What is Data Layer Variable
In the context of Google Tag Manager (GTM), "DLV" stands for "Data Layer Variable." The Data Layer is a JavaScript object used to store and manage data on a website. Data Layer Variables (DLVs) in GTM are used to extract specific values from the Data Layer and make them available for use in your tags, triggers, and variables.
Key Components of Data Layer
Variables: Variables in the Data Layer hold dynamic values that can be utilized by tags, triggers, and other GTM configurations. For instance, you can have variables storing user IDs, student details, or event names.
Events: Events are user interactions on your website, such as clicks, form submissions, or page views. By defining events within the Data Layer, you can precisely track these interactions and trigger relevant tags.
Here's why DLVs are important in GTM:
Customization and Flexibility: DLVs allow you to capture custom data specific to your website or web application. This customization is crucial because different websites have different requirements for tracking user interactions, e-commerce transactions, form submissions, and other events. DLVs enable you to adapt GTM to your specific needs.
Separation of Concerns: By storing data in the Data Layer, you separate the concerns of data collection from the implementation of tags. This means that your website's developers can work on implementing the Data Layer, specifying what data needs to be captured, while marketers or analysts can work on GTM to create tags and triggers without having to modify the website's code.
Dynamic Content and Personalization: DLVs allow you to capture dynamic content or user-specific data (such as user IDs, product names, or transaction amounts) from the Data Layer. This dynamic data can be sent to analytics tools, advertising platforms, or other marketing technologies to enable personalized user experiences and targeted marketing campaigns.
Enhanced Debugging and Troubleshooting: When you utilize DLVs, you can see the exact data being sent to GTM in real-time. This helps with debugging and ensures that the correct data is being captured and processed by your tags. It simplifies troubleshooting processes because you can inspect the Data Layer to confirm that the expected data is available.
html
Copy code
<script>
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
window.dataLayer.push({
'event': 'customEvent',
'variableName': 'variableValue',
// Additional key-value pairs
});
</script>
By pushing data into the Data Layer using this script, you enable GTM to access this information, making it available for tags and triggers.
In summary, DLVs in GTM are essential because they provide a way to capture custom data from your website and make it accessible within GTM, allowing you to create more tailored and effective tracking setups for your analytics and marketing needs.
To Use DLV it is important to add to download the extension for Ajax and add in the GTM container.
You can download ajax from below mentioned URL:
https://www.bounteous.com/insights/2017/05/09/jquery-ajax-listener-recipe-gtm
What Is Container Import?
This is a feature in Google Tag Manager that let’s you import a JSON file that contains tags, triggers, and variables into your container. This may be an entire container or just items.
Why Would You Need To Import A Container?
Four common use cases for importing a container are:
You have a lot of sites and want to set up a default container for each of them. For example, imagine a hotel chain that has 100 hotels, each with its own site and container. Would you rather go in and manually create dozens of tags, variables, and triggers from scratch 100 times, or just do that once and import those settings 99 times?
Importing new tags, variables, and triggers that have been shared with you.
Making bulk changes to your container.
You’re maintaining separate GTM containers in different environments, like a dev or staging site, and you want to export out of one environment and into another.
How To Import A Container
Follow the simple steps below to import a container:
1. Log into GTM and navigate to your Account and container.
2. In the top navigation, click through to the Admin
3. Under the Container options, click on Import Container
4. Choose the JSON file that has the container you wish to import. See below for details about how/where to get this file.
5. Choose to either Overwrite or Merge.
Overwriting the existing container will remove all your existing tags, triggers, and variables, and will replace them with those in the imported container. A new container version will be created before the import. Use this option if you want to start fresh with the imported container.
Merging containers will let you keep your existing tags, triggers, and variables, and just add in the new ones. If you choose to Merge the new container with your existing container, you’ll have to then decide whether you want to overwrite conflicting tags, or rename conflicting tags.
Overwrite – If a variable, tag, or trigger in the new container has the same name but the contents are different, overwrite the old one with the new one.
Rename – If a variable, tag, or trigger in the new container has the same name but the contents are different, keep the old one and rename the new one.
6. Click Continue. You’ll see a preview of changes, showing how many tags, triggers, and variables will be added, modified, or deleted. You can also click the link to View Detailed Changes to see which tags, triggers, and variables are being added, modified, or deleted.
7. Once you’re satisfied with the changes, click Confirm.
8. Once the container is imported below mentioned DLV will be visible in the GTM:
What If I Don’t See The Import Container Option?
You need to have edit permissions for the container to be able to import. If you don’t have edit permissions, you won’t see this option.
Where Do I Get A Container File?
There are generally two ways to get a container file to import:
Export a container from your GTM account. In the Admin, just beneath the Import Container option, there is also an Export Container option. Clicking on Export Container will let you select a container version, and then it will generate the JSON file needed to import into another container.
Other shared resources. At Bounteous, we will start sharing container files for things like YouTube video tracking, AJAX event listening, and more. Check our blog regularly for these resources!
Source: https://www.bounteous.com/insights/2015/08/26/how-import-container-google-tag-manager
Before moving to Ajax, lets understand how we can check if our tag that we have configured is working perfectly or not, once you are done with creating the tags and triggers click and preview, for better understanding click on below Video.
What is the usage of Ajax:
Ajax complete provide all the data set that is available on your data layer, this will help you identify the triggers which can be useful for setting your GTM.
Sometimes we are not sure what variable to use, if the same is going to work or not, what if you are already aware of the variable and you just have to pick one as per your requirement.
Attaching some of the reference.
See how easy It is to identify variables for your GTM.