Re: Large Log FIles

Kush wrote:
> Thanks Sean. I've reviewed the documentation but it really didn't clear 
> things up thus, bringing more questions. Is this an industry issue? What 
> is one to tell  advertisers as how many "visits" you've recieved?


Yes, the issue is just due to how the WWW works.

Analog is _superb_ at giving you access to the figures that _can_ be determined 
eg unique hosts, pageviews, requests (AKA 'hits') etc but it does not even 
attempt to tell you anything about the things that cannot be deduced from the 
server log files, eg visits, unique visitors, 'time spent on site' etc.

Certain other analysis packages <cough> Webtrends </cough> will _claim_ to be 
able to tell you this information but it is inevitably arrived at by placing 
assumptions on the data available and cannot be viewed as being reliable and 
additionally costs a packet for the privilege of obtaining this dubious info.

To determine figures like this additional steps (sessions, cookies etc) need to 
be taken to collect the necessary information as the server logs alone are 
unable to provide it.


	-Sean


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