How to add a custom event tracking with Google Analytics

Question

Google Analytics custom event not working, as it is not tracked on Google Analytics statistic View. I written code for onclick, but it is not tracked. Here is my code:

    <script>
 var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-42651041-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
    (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-42651041-1', '1800accountant.com');
   ga('send', 'pageview', '/Step1');
   </script>

   <script type="text/javascript">
   function test(){


_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','Popup','Click','Step1']);
alert("GA Code executed");
    }
    </script>

    <p onClick="return test()" style="cursor:pointer;">Click Here</p> 

Solution

This is because you are using the old syntax gaq.push, which is for the Classic Analytics. You have actually implemented the newer version of GA called Universal Analytics, which uses a different syntax for sending events.

The correct code to use, according to the Google Developer information, it should be written like this:

ga('send', 'event', 'category', 'action', 'label', value);

So, using your example, I'd write it something like this:

ga('send', 'event', 'Popup', 'Click','Step1');

Event, category and action are mandatory, while label and value are optional.