Stats tracking

[Peter Jenkins]

The client for which I do this site www.safenz.org.nz wants stats
tracking/a visitor counter, like the one that is there at the moment
(at the bottom of the home page). However I would like one that
1) uses either a link or a small, discreet icon, rather than the butt-ugly
counter that's there currently. I dont want an actual counter visible
on the page if possible
2) uses valid code - the counter code is the only thing on the page
that doesn't validate!

The host I am now using does have quite a good stats package, but I'd
like to supplement this with a cgi type counter, but NOT one that just
counts hits as most of them do, but one that uses cookies or similar
to count unique visitors, much as the current butt-ugly one does.
The ability to look at the last 10-50 referrer links would definitely be
a plus also, as I have found out some extremely useful information from
this in the past from the info provided by the butt-ugly counter.

I'd prefer to install a counter on the site using cgi or similar (preferably
not Javascript) but will go external if I cant find one to install that meets
my needs. And before anyone else says it, yes I know that counters do
not give an accurate indication, due to caching, reloading etc, but
the client wants it, and I want to be able to check out the referrers.

Any suggestions? I had a look at the counters at Matts Script Archive
where I got the guestbook, but they appear to be hit counters only.
Regards
Peter J

[Leslie]

On Tue, 2 Dec 2003 09:30:18 +1300, "Peter Jenkins"
<pe**************************************@xtra.co. enzed> wrote:

The client for which I do this site www.safenz.org.nz wants stats
tracking/a visitor counter, like the one that is there at the moment
(at the bottom of the home page). However I would like one that
1) uses either a link or a small, discreet icon, rather than the butt-ugly
counter that's there currently. I dont want an actual counter visible
on the page if possible
2) uses valid code - the counter code is the only thing on the page
that doesn't validate! Any suggestions? I had a look at the counters at Matts Script Archive
where I got the guestbook, but they appear to be hit counters only.
Regards
Peter J

Check out the options available at SiteMeter.com -
http://www.sitemeter.com

The free version suits my needs and may suit yours, or the "upgraded"
version may be more helpful. (I believe the referrer stats are part
of the upgrade version.)

One reason I like it is because the same code goes on all pages and it
tracks all pages on the site.

HTH,

Leslie
"I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person."

[JustAnotherGuy]

Peter Jenkins wrote:

The client for which I do this site www.safenz.org.nz wants stats
tracking/a visitor counter, like the one that is there at the moment
(at the bottom of the home page). However I would like one that
1) uses either a link or a small, discreet icon, rather than the butt-ugly
counter that's there currently. I dont want an actual counter visible
on the page if possible
2) uses valid code - the counter code is the only thing on the page
that doesn't validate!

check out

http://www.statcounter.com and
http://www.xav.com/scripts/axs/

[Peter Jenkins]

"JustAnotherGuy" <no******@sorry.com> wrote in message
news:bq*************@ID-214165.news.uni-berlin.de...

Peter Jenkins wrote:

The client for which I do this site www.safenz.org.nz wants stats
tracking/a visitor counter, like the one that is there at the moment
(at the bottom of the home page). However I would like one that
1) uses either a link or a small, discreet icon, rather than the butt-ugly
counter that's there currently. I dont want an actual counter visible
on the page if possible
2) uses valid code - the counter code is the only thing on the page
that doesn't validate!
check out

http://www.statcounter.com and
http://www.xav.com/scripts/axs/

Thank you for these, both good suggestions. I ended up using
Sitemeter http://www.sitemeter.com as suggested by Leslie, as
it lets my client in to nose around the data without a login, even
though I preferred the look of statcounter. The other one looks
good but doesn't do referrer links, but I like the idea of running
it on the server, thanks anyway
Regards
Peter J

[Peter Jenkins]

"Leslie" <ga********@bessiebee.com> wrote in message
news:hl********************************@4ax.com...

On Tue, 2 Dec 2003 09:30:18 +1300, "Peter Jenkins"
<pe**************************************@xtra.co. enzed> wrote:

The client for which I do this site www.safenz.org.nz wants stats
tracking/a visitor counter, like the one that is there at the moment
(at the bottom of the home page). However I would like one that
1) uses either a link or a small, discreet icon, rather than the butt-ugly
counter that's there currently. I dont want an actual counter visible
on the page if possible
2) uses valid code - the counter code is the only thing on the page
that doesn't validate!

Any suggestions? I had a look at the counters at Matts Script Archive
where I got the guestbook, but they appear to be hit counters only.
Regards
Peter J

Check out the options available at SiteMeter.com -
http://www.sitemeter.com

Terrific, just what I needed, and nothing I dont.
Had to tinker with the code a bit to make it validate in XHTML
Strict, but just what I was looking for. By the way the free
version does have referrer link stats, but only 100 entries before
it overwrites, perfectly adequate for my needs

Thanks for that
Regards
Peter J

The free version suits my needs and may suit yours, or the "upgraded"
version may be more helpful. (I believe the referrer stats are part
of the upgrade version.)

One reason I like it is because the same code goes on all pages and it
tracks all pages on the site.

HTH,

Leslie
"I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person."

[Leslie]

On Wed, 3 Dec 2003 19:26:43 +1300, "Peter Jenkins"
<pe**************************************@xtra.co. enzed> wrote:

"Leslie" <ga********@bessiebee.com> wrote in message
news:hl********************************@4ax.com.. .

On Tue, 2 Dec 2003 09:30:18 +1300, "Peter Jenkins"
<pe**************************************@xtra.co. enzed> wrote:

>Any suggestions? I had a look at the counters at Matts Script Archive
>where I got the guestbook, but they appear to be hit counters only.
>Regards
>Peter J

Check out the options available at SiteMeter.com -
http://www.sitemeter.com

Terrific, just what I needed, and nothing I dont.
Had to tinker with the code a bit to make it validate in XHTML
Strict, but just what I was looking for. By the way the free
version does have referrer link stats, but only 100 entries before
it overwrites, perfectly adequate for my needs

Thanks for that
Regards
Peter J

Glad I could be of help!

Remember to add the same code to all pages you want to track. I use
SiteMeter on my personal pages and on a large school district site I
maintain. I've not been 'surprised' by any of the stats on my
personal pages, but I have been kind of surprised at the entry pages
on the school district site. It has shown me that what I think will
be the most visited part of the site is not necessarily what it turns
out to be.

Leslie
"I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person."