DSpace 7: DSpace Google Analytics Statistics - file downloads

[UALibraries WebServices]

Hi all,

We have been trying to implement Google Analytics (file downloads) on the new DSpace 7.6 but have yet to be successful. We are receiving statistics on page views but not file downloads. 

I would like to know that if you can get it working. 

 

Sincerely yours,

Maryam Fayazi

[DSpace Community]

Hi Maryam,

As of the DSpace 7.6.1 release this should be working out-of-the-box.  In fact, in DSpace 7.6 we had complaints it was recording **too many** downloads, as thumbnail downloads were being recorded.  See https://github.com/DSpace/DSpace/issues/8938   That issue was fixed in 7.6.1 however.

As noted in that issue ticket 8938, I believe downloads in Google Analytics are recorded as "item" events with the action "download" and category "bitstream".

If you are not seeing those events in your GA, then I'd recommend looking at your logs (dspace.log) to see if errors are being thrown every 5 minutes (as the default "google.analytics.cron" will send these download stats to Google Analytics every 5 minutes).

If you are still not seeing these statistics, then I'd recommend creating a bug ticket with more details about your setup and what you *are* seeing.  It sounds like GA is working fine from the User Interface (as that is where the stats for regular item views come from).  But, if downloads are not showing up, that'd imply that "google.analytics.cron" either isn't working or isn't enabled: https://wiki.lyrasis.org/display/DSDOC7x/DSpace+Google+Analytics+Statistics#DSpaceGoogleAnalyticsStatistics-ConfiguringGoogleAnalytics

Tim

[UALibraries WebServices]

Hello Tim,

Thank you so much. I can see item in Google Analytics.

Sincerely yours,

Maryam