Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Ceres Data Layering.

What does Ceres do?

Ceres automatically injects GA4-compatible ecommerce tracking events (dataLayer pushes) into your Shopify storefront. It works without editing your theme — tracking is delivered via a Shopify Script Tag.

Do I need to edit my theme or write any code?

No. Ceres registers a Script Tag through the Shopify API. Your tracking script is loaded automatically on every storefront page — theme changes, theme switches, and Shopify OS 2.0 themes are all supported without any manual edits.

What GA4 events are supported?

  • view_item — product detail page views
  • view_item_list — collection and search result impressions
  • select_item — product click from a list
  • add_to_cart — Add to Cart button clicks
  • view_cart — cart page and minicart drawer views
  • remove_from_cart — item removal or quantity reduction in the cart
  • begin_checkout — checkout initiation (via Web Pixel)
  • add_shipping_info — shipping method selected (via Web Pixel)
  • add_payment_info — payment details submitted (via Web Pixel)
  • purchase — order completed (via Web Pixel)
  • collection_sort — sort filter changes on collection pages (custom event)

Which GA4 Measurement ID do I use?

Use your GA4 property's Measurement ID — it starts with "G-". Find it in Google Analytics under Admin → Data Streams → your web stream. Paste it into the Settings page in the Ceres dashboard.

Does Ceres work with Google Tag Manager (GTM)?

Yes. Ceres pushes events to the standard window.dataLayer array. If GTM is already installed on your store, its triggers will pick up Ceres events automatically. You can also use the one-click GTM Container Export in the app to import a ready-made container with all Ceres event triggers pre-configured.

Does it work with checkout events (begin_checkout, purchase)?

Yes. Checkout tracking (begin_checkout, add_shipping_info, add_payment_info, purchase) is delivered via a Shopify Web Pixel extension, which runs in a secure sandbox provided by Shopify. These events are enabled automatically — no configuration required.

Will Ceres slow down my store?

No measurable impact. The Script Tag loads asynchronously and is served from a CDN-cached endpoint. The bundle is minimal — only the events you have enabled are included, and the script is typically under 5 KB gzipped.

Does it work on any Shopify theme?

Yes. Ceres uses standard DOM events, MutationObserver, and URL change detection to capture interactions reliably across Dawn, Impulse, Turbo, and custom themes. If your theme uses non-standard cart or product markup, you can use the Theme Report in the dashboard to check compatibility.

Does Ceres collect or store my customers' data?

No. Ceres does not collect, log, or store customer PII. Ecommerce event data (product names, prices, etc.) is pushed directly from your storefront to your own GA4 property. It never passes through Ceres servers.

What data does Ceres store about my store?

Ceres stores your OAuth session token (required by Shopify for all embedded apps) and your app configuration — GA4 Measurement ID, GTM Container ID, and your enabled events list. Configuration is saved as a Shopify metafield on your shop, not in our database.

What happens when I uninstall Ceres?

Ceres receives an app/uninstalled webhook from Shopify and immediately deletes your OAuth session and removes the Script Tag from your store. No tracking code remains active on your storefront after uninstall.

How do I verify events are firing correctly?

Use Google Analytics DebugView (Admin → DebugView) or Google Tag Assistant to inspect events in real time while browsing your store. The Ceres dashboard also includes a live Event Log that shows events as they are relayed from your storefront.

What permissions does Ceres require?

  • write_script_tags / read_script_tags — to inject and manage the tracking Script Tag
  • write_pixels / read_customer_events — for the Web Pixel checkout extension (begin_checkout, purchase, and more)

Who do I contact for support?

Email us at support@qodespace.com. We typically respond within one business day.