Stape GTM Helper

Working with Google Tag Manager (GTM) can be complex, especially when managing containers that include multiple tags, triggers, and variables. Using GTM Preview Mode in such cases often becomes cumbersome and time-consuming.

Stape GTM Helper is a free Chrome browser extension created to make debugging web and server-side GTM containers easy and intuitive. It is a must-have for anyone involved in data tracking setup, from marketing specialists and freelancers to agencies and business owners. It streamlines the debugging process, improves clarity, and helps you work faster.

Benefits of using Stape GTM Helper

• Targeted tag testing: focus on specific tags you’re currently configuring by filtering out unnecessary items. Ideal for containers with many elements.
• Instant tag status overview: see which tags fired correctly and which didn’t through color-coded highlights that make debugging straightforward.
• Formatted request data: view incoming and outgoing JSON requests or URLs in a clear, structured format. This is especially useful for server-side GTM users inspecting event payloads.
• Easy consent tracking: in sGTM, consent information is typically buried inside request data. Stape GTM Helper displays the four key consent states directly in the server preview, saving time and effort.

Requirements for setting up Stape GTM Helper

Stape GTM Helper is a free Chrome extension; you do not need Stape registration or subscriptions to use it. You only need an existing web or server GTM container with any configured tags to preview.

• How to create a web container in Google Tag Manager
• How to create a server container in Google Tag Manager

How to use Stape GTM Helper

1. Install the Stape GTM Helper Chrome extension.

2. To configure the extension, open your GTM container and click on the extension’s icon.

On the Stape GTM Helper’s interface, you can enable or disable its different features.

3. To use those features, open GTM Preview Mode. 

Depending on the GTM Preview tab you’ve opened, different features become available. Here is a breakdown of what each feature does and where to find it:

1. Entities Filter

The Entity filter allows you to display only the entities you need, making debugging faster and more convenient. Handy when working with GTM containers that include multiple entities.

Available on the Tags and Variables tabs.

2. JSON Formatting

The JSON Formatting feature converts complex incoming and outgoing JSON data into a clean, structured format. This significantly streamlines analyzing and understanding JSON data, especially when inspecting webhook payloads or server requests. 

Available on the Tags tab by opening a tag that carries JSON data.

Below is a comparison of JSON data with and without this feature:

3. URLs Formatter Mode

URLs Formatter Mode organizes long, cluttered query parameters into readable data (available as a table or JSON). This feature is particularly helpful for GA4 request debugging and monitoring incoming and outgoing traffic.

Available by opening the Request tab and clicking on a request.

4. Tag Type Coloring

With this neat feature, each tag will have its platform’s logo next to it. This simplifies navigation and management in busy containers by visually distinguishing popular tag types such as GA4, Meta, Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and others.

Available on the Tags tab.

5. Tags Status Coloring

This feature adds color-coded highlights for tag statuses, instantly showing which tags have fired successfully and which have failed (e.g., 4xx or 5xx errors).

Available on the Tags tab.

6. Consent Mode Server Side

In the standard GTM setup, consent status can only be verified by manually inspecting request parameters - a process that’s far from efficient. The Consent Mode Server Side feature solves this by directly displaying the four primary Google Consent Mode statuses.

Available on the Tags tab in the server GTM container preview.