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Web Log Storming introduction

What's New in version 3.0

Most important changes in this version include:

Page tagging / hybrid analysis (Pro version only)

One of most important additions is page tagging feature (so-called "hybrid" analysis). Basically, major drawback of using log analyzers instead of script-based analytics is eliminated now, while keeping all benefits. In addition, by using Web Log Storming's scripts, there is no contact to third-parties - all data stays on your server and your website loading speed won't be affected much, almost not at all.

• Better visitor and spider detection
• Additional reports such are: Cookie IDs, Screen Resolutions and more accurate Time Spent report
• Script is hosted on your server
• No additional databases - data is kept in regular server log file
• Other than uploading script and including one line on your pages, no additional configuration is required

Using this feature is recommended, as there is no much reason not to, but not mandatory. If you don't use it, Web Log Storming will continue working as with previous versions.

Redesigned reports

All reports now have both, list and chart representations and consistent right-click menus.

• You are able to see any list report as chart now (as pies or as horizontal bars, depending on report)
• Old Pie reports became both list and chart reports
• Old Trend reports are also presented as a sortable lists, with additional columns for averages and goals

New reports

• Query Parts
• Time Spent
• Cookie IDs (Pro only, page tagging required)
• Screen Resolutions (Pro only, page tagging required)

Additional browsing capability

How many times you clicked on item in report to get related sessions, then immediately right-click on left-hand report tree and choose "Keep parameters and select", to see another report based on selected item? (If you didn't, you are seriously missing one of unique features of Web Log Storming.) You will be happy to hear that, from the next version, you can do the same by right-clicking on list item (or bar or pie slice) and choose any of available reports or bookmarks directly.

Log File Caching

Parsed data can now be saved to cache files, so the next reading is faster. If used, naturally, the first reading will be slower, a bit more if you decide to keep cache compressed. Each user should decide which option combination works best.

Optimized code and other changes

In the process, we've re-inspected and changed lot of program code, keeping in mind typical hardware differences compared to years back. As a result, some parts of underlying analysis routines are better optimized, faster and more stable. There is more other small and medium improvements such are optional limiting export data to current parameters, support for IPv6, updated IP-to-location, browsers, operating systems, nicer exported reports etc.

What's New in version 2.0

Most important changes in this version include:

Goals

Each report now contains additional columns showing counts and conversion percentages for the specific goal. You can edit goals in a same way you edit File parameters.

Goal conversion values allow you to easily examine how useful are specific metrics (referrers, entry pages, etc). Some of obvious benefits: stop wasting advertising money on ineffective traffic, find and improve pages that convert badly, etc.

Tabbed reports

You can open reports in separate tabs for easier comparison.

New reports

• All files
• File types
• Cities
• Regions
• Visitor domains
• Authenticated users

Adding prefix to files for specific log files

When you host several websites on same account and merge all log files into composite reports, you can define prefixes to easily distinguish them (for example, /index.html becomes /website1/index.html).

Moving average

In addition to Average line, Trend reports now also show Moving average (based on arbitrary number of last values).

Parsing errors option added

If there are problems with your log file format, you can easily see them or send them to us for analysis.

Speed improvement

Regardless of new analyzing features (goals, new parameters, new reports), processing speed is improved.

Other changes

• No more waiting to recalculate report on Back/Forward
• Search through list reports
• Lock specific parameters page to avoid using "Keep parameters and select"
• Hit/Session bandwidth parameter
• Status and zero-bandwidth hits global filters
• Bookmarks can be assigned to one or are global for all projects
• Possibility to retry/abort on download error
• Possibility to easily hide specific file types in hit reports (checkboxes at the bottom)
• Spider list editing
• In addition to F5, you can now refresh report by pressing Enter key in Parameters panel
• Multi-select in log file location editor
• User interface redesign and other various improvements

If you have any problems or suggestions, please let us know.