Urchin 5 + Google Analytics = referral errors

[Schaedelio]

Hi

I followed the Google instructions (link below) to run Urchin 5 and GA
at the same time using the latest tracking code but Urchin no longer
reports referrals correctly. Referrals now appear in the 'Referral
Errors' section.

Google Analytics and Urchin 5 at the same time:
http://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics/bin/answer.py?answer=55474

If I remove pageTracker._setLocalRemoteServerMode(); and return to
using __utm.js, the referrals are reported correctly.

The main difference seems to by that using setLocalRemoteServerMode()
functionality, the 'utmr' variable includes encoded characters but
using __utm.js, the 'utmr' variable doesn't contain encoded
characters. The Google instructions don't advise changing any profile
filters and I already use a decode URL filter, so i'm not sure what
the problem is?

Any suggestion greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Caleb Whitmore - Analytics Pros]

Hi there,

The main issue is that Urchin 5 isn't being updated to match the latest utm.gif hit patterns created by GA.js, and thus can't understand the data generated by that codebase.

I'd recommend upgrading to Urchin 6 or sticking with legacy urchin.js versions, unfortunately.

Best,

-Caleb

[check out Urchin Hosted - cloud-based Urchin hosting solutions from Analytics Pros!]

------------------------------
Caleb Whitmore, Principal Consultant & CEO
ANALYTICS PROS
google analytics authorized consultants

Em: ca...@analyticspros.com | Ph: 503-974-1658 | Fx: 1-866-356-2021

http://www.analyticspros.com/
http://www.twitter.com/analyticspros
http://www.linkedin.com/in/calebwhitmore

[Schaedelio]

Hi Caleb,

Thanks for the advice!

Is there a technical reason I couldn't use using GA.js and utm.js
together? I'm guessing the only issue would be that the reports will
show different data?

If that's not advisable, then it looks like an upgrade is in order!

Thanks


On Nov 5, 12:06 pm, Caleb Whitmore - Analytics Pros

<ca...@analyticspros.com> wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> The main issue is that Urchin 5 isn't being updated to match the latest
> utm.gif hit patterns created by GA.js, and thus can't understand the data
> generated by that codebase.
>
> I'd recommend upgrading to Urchin 6 or sticking with legacy urchin.js
> versions, unfortunately.
>
> Best,
>
> -Caleb
>
> [check out Urchin Hosted - cloud-based Urchin hosting solutions from
> Analytics Pros!]
>
> ------------------------------
> Caleb Whitmore, Principal Consultant & CEO
> ANALYTICS PROS
> google analytics authorized consultants
>
> Em: ca...@analyticspros.com | Ph: 503-974-1658 | Fx: 1-866-356-2021
>

> http://www.analyticspros.com/http://www.twitter.com/analyticsproshttp://www.linkedin.com/in/calebwhitmore

[Jeremy A]

You could use urchin.js for both Urchin 5 and Google Analytics. For
example:

<script src="/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
_userv=2;
urchinTracker();
</script>

This assumes that you have a local urchin.js uploaded to the root
level of your site. Otherwise you could reference the one on Google's
servers instead:

<script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/
javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
_userv=2;
urchinTracker();
</script>

Either way is fine as long you have _userv=2 in there before the
urchinTracker call. Now of course doing this means that you'll miss
out on any new Google Analytics features that are only available from
the ga.js code. Right now, that mostly means event tracking and
multiple custom variables. In that case, you may want to consider
upgrading to Urchin 6. A lot of Urchin 5 features that weren't
available in earlier versions of Urchin 6 are available in the latest
release, so it's a good time to upgrade.

Using _utm.js and ga.js simultaneously, or urchin.js and ga.js
simultaneously, is not recommended due to potential conflict,
especially at the cookie level. That doesn't mean I haven't seen it
done before with relative success, but it's something to keep in mind
if you decide to go for it and then later start seeing bizarre data in
either Urchin or Google Analytics.

Jeremy Aube
http://www.roirevolution.com/urchin

> >http://www.analyticspros.com/http://www.twitter.com/analyticsproshttp...

[sean dreilinger]

On 11/06/2009 04:39 AM, Jeremy A wrote:
> You could use urchin.js for both Urchin 5 and Google Analytics. For
> example:

...

> This assumes that you have a local urchin.js uploaded to the root
> level of your site.

...

> Otherwise you could reference the one on Google's
> servers instead:

....

> Either way is fine as long you have _userv=2 in there before the
> urchinTracker call.

one more small but important detail if you go either of these routes --
your website must have a local clear gif file installed and accessible
at this URI: /__utm.gif otherwise none of the local data recording is
going to work.

--sean

--
http://durak.org/sean/