For products: Webtrends Analysis Suite Advanced 7.x Webtrends Analysis Suite Advanced for Domino 7.x Webtrends Reporting Center 4.x
Last modified: 6/1/2011
Introduction: Each entry in a web server log contains a field that references the URL of the page or file that was accessed. Webtrends uses this field to track activity on the web site and counts each unique URL as a separate page or file. However, some web server plug-ins or shopping cart modules add a unique string to the page name in order to track visitors and their shopping carts. In these situations, every hit to such a page will appear in the log as a unique URL (containing the ID of the visitor). This prevents accurate counting of hits to these pages. There are other situations where a web server plug-in or some other tool adds unique identifiers to URLs or even to parameters for dynamic pages, and this is where URL Search and Replace proves useful. This feature allows users to delete specific identifiers from URLs or replace all unique identifiers with a common string. Doing so restores accuracy to page counts, makes reports more informative, and avoids some out-of-memory conditions when the number of unique IDs is extremely high.
For example, URL Search and Replace can be used for shopping cart software or to change how a URL is analyzed. Once you have configured what to look for in the URLs (the URL Search and Replace definition), you can apply them to all profiles or on an individual basis. Keep in mind that Webtrends performs the replacement for the URL before it does any other processing. The Shopping Carts box lists any URL Search and Replace definitions that have been created.
Benefits One benefit to the URL Search and Replace feature is that you can use it to analyze and report on URLs as something completely different than what was recorded in the log file. You might do this if you want to report on all pages from a certain directory as hits to the same page, forcing the pages into a group. Because URL Search and Replace is performed before the analysis, your change will affect the count for all tables and graphs. If you are familiar with Content Groups, you might wonder how this process differs from creating a group definition. Content Group definitions only apply to the Content Group section, whereas a URL Search and Replace definition applies to all sections of the report.
To configure URL Search and Replace for Webtrends Analysis Suite, perform the following steps. (Steps for Webtrends Reporting Center are provided further below.) 1. First, identify the URL you wish to modify. Locate this URL in the log file. Example:
/shoes/athletic?brand=nike&color=white
2. Determine how you want the URL to be changed. For example, a user wishes to be able to use the Parameter Analysis Advanced Feature, but because this URL is not in the standard format, it will be necessary to make some alterations so that it can be analyzed. The URL must be changed to include a file extension. Change to:
/shoes/athletic.asp?brand=nike&color=white
3. Access the Main Console of Webtrends Analysis Suite and click the Options link provided in the upper right-hand corner. The "Options" dialog box displays.
4. On the left side of the dialog box, under the "Web Traffic Analysis" heading, select "URL Search and Replace."
5. A list of URL Search and Replace definitions displays along with the following options:
New - create a new definition
Edit - edit an existing definition
Delete - delete a definition
6. Continuing with the example, click the "New" button and the pre-configured URL Replacement dialog box opens.
7. In the Shopping Cart drop-down menu, a number of pre-configured definitions which apply to shopping cart analysis display. To create your own, select "Custom (Sample)" and click "Continue."
8. The "URL Search and Replace" dialog box opens.
9. In the "Description" text box enter a name for this definition. This name will appear in the list of definitions through the "Options" dialog box and within the Profile.
10. The "Replace from" drop-down menu displays. The following options are available:
Start of string - Replaces text beginning with the start of the URL
Start of first - Replaces from the beginning of the first occurrence of the text specified
Start of last - Replaces from the beginning of the last occurrence of the text specified
End of first - Replaces from the end of the first occurrence of the text specified
End of last - Replaces from the end of the last occurrence of the text specified
In this example, insert a file extension after athletic and before the question mark (?) to tell the software what part of the URL must be searched. In this case, add the file extension of .asp after athletic.Select "End of first" from the drop-down menu and in the field next to the drop-down menu enter "athletic" (without quotes).
11. The "Up to" drop-down menu displays. The following options are available:
Start of next - Ends the replacement before and not including the character specified in the "Up To" field
End of next - Ends the replacement with and including the characters specified in the "Up To" field
End of string - Ends the replacement at the end of the URL
In this example, enter up to what point will text be replaced.Select start of next from the drop-down menu and in the field next to the drop-down menu enter question mark (?).
12. Enter text in the "With" text field. The text used in this field replaces the original or otherwise inserts it into the string. In the example, add the file extension ".asp" (without quotes).
13. A check box exists to further specify conditions. If applicable, check the option to "Perform replacement only if the URL contains:" and enter values into the following text field.
14. If desired, check the option to "Use the replacement value to track user session." This field can be used, as an example, if the value will be tracked as a cookie.
15. A "Test Area" is provided so that you may validate your specifications. In this example, enter the original URL in the "Enter a URL to test" field.
/shoes/athletic?brand=nike&color=white
Ensure the resulting URL is correct.
/shoes/athletic.asp?brand=nike&color=white
16. If the specifications are correct, click the "OK" button.
17. On returning to the "Options" window the definition name appears in the list.
18. Below the list of definitions are two radio buttons.
Apply these settings to all traffic analysis profiles.
Allow the user to modify on a per profile basis.
Select the option which applies to your configuration.
19. Click "OK" to close out of this window.
20. If you select the option to have the definition applied on a per profile basis, it will be necessary to edit the profile and select the definition.
From the Main Console select the profile you wish to edit and click the "Edit" link.
Select the "URL Search and Replace" tab.
Check the definition(s) to be applied to the profile.
Click "OK."
21. Run the report.
To configure URL Search and Replace for Webtrends Reporting Center, version 4.0x: 1. First, identify the URL you wish to modify. Locate this URL in the log file. Example:
/shoes/athletic?brand=nike&color=white
2. Determine how you want the URL to be changed. For example, a user wishes to be able to use the Parameter Analysis Advanced Feature, but because this URL is not in the standard format, it will be necessary to make some alterations so that it can be analyzed. The URL must be changed to include a file extension. Change to:
/shoes/athletic.asp?brand=nike&color=white
3. Access the Main Console of Webtrends Reporting Center and click the "Advanced" button.
4. The Advanced Features dialog box opens. Select the "URL Search and Replace" tab.
5. A list of URL Search and Replace definitions displays with the following options:
Add - create a new definition
Edit - edit an existing definition
Delete - delete a definition
6. In this example, click the "Add" button. The "Preconfigured URL Search and Replace" dialog box displays.
7. In the "Shopping Cart" drop-down menu, a number of pre-configured definitions which apply to shopping cart analysis display. To create your own, select "Custom (Sample)" and click "Continue."
8. The "URL Search and Replace" dialog box opens.
9. In the "Description" text field enter a name for this definition. This name appears in the list of definitions through the "Options" dialog box and within the profile.
10. You will then find the Replace from drop-down menu. Below is an explanation for the different choices within this menu.
Start of string Replaces text beginning with the start of the URL
Start of first Replaces from the beginning of the first occurrence of the text specified
Start of last Replaces from the beginning of the last occurrence of the text specified
End of first Replaces from the end of the first occurrence of the text specified
End of last Replaces from the end of the last occurrence of the text specified
In this example, insert a file extension after athletic and before the question mark (?) to tell the software what part of the URL must be searched. In this case, add the file extension of .asp after athletic.Select "end of first" from the drop-down menu and in the field next to the drop-down menu enter "athletic" (without quotes).
11. The "Up to" drop-down menu becomes available, offering the following choices:
Start of next - Ends the replacement before and not including the character specified in the "Up To" field
End of next - Ends the replacement with and including the characters specified in the "Up To" field
End of string - Ends the replacement at the end of the URL
In this example, enter up to what point will text be replaced.Select start of next from the drop-down menu.In the field next to the drop-down menu enter question mark (?).
12. Enter text in the "With" text field. The text used in this field replaces the original or otherwise inserts it into the string. In the example, add the file extension ".asp" (without quotes).
13. A check box exists to further specify conditions. If applicable, check the option to "Perform replacement only if the URL contains:" and enter values into the following text field.
14. If desired, check the option to "Use the replacement value to track user session." This field can be used, as an example, if the value will be tracked as a cookie.
15. A "Test Area" is provided so that you may validate your specifications. In this example, enter the original URL in the "Enter a URL to test field."
/shoes/athletic?brand=nike&color=white
Ensure the resulting URL is correct.
/shoes/athletic.asp?brand=nike&color=white
16. If the specifications are correct click the "OK" button.
17. On returning to the "Options" window the definition name appears in the list.
18. Below the list of definitions are two radio buttons.
Apply these settings to all traffic analysis profiles.
Allow the user to modify on a per profile basis.
19. Click "OK" to close out of this window.
20. If you select the option to have the definition applied on a per profile basis, it will be necessary to edit the profile and select the definition.
From the Main Console select the profile you wish to edit and click the "Edit" link.
Select the "Advanced Features" tab.
Click the "Configure" button.
Select the "URL Search and Replace" tab.
Check the definition(s) to be applied to the profile.
