Comments on: Tracking Events in Google Analytics

By: TVD

TVD — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:22:59 +0000

Recently, I extended Google Analytics to add download tracking for Google’s new Asynchronous Google Analytics Model. I call the extension Entourage.js:

http://techoctave.com/c7/posts/58-entourage-js-automatic-download-tracking-for-asynchronous-google-analytics

My approach was to handle each link’s onclick event. The intent was to reduce (if not eliminate) any cross-browser compatibility issues since the onclick event is fairly consistently interpreted.

It’s framework agnostic. Like you, I wanted developers to have the freedom to use the extension and still use whatever JavaScript framework they want.

I love jQuery, but I’ve always had much respect for the MooTools and Prototype.js community too. Didn’t want them to have to load jQuery just to track file downloads.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 04 May 2011 10:17:15 +0000

Where shall I put your code in order for google analytics to record clicks?

thanks!

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:19:52 +0000

I noticed this code is not tracking file names with multiple dots. For example, I’m trying to track a large set of Fw PNG downloads on my site. The file names are like this:

ico.usb.fw.png

Is there a way around this?

By: Rob Flaherty

Rob Flaherty — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:56:39 +0000

Hi James,
You’re correct about the potential race condition, but I think just about every tracking script is exposed to a potential race condition, no? (FWIW, I don’t think I mentioned it in the post but in my implementation of the script I’ve placed it inside the DOM ready function.) GA’s Async implementation allows activity to be recorded even before the GA script has loaded by storing the events in the _gaq array. So the race is between the execution of the click tracking function and the user’s clicking.

I believe your setTimeout method is compatible but I think there’s a better solution.

By: James Royal-Lawson

James Royal-Lawson — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:06:51 +0000

I like the non-jquery solution you’ve done… one question though – Will it potentially suffer from a race condition?

I can’t see a delay anywhere and i’m guessing that any link will still be followed whilst this onclick code is being executed – meaning that there’s a risk the next page starts loading before __utm.gif is returned by GA.

Normally i’d add a
setTimeout(‘document.location = “‘ + link.href + ‘”‘, 150); to my clicktracking function and then a return false; to the onclick in the tag. Is that solution compatible with yours?

/James.