To measure clicks as pageviews:

• If you use Google Tag Manager to manage your Analytics tags, read about the Analytics tag.
• If you have the Analytics tag added directly to your site, read Page Views on Analytics Developers.

Flash

If you want to measure data activity on your Flash elements or Flash-based website, see Analytics for Adobe Flash on Analytics Developers.

Ecommerce

To set up Ecommerce measurement:

• If you use Google Tag Manager to manage your Analytics tags, read Ecommerce (Universal Analytics).
• If you have the Analytics tag added directly to your site, refer to Ecommerce  or Enhanced Ecommerce on Analytics Developers.

Events

With Events, you can measure interactions with elements embedded in your pages and screens, like buttons, links, videos, and gadgets.

To measure Events:

• If you use Google Tag Manager to manage your Analytics tags, read Analytics Events.
• If you have Analytics tag added directly to your site, read Events on Analytics Developers.

Custom dimensions

Custom dimensions let you collect and analyze data that Analytics doesn't automatically measure. You can, for example, use custom dimensions to define user types, like member and non-member.

• If you use Google Tag Manager to manage your Analytics tags, refer to the Analytics tag reference.
• If you have the Analytics tag added directly to your site, read Custom Dimensions and Metrics on Analytics Developers.

User timings

Analytics automatically measures page and screen load times, but you can also set up customized tags to measure how long it takes for Ajax-based operations and resources to load.

• If you use Google Tag Manager to manage your Analytics tags, refer to the Analytics tag reference.
• If you have the Analytics tag added directly to your site, read User Timings on Analytics Developers.