Why "RCounter" | License | Contents | Installation | User documentation | The analysis of site audience



RCounter
© 2001 Bendersky Maxim
© 2001 Rusin Alexander

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RCounter

VERSION 1.0

User documentation

Contents

1. ANNOTATION
2. "WHY RCOUNTER?" - DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF THE SYSTEM
    2.1. Main advantages of the RCounter
    2.2. Comparison table of the RCounter system with analogs
3. FUNCTIONS, PURPOSE, GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE RCOUNTER SYSTEM
4. INSTALLATION AND SETTING OF THE SYSTEM
5. SET-UP OF COUNTER CALLS FROM SITE PAGES, PARAMETERS
6. CALL OF STATISTIC REVIEW AND ADMINISTRATION PAGES, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INTERFACE, PARAMETERS
    6.1. Basic information page (statistics)
    6.2. Visit statistics of separate pages of the site
    6.3. Pages of calendar statistics
    6.4. "Where from" statistics
    6.5. Editing page of settings
7. CREATION AND INSTALLATION OF SKINS
8. "OVERCOUNTER" OF STATISTICS
9. ABOUT THE PROGRAM DEVELOPERS AND USED TECHNOLOGIES
10. PLANS ABOUT IMPROVING THE SYSTEM AND USED TECHNOLOGIES
11. ADDITIONAL USEFUL DOCUMENTATION, INTERNET-RESOURCES, ADDRESSES

1. ANNOTATION

RCounter is a system for gathering and reviewing statistics, analysis of web-site attendance (and separate web-pages).

The basic functions and advantages of the system:

  • a plenty of diverse kinds of statistics (hits, hosts totally and by dates, unique IP-addresses, “where from” statistics);
  • support of statistics on separate pages of a large site;
  • access to statistics (review) through Internet;
  • set-up of the RCounter system through Internet (Web-access);
  • storage of site statistics in the separate database completely belonging to a site owner;
  • support of “skin” technology for counter appearance setting on the site, capability to disable show of the counter on the site;

The special advantage of the system is the reliable registration of site attendance. As RCounter is placed on the same server, as the site contents, - a visitor who opens the site “is inevitably counted” unlike other counters and rating systems, for example, Rambler which by virtue of the congestion periodically is unavailable and “skips” some part of your site visits.

Dear user!

Today, we represent to your attention the first version of the RCounter system. The RCounter system has various effective functions which, we hope, will be useful to you and will open new management capabilities of web-projects.

The system is improving continuously and you can send us your offers and remarks about the general system work, system problems, new system functions which you would like to see in RCounter and etc.

  • Increase the number of kinds of statistics;
  • Construct diagrams;

  • Increase the number of “skins”;
  • Open the rating web-page of sites using RCounter.

You always can supplement this list!

The remarks, offers and general thoughts about RCounter, please, send remlo@noonet.ru.

Do not forget to visit RCounter home page - www.rcounter.noonet.ru - here you can find new versions of the system, news and future plans, fresh “skins” and other useful information about RCounter.

To all authors of the letters written to us, we promise to send the next version of the program within 7 (seven) days from the moment of its issue!

Thank you for choosing the RCounter system!

2. “Why RCounter?” - distinctive features of the system

You may ask yourself - Why should I use exactly this new product? Especially, when there are many analogs on the market, in which the similar problems have already solved. Such question is lawful for the RCounter system. In this chapter you can find answers for such questions, which certain will allow you to make right choice - whether it is necessary to use RCounter or it is possible to work with more simple approaches.

2.1. Main advantages of the RCounter system

  1. Many kinds of gathered statistics.
  2. Statistics for separate pages of the site.
  3. “Where from” statistics.
  4. Rights on the statistic base.

  5. Access limitation to statistics.
  6. Editing the statistic base.
  7. Quality of count of visits.
  8. Possibility of skin editing (creation).
  9. Ignoring “debug” site visits.
  10. Handy representation of statistics.

2.2. Comparison table of the RCounter system with analogs

You can find the results of comparison of the RCounter system with other systems (both concrete systems and classes of systems), deciding similar problems in the table below.

Possibility (function)

Rambler Top100

One.ru

Common CGI-counters

RCounter

Statistics by separate pages of a site

No

Indirectly

No

Yes

“Where from” statistics

No

Announced, but it doesn't work

No

Yes

Statistics by visitor geography

Yes

No

No

No, but
it is planned

For what period the statistics (not including total visits) is accessible

1-2 months for different kinds of statistics

A Week

Usually no more than a week

All period

Access limitation to statistics

Partially

Partially

Yes

Yes

Review of statistics via the Internet (web-access)

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Possibility to set ignored IP-addresses

No

No

No

Yes

Possibility to disable displaying the counter

No

No

No

Yes

Free skin editing

No

No

Usually it's not present

Yes

Editing statistics

No

No

No

Yes

Accessory of the base to site owner

No

No

Yes

Yes

Separate base of statistics on a site

No

No

Yes

Yes

Possibility to place application of the counter on one server with a site

No

No

Yes

Yes

Type of the server, on which the application for account of statistics is placed

-

-

Usually not

Multiplatform

3. Functions, purpose, general description of the RCounter system

RCounter is a system for gathering and reviewing statistics, analysis of web-site visits as well as separate web-page ones.

The basic functions of the system:

  • Gathering of different kinds of visit statistics of your site as a whole and by separate pages;
  • Optional display of the counter picture on arbitrary pages of the site; flexible setting of displayed picture (skin technology);
  • Set-up of the counter and review of statistics via the Internet (web-access);
  • Storage of your site statistics in the separate database completely belonging to you (to the site owner).

The basic possibilities, which RCounter gives you:

  • To control visit level of your site, in proper time to find out visit growth or falling;
  • To analyze your site audience (for example - what percent of the unique site visitors, how audience has grown, what percent of the visitors comes back to your site);
  • To show or not to show the counter on your site pages (only you make a decision on it and you can change it at any moment); at displaying the counter on your site – you can adjust its appearance without any problem;
  • To optimize structure and contents of your site - making it more attractive (this possibility is given by "statistics of separate pages", which can help you to make important conclusions about what it is necessary to correct/optimize for increasing visits of separate pages and your site as a whole);
  • To possess the base of statistics completely. You can correct, copy, transfer from server to server or even delete it.

General description of the system

The RCounter system consists of several applications and set of the documentation. The basic applications of the system (counter.exe and counter.cgi) are installed on the web-server (see Install.doc). If you set-up the system correctly - the RCounter system will gather visit statistics, which allows analyzing your site visitors and evaluating attractiveness of various pages. In the documentation you can find all aspects of operation with the system, its possibilities and even some details about data formats and parameters of requests. The separate document is wholly devoted to the analysis of statistics assembled by RCounter applications. Here you can find the recommendations for research of your site audience, some brief articles and interesting conclusions of the authors, which were obtained during testing the system and visit analysis of “experimental” sites (www.noonet.ru, www.rcounter.noonet.ru and others).

In the code of your site it is necessary to place calls of one of the basic system applications (counter.exe). Thus, you can use the display mode of the counter – in that case, the counter picture will appear on site pages and it will have the number of the visitors who have visited your site. You are free not to use the counter displaying mode – thus, on your site anything superfluous will not be displayed and the application, called from your site, will register only visitors (conduct statistics) for the subsequent analysis.

When you use the counter displaying mode on your site - you can adjust its appearance very flexibly. It is achieved by support of skin technology. You can use one of several standard skins, delivered in the product package or develop your own skin. You can also get new skins on www.rcounter.noonet.ru.

At using one of standard skins, the counter on a site is of the following form:

After placing the RCounter system on a web-server and inserting calls of the counter in the code of your site - the application of the system will conduct automatically visit statistics. All kinds of statistics are gathered or calculated automatically. All what you should do - do not forget to insert calls of the counter in new pages of your site. Also, there are some settings which have an impact on statistics gathering in the system, but originally you may don’t use them – just use the default settings, hereinafter you always can change them (it is in detail described in the separate chapter).

The system gathers statistics in the separate database, formed automatically, especially for your site (at the moment of the first start of the system web-application). It is a big advantage of the RCounter system over analogs and competitors. You are the rightful owner of the database with statistics – you can transfer it on other server, make a backup copy of the base, edit the information in the base, and even completely delete the database. Thus, you will not infringe someone's information, as each RCounter database contains statistics on one and only one site. And anybody can not spoil your base and get access to it (except cases of server cracking and unauthorized access to your site code). The aspects of safety and confidentiality of your site statistics are in detail considered in Install.doc.

For obtaining and analyzing statistics, gathered the system, it is not necessary for you to work directly with the database and with the help of any sophisticated means to extract the necessary information from it. For this purpose, there is a special application in the RCounter system, which also is installed on the web-server and allows you to receive all kinds of statistics in the form of a usual web-page (via the Internet). For access to this page you need to enter the special address (URL), which depends on the site name and the web-server settings. After input of this address in the most usual Internet-browser - you will see a page, on which the part of statistics is indicated and there will be references to pages with the extended information. By the way, with the help of the same application you can carry out set-up of the counter parameters and skin installation. Thus, practically all kinds of operations with the RCountersystem you can carry out “not leaving a browser ”.

A page (one of pages), through which the statistics of the site is accessible and the counter settings can be carried out, is of the following form:

Gathering statistics by separate pages of your site is another very important ability of “RCounter”. It is one of exclusive functions of the system, partly for the sake of it the authors have carried out development of “RCounter”, not finding analogues with this possibility. Gathering statistics by separate pages of your site means, that the system conducts some kinds of statistics on your site as a whole, and some - including on each separate page of your site. It allows you to find the answers to the very important questions originating at the analysis of your site visitors:

  • What page is the most visited from all site pages?
  • At general increase of visitors - what page is getting the most popular?
  • At general decrease of visitors - what page is getting the less popular?
  • From what page to what do the visitors carry out transition?
  • On what page (what pages) does the majority of your visitors your site stop viewing?

The large part of the document, in which the methods and recommendations for the analysis of your site visitors are described, is devoted to questions connected to the analysis (the comparative analysis) of visits of separate pages. These kinds of statistics allow not simply you to answer on some separate questions, but let you make the important conclusions and optimize both structure of your site and its contents. So, it makes your site more attractive and helps to increase visits of both separate pages and your site as a whole.

There is a very important setting - Skip-list for increasing of statistics quality in the RCounter system. It is a list of IP-addresses, the visits from which should completely be ignored. It is recommended to bring computer addresses of those employees, who conduct development/debugging of your site in the given list. As they very frequently go on your site (and update its pages) during their work – they are not “normal visitors” – so, the account of their visits infringes correctness of your statistics. Adding IP-addresses of their computers in the Skip-list completely solves this problem (after that, RCounter will ignore their visits, not representing them in any kinds of statistics).

In addition to the foregoing, it is necessary to mention one of service possibilities of the system. You can “overcounter” statistics of your site (for the moment, only by several parameters). This possibility is realized mainly for the case, when you have already accumulated visits, which have been registered by other system of gathering statistics. And you would like to “transfer” your past statistics to the RCounter base. So, in this case, the statistics of your site will begin to be counted not from zero, but from the defined value accumulated earlier. It not the most important function of the system, but it is rather useful to the owners of existing sites, which have accumulated visits.

Kinds of statistics

The RCounter system of the described version carries out gathering/calculation of the following kinds of statistics:.

  • Total hit count of all site;
  • Total host count of all site;
  • Total count of unique visitors (unique IP-addresses), visited your site;
  • Total count of different URL-addresses, with which the transition was carried out to your site;
  • Total count of hits/hosts (today and yesterday);
  • For each unique visitor (IP-address) – the number of visitor’s hits/hosts and time of the last visit;
  • For each page of your site (registered in the system) - total count of hits on it and time of the last visit;
  • Calendar statistics (most detailed statistics of your site). For each day – total hit count on each of site pages, total count of site hits/hosts. The greatest number of hits is calculated by one of site pages for each day; the greatest number of hits is calculated by each page within a month; the average number of hits by each page within a month; total count of hits/hosts for one month. The calendar statistics is conducted by a month, but the information is stored concerning all time of the site existence and the statistics of the previous months is always available;
  • "Where from" statistics - list of addresses (URL), from which the transition was carried out to your site. For each address - total count of transitions on your site and time of the last transition.

Note:

  1. Hit - a one show of any site pages to any visitor.
  2. Host - a one show of any site pages to a new site visitor – who was not on your site (on any pages) during the certain space of time (by default - 12 hours).

4. Installation and setting of the system

See Install.doc for installation of the system as well as for different setting instructions and recommendations (accompaniment, moving and deleting of the system).

5. Set-up of counter calls from site pages, parameters

Attention! The information of this chapter is mainly for web-masters. It is supposed that you are familiar with HTML and rules of CGI-script call from site pages.

The “counter.exe” application is a valuable CGI-script. This application does simultaneously two things: registration of visits (writing statistics in the database) and optional display of the counter picture on a site page.

Some settings managing functions of this application are stored in the database and can be changed through the separate page of counter administration; other settings can be transmitted to application through a string of parameters.

The application of the counter returns the “image” type resource (even in the mode, when the counter is not displayed on the site) and consequently it is necessary to use IMG tag for its call.

Example of the counter call from the site page:

<img src='http://rcounter.noonet.ru/cgi-bin/counter.exe?skin=2&node=main' border=0>

You can see the principle of application call and the rule of parameter passing. You can determine the set of parameters and their values, just use help information, placed below. Also, the application of the counter can be called without any parameters – in this case, the defaults will be used for some settings, the information about which is placed together with the descriptions of parameters.

The method of the counter call, when it is required to take into account “Referrer” statistics ("where from" statistics) essentially differs from the above-mentioned example. If you are familiar with Java script and method of “referral” determination - the example below will be clear enough, for others it is recommended to do as it is shown.

Example of the counter call with allowance for “referrals”:

<script language=JavaScript>
<!--
var RealRef;
RealRef="<img src='http://rcounter.noonet.ru/cgi-bin/counter.exe?skin=2&node=main&referer=";
RealRef+= parent.document.referrer + "' border=0>";
document.write(RealRef);
//-->
</script>

The recommendation for sites with frames: It recommended placing calls in frames, which change during navigation on the site to get maximum effect

You can see some real examples of the counter call here: www.rcounter.noonet.ru, www.noonet.ru, www.nlgroup.ru.

Warning! Do not forget, that the name of called application of the counter may be different than counter.exe, for example “mysite.exe” – if you or administrator have renamed the counter from safety reasons or for joint work of several counters in one directory of the server. In more detail, it is described in the “Installation and initial system setting” chapter of Install.doc.

Parameter name

Value

Description

All names and values of parameters are dependent on register! Write them in strict correspondence, as it is indicated in this table.

skin

A number (in string submission

It is a skin number from the counter database, if the parameter is not indicated – the skin with number “0” is shown. This parameter is ignored, if the “style” parameter with the “point” value is indicated.
Example: “skin=2”.

node

A page name (identifier)

The name of the site page (identifier – arbitrary sequence of characters, digits and signs of underline not starting with digit) is indicated as a parameter. If this parameter is not indicated - the common numbers of the site visits will be registered only. If this parameter is indicated – a visit of the page with the indicated name will be registered additionally. At the first visit of the page with the name, given in this parameter, the program automatically adds new record in the database. The counter in any way does not check correspondence to the name of the page with its real name, contents etc. “Name of page” – is dependent on register! (if during editing the site to replace the register of characters in the “node” parameter - counter will add a new record in the database).
Example: “node=Main”.

style

point

This parameter should be used with the indicated value, or not be used at all. It is used for cancellation of the counter display on pages of the site. If you use this parameter, the “skin” parameter is ignored. If you use this parameter, the application all the same returns a “image” type resource, but its display has the 1x1 size and the color of such point can be obtained with the help of “color” setting so that the point was not visible on page of your site (by default the color of the point – white)
Example: “style=point”.

color

A hexadecimal number

It determines color of the point displayed instead of the counter icon in the mode “style=point” (see the description of this setting). Default color – white (FFFFFF).
Example: “color=FF35B9”.

Errors in parameters: if an error occurs in the parameter name - this parameter is ignored, if an error occurs in the option value – the default is used.
Warning! All names and values of parameters are dependent on register! Write them in strict correspondence, as it is indicated in this table.

6. Call of statistic review and administration pages, detailed description of the interface, parameters

All statistics gathered by the RCounter system about site visits and also some settings of the system are accessible via the web-interface. For calling the page, through which you can view statistics and adapt the system, it is necessary to type the address of this page (special URL) in an Internet-browser. This address depends on the name of your site and the web-server settings.

Address example: http://www.rcounter.noonet.ru/cgi-bin/counter.cgi

Generally, address is of the following form: http://site_address/cgi-bin/counter.cgi, though instead of “cgi-bin”, the catalog with other name may be used, and the “counter.cgi” application may be renamed (in detail, see the “Installation and initial settings of the system” chapter of Install.doc).

If you have executed installation and setting the RCounter system yourself - the address of administration page should be known to you, if the installation and setting have executed without you – ask one who executing installation about this address.

At address to administration page, one of pages of the administration interface should appear (if the RCounter system has installed correctly and you have entered the correct address). There is the following list of pages:

  • Basic information (statistics);
  • Statistics by separate pages of your site;
  • Calendar statistics;
  • “Where from” statistics;
  • Editing page of settings;
  • About the program.

You can see examples of the majority of pages and their detailed description in subsections below.

Îáðàçöû âíåøíåãî âèäà áîëüøèíñòâà ñòðàíèö è èõ äåòàëüíîå îïèñàíèå ïðèâîäèòñÿ â ïîäðàçäåëàõ íèæå.

6.1. Basic information page

An example is of the following form:

You can see this page here: WebAccessSamples\BasicInfo.htm

You can see how this page works here: http://www.rcounter.noonet.ru/cgi-bin/counter.cgi?page=browse

Description:

There are rubricators and references both on the developers of the system and on other administration and statistic pages in the top of the page. The line of references is on dark blue stria.

The informative part of page begins with the name of the site, which statistics in the present moment is shown. The basic visit statistics of the site and the most important settings of the system below. Their list follows by way of following:

  • Total Hit count;
  • Total Host count;
  • Unique IP count (unique IP-addresses);
  • Skin count (accessible);
  • IP count in Skip list;
  • Current Interval value;
  • Address count in the “where from” list;
  • Home page URL;
  • Today Hits/Hosts;
  • Yesterday Hits/Hosts;
  • DataBase creation date.

The skin list, loaded in the base and accessible for displaying on the site follows the basic statistics. There is an example of appearance for each skin. The skin number is situated to the left of an example of skin, which should be specified in parameters of the request to the counter (in the code of the site pages).

Then, the Skip-list follows. It is a list of IP-addresses, visits from which are completely ignored. Here the Skip-list is only displayed; its editing is accessible on other page (Edit Settings).

There is Unique IP count (unique IP-addresses) on the page bottom. This list is sorted by one of parameters, which can be selected there (a little above than the list). As the list frequently is very large - its part - upper N of addresses of the list is displayed only, the value N is adjusted also. It is displayed the number of hits/hosts, which it has given to your site and time (with date) of the last visit (time of the last hit) concerning each address in the list.

6.2. Visit statistics of separate pages of the site

An example is of the following form:

You can see this page here: WebAccessSamples\SitePagesInfo.htm

You can see how this page works here: http://www.rcounter.noonet.ru/cgi-bin/counter.cgi?page=bradv

Description:

This page is completely devoted to the information about visit statistics of separate pages of the site. If the “node” parameter is not used in calls of the counter (from pages of the site), the given page will be empty.

When the statistics by pages of the site is present - it is displayed here. Displaying is carried out as a list, in which, concerning each page, the total hit count on the page and time of the last visit are resulted. It is possible to select sorting of the list of pages by one of several criteria. It is shown on the above example.

There are service managing elements on the bottom of page with statistics. It is possible with the help of these elements to add a record of new page (enter its name) in the base or delete a record of existing page (together with its statistics) under duress. Deleting may be useful, when there is an unfaithful name of a page as a result of an error in the “node” parameter of the counter. The forced addition of page record has no special advantage (as records are added automatically).

6.3. Pages of calendar statistics

Some examples of pages of calendar statistics are of the following forms:

You can see these pages here:
WebAccessSamples\CalendarStats.htm
WebAccessSamples\CalendarStatsMay.htm

You can see how this page works here: http://www.rcounter.noonet.ru/cgi-bin/counter.cgi?page=brdate&seltype=1

Description:

During access to calendar statistics, the system firstly asks to specify parameters: the calendar period for statistics gathering and pages, from which it is necessary to get statistics. This RCounter version displays statistics by the following calendar periods: a) current month; b) current week; c) random month. It is possible to order statistics of all site pages or a separate page.

Usually, it is more interesting to get statistics of all site pages for current month. This option you can get - just press the “Submit your selection” button for obtaining standard calendar statistics.

Calendar statistics always is displayed as a table. This kind of table is very understandable – everything (columns and rows) is clear from their names (inscriptions on the screen). But, it is necessary to explain the value of digits in some parts of the table.

In the main body of the table - on intersection of rows of “nodes” and columns of “dates” – there is the quantity of hits by this “node” (a site page) for the indicated day. An empty cell means, that there was not any hit (0). If the system is not set to gather of statistics by separate pages (by nodes) - this part of the table will be absent completely. Thus, the basic sense of calendar statistics is lost.

The “TOTAL” row of the table located under “node” rows, contains the sum of hits by all pages of the site for the day, indicated in the column. If the system is set correctly and there are no superfluous calls of the counter on pages - the numbers in the “TOTAL” row precisely correspond to total hits on the site.

The “MAX” row contains the greatest quantity of hits, which fixed on a page. In other words - simple maximum from all numbers in the column. As a rule, such maximum will be formed on the main page of the site.

The last row in the table - “HOSTS”- contains the information about the number of hosts on the site for the day, indicated in a column.

Note: The number of hosts is calculated for all site, without sorting by pages.

Also, there is the additional information, which requires some explanations in the last columns of the table. The “TOTAL” column contains the sum of values for each row. The “MAX” column contains the maximum value. The “AVERAGE” column contains the average arithmetic of all values in a row (The value of “TOTAL” is divided by the number of days from table beginning to current date). Note, these columns contain the information only for that calendar period, which is displayed on the page, but not for all period of site existence.

Let's have a look at other cells (on intersection of rows “TOTAL”, “HOSTS” and columns “TOTAL”, “MAX”, “AVERAGE”). The “TOTAL/TOTAL” cell shows the sum of hits for your site for all displayed calendar period - this value is very useful and conveniently for the analysis of your site visit. The “HOSTS/TOTAL” cell - total number of hosts for your site for a calendar period. The “HOSTS/AVERAGE” cell - average number of hosts per day.

6.4. “Where from” statistics

An example is of the following form:

You can see this page here: AccessSamples\ReferingStat.htm

You can see how this page works here: http://www.rcounter.noonet.ru/cgi-bin/counter.cgi?page=brref

Description:

On this page you can see the information about from what sites the visitors came to your pages. But only the domain name of the site from which a visitor came is fixed, without detailing by names of concrete pages of this site (the RCounter developers have found it redundant). For each such site, there is the information - how many transitions were carried out from it to your site, and also – the date/time of the last transition.

As well as on some other pages of statistics, you can indicate by what parameter to sort the displayed list. Please, note that a name of a site from where visitors came is hyperlink in the list. Having pressed on it, you can go on this site and look, where your reference is installed on it. And if this site will seem to you interesting enough - just add the reference to it with your page.

There is no information on this page if during installation of the counter on your site the rows for “referral” account (in html code) were not introduced. But such kind of information you can find in the “Installation and initial settings of the system” chapter of Install.doc.

The “Unknown” row is required some explanation (this row is always present). The row contains the information about visits of unknown “referral” (address “from where a visitor came”). A “referral” is always unknown (it does not define) if a visitor has got on your site directly having typed the address (URL) in the address bar of his browser, not by a hyperlink. In this case a user really has come to your site “from nowhere”. It is possible also, that a user did not enter the address of the site, and has selected it from the “Favorites” section – it looks like the same. Also a user is counted as an unknown “referral” if he comes on your site from a hyperlink of Word DOC document, for example, but not from other site, from the reference in the “About” field of the program etc. Basically, the appearance of unknown “referrals” is possible for some technical reasons, though there was no obvious demonstration of this factor during testing by the RCounter authors.

In any case, it is possible to say, that the high rate of unknown “referrals” among total visits – a good sing, which detailed analyze you can find in the separate document.

Once again, it is necessary to remind, that for statistics account of “where from” it is necessary to insert the special call of the counter into your site – see Install.doc. If you will not do it, or do it incorrectly - "where from" statistics will be incorrect or the overwhelming majority of “referrals” will be registered on the domain of your site or “referrals” will be unknown.

6.5. Editing page of settings

An example is of the following form:

This page you can see here: WebAccessSamples\EditSettings.htm

You can see how this page works here: http://www.rcounter.noonet.ru/cgi-bin/counter.cgi?page=edit

Description:

By this page it is possible to receive access to all settings of the system, which are generally available for editing through Internet (through “web-access”). It is carried out the option select (settings) which will view/edit on the main page of editing of settings.

List of editable parameters:

  • IP-address list;
  • Skip-list;
  • Skin database;
  • Interval value;
  • Site Name;
  • Homepage URL.

After choosing the parameter for editing, a new page will open. For each parameter (kind of settings), there is a page with the information about current value and with the means of its change. The examples of all pages are not presented from their multiple number and monotonous appearance.

Editing the list of IP-addresses

On this page, you can edit the list of unique IP-addresses of your visitors. You can delete any address, or add new one. As a rule, the necessity for editing the list of IP-addresses is not so big.

Editing Skip-list

You can add a new address in skip-list or delete existing one. The addresses in skip-list are used completely to ignore visits from computers having these addresses. Generally, in skip-address, the addresses of computers, which are engaged in creation, editing and debugging of your site are added.

Address masks in skip-list are not supported.

Editing Skin database

It is displayed all skins, accessible for the counter of your site (skins, loaded in base). You can delete any skin, or add new one. During loading skin, it is required to select the skin file – it is a file in the special format, which can be created with the help of the special utility for skin designing, which included into the RCounter package. See more detail the procedure of skin creation in the separate chapter.

But you can load standard skins delivered with the RCounter package into the base without using the utility for editing skins and also skins, received from www.rcounter.noonet.ru.

As a rule, it is not required to delete skins from the base (except for the case of skin development/debugging). Superfluous skins unessential increase the size of the counter database, and practically they do not influence the counter's speed.

Editing registration interval of hosts

Registration interval of hosts is a number specifying a time interval (in minutes). When a visitor with the same address accesses to your site some times during this interval - for him - one host and some hits are registered. When the time between two access of a visitor is bigger than this interval, for him, it is registered identical number of hits and hosts. When a visitor accesses to site frequently and for a long time – it is registered a new host for this visitor, but only if the time between two sequential calls of the user is bigger than the described interval.

It is recommended to set the interval value from several to twenty-four hours.

Editing site name

The site name is used by the RCounter system for output on statistic pages. You can see this name in the top of the page (under the rubricator and above the statistical data) by large font. This site name does not influence on any other functions and parameters of the system. As a site name, it is possible to use an arbitrary text (consisting from arbitrary symbols). The site name is very useful, when you use the RCounter system for management of statistics of several sites - thus, it very comfortable to view statistics of different sites and compare it - you never confuse yourself – simply look at the site name!

Editing home page address

The home page address is an arbitrary URL, but it is desirable to use the real address of the main page of that site, which statistics you gather (though the system does not check it). The address necessarily should start with the prefix “ http: // ”!

This parameter has dual purpose:

  1. The home page address, entered in the parameter, automatically is registered in the catalog of sites participating in “RCounter statistics”. This catalog is published on www.rcounter.noonet.ru page. Other users accessing to the RCounter page can see your site among others, using this program. For you – it is additional visitors, for the RCounter developers – help in promotion of the program. Besides, It is going to open the rating of sites, “counted with the help of RCounter”. In this rating, like Rambler Top100, sites can compete by various parameters, that it may have a big interest for you and your site;
  2. The home page address is outputted on pages with statistics (on the top, on the dark blue bar in the rubricator), alongside with the site name, it allows you to distinguish statistics of one site from other. Besides, this address is outputted as a hyperlink and you always can jump from the page of statistics to your site.

7. Creation and installation of skins

A skin, which can be used in the RCounter system (which can be installed on the counter) is a file of the special format with the “rcs” extension.

If you have decided to install a ready skin in the system (which have taken from the standard set or have loaded from www.rcounter.noonet.ru), you should carry out following simple sequence of operations:

    1. Open web-page of setting/administration of the counter database.
    2. Move to the “Edit Settings” page
    3. Select “Edit skin database”.
    4. Press the “Add” button on the opened page (on which the current list of skins in the base is displayed).
    5. Set a filename of a skin (*.rcs), or select the file from the dialog box, and press “Send”.
    6. Change the number of used skin (enter the number of loaded skin) in calls of the counter from pages of your site.

If you have decided to install completely a new skin in the system, which you have developed (or just you are going to develop) in a graphics editor, at first, you need to prepare this skin in the “rcs” format. Then, it will be possible to install it in the system, as it was described above. For skin preparation in the “rcs” format, there is the special “RCSkinEdit” program which is delivered in the package.

Pay attention that the “RCSkinEdit” program is not a graphics editor. It only allows generating the rcs-file on the basis of the counter image, which you should prepare in any graphics editor.

Preparation of the rcs-file. Using the RCSkinEdit program

The operation of this program consists mainly in construction of the skin file (rcs) from a set of graphic images, and also in recording of the important parameters necessary for correct image generation of the counter in this file.

Any skin is made from 11 images: the basic image of the counter and 10 images for each digit (0 to 9). At displaying the counter on a page of your site, the program always shows the basic image, on which below or imposed from above, the images of digits are attached in the necessary combination (so, a visitor in result watches a number appropriate to the current number of your site visits).

At using one of standard skins, the counter is of the following form:

In this example, images of digits are attached from below, under the basic picture. How (on what place) the images of digits should be attached, with what indent, interval, mode of alignment etc. in a skin – it is set in a skin with the help of the RCSkinEdit program, and this information is stored in the “rcs” file.

Also, except the housekeeping information, there is the information about copyrights, that it is important for skin creators, who wish not only independently to use them, but also distribute them (in the rcs format) via the Internet.

After starting the RCSkinEdit program, you can open existing skin (for its editing), or create new one.

At creation a news skin, the program opens the dialog box, in which it is offered to load all images of the skin (11 graphic files, which purpose was described above). This dialog box is of the following form:

In this dialog box you can see “traffic light” opposite each of provided skin images, which red status specifies, that the appropriate image has not been loaded yet, the green status – has been loaded.

Selecting skin elements (arbitrary order), you can load them from graphic files of the standard format (only BMP is possible in the current version of the program), and also – you can “reset” (clear) any of elements.

If you refuse to use the described dialog box - creation of new skin will be impossible, or it will be cancellation of changes in current one (if you are editing already existing skin).

If you confirm all your operations in this dialog – all your operations will be accordingly confirm all the selected images for a new or edited skin. The confirmation is possible only then all 11 images are loaded (all “traffic lights” are green).

Except loading the images of the skin, there is the possibility to put down the information about the copyrights in this window (skin name, author’s information, reference to her/his page or mail). Pay attention: once having inserted the information about the copyrights during skin creation, you can not change it hereafter (unless only to recreate a skin). Only the RCSkinEdit program uses the information about the copyrights in the given version of the RCounter system, and hereafter – the information will be used in other cases too. Besides, the information on the copyrights, written in skins, will be parsed and published with reference to skins, sent by the authors to www.rcounter.noonet.ru.

After loading the images for a new skin, and also at opening an existing skin - the main window of the RCSkinEdit program is of the following form:

It is displayed all skin settings (parameters) in the main window. There is a test image of the counter (how a visitor will see the counter on your site, if you will use this skin) in the left upper corner of the window.

The following parameters are adjusted in the described window:

  • Digits align – a method of horizontal alignment of number;
  • Draw place – a number location (on the basic counter picture or under it). The value of this parameter has a big effect on other settings;

  • Digits top – an indent (in pixels) of digits from upper edge of the basic picture. It has value only when the digits are placed above the basic picture, instead of attached from below;

  • Digits left - an indent (in pixels) of digits from the left edge of the basic picture. It has value only when the digits are placed above the basic picture, instead of attached from below;

  • Digits width – an area width (in pixels) under the number of visitors (composed from skin digits). At first sight, this parameter seems unimportant, but it is used that digit did not leave for the certain border (for example, when it is many digits or digit of different width etc.). For better understanding what area is set by this parameter, you can change a background color of digits (digits background color) to any bright one for check. This parameter is used only when the digits are placed above the basic picture, instead of attached from below;

  • Spacing – a distance (interval) between the images of adjacent digits (it is set in pixels);

  • Count of digits – a number of digits displayed on the counter. With the help of this parameter it is possible to set four-digit, five-digit, six-digit counter (or even with other number of digits, though it is already poorly practical);

  • Digits background color – a background color of digit area. At usage of intervals among digits, at displaying digits under the basic skin picture and also in some other places (at alignment and filling of a rectangle with digits) the program uses “background color”. For better understanding what color area is set by this parameter, you can change it for the test (use any bright color).
Note: at loading (choosing) the skin picture - the program tries itself to determine this color (analyzing the image of “0”digit), but it may give inexact value.

Except adjusted skin parameters, in the main window of the RCSkinEdit program it is possible also to enter a number, which you would like to see on the counter as an example.

Do not forget: After changing various parameters as well as after inputting a test number - it is necessary to press the “Refresh” button. A test image of the counter (in the right upper field of the window) is changed only when you press this button.

Important: Having created a new skin or having edited an existing one, do not forget to save it. Unlike operation with databases, at editing a skin, the information is saved in the file not at once, but only at the menu choice, specially stipulated for it.

8. “Overcounter” of statistics

The “Overcounter” (increase) of statistics is provided for that case, when you have already had visits on your site before installation of the RCounter system. And you wish to take into account them in the future.

Warning! At “Overcountering” (increasing) visits according to the descriptions of this chapter there may be a discrepancy among different kinds of statistics. Namely total hit count may be not coincide with the sum of hits of all separate pages of your site (that it is technically possible, but it is incorrect logically). Use this possibility cautiously and do not surprised to the subsequent logical divergences in some kinds of statistics.

The “Overcounter” (increase) of statistics is executed with the help of the “Overcounter” program, specially created for it, which is included as a component of the package.

The following sequence of operations is recommended for execution of the “overcounter” (increase) operation:

  1. Copy the file of the base with statistics on a local computer.
  2. Make a backup copy of the base (copy it somewhere “in a dry cool place” or, for example archive it).
  3. Start the “Overcounter” program and open the copy of the base.
  4. Execute desirable changes according to the descriptions, which you can see below.
  5. Close the base (exit from the “Overcounter” program).
  6. Close the base (exit from the “Overcounter” program).
  7. View results via the page of administration and access to statistics (web-access).
  8. If the received results are not suited - restore the base from the backup copy and return to the step ¹3.

Using the “Overcounter” program

At opening the counter base with the help of this program (the base with statistics) - there is a panel with three bookmarks in the window of the program. The description of the panel contents on each bookmark along with the instruction what kinds of statistics can be changed are below.

Changing hit count by pages (and by days)

Here you can change number of visits of each of site pages (node), on which there is statistics. As the visits of pages are fixed not simply for any particular reasons – they are fixed by days - consequently the “left” visits are installed for any certain day.

It is necessary to select from the list of pages interesting one, and in the date field - enter date or select it from the calendar (it occurs at pressing arrow, in the input field, on the right). Thus, in the “Hits” field the information will appear: how many hits of the page are known in this day now (in this moment it is written in the base). You can increase this number at pressing the “Apply” button - the information at once will be written in the database. Thus, a digit in the “Hits” column will be changed in the list as well, opposite to the appropriate page (this digit reflects total hit count for all history of the page).

Changing hit number for pages, you will affect statistics shown in the "Visit statistics by pages" and the “Calendar statistics” sections. But the total count of hits/hosts for your site will not be changed (and there will be some discrepancy in the indications). To avoid discrepancy, it is necessary in appropriate way to “turn" other kinds of statistics - on other bookmarks in the “Overcounter” program.

Note: it is possible only to increase the hit count for a page (per day), it is impossible to reduce it.

Changing the sum of hosts

The unique parameter - total number of hosts for whole site is changed on this bookmark. The separate bookmark is devoted to this parameter for the reason, that exactly this value is displayed on the counter, which is shown on your site pages (if the displaying mode of the counter is applied).

The current value of this parameter is displayed in the “All hosts” field. At its changing and pressing of the “Apply” button - the data in the base will be updated immediately.

Note: The value of this parameter can be increased only.

Changing hits/hosts of your site by days

Here hit/host count of your site as a whole can be changed for any day. Consequently, the total sum of hits/hosts of your site will be changed. The changes are made by analogy with the "overcounter" of other kinds of statistics.

You should remember that total hit count of your site does not settle up by the sum of pages – it is the separate stored data in the base. For absence of logical divergences in statistics, at updating total hit count of your site – it is recommended to add the same number of “left” hits on any page (use the first bookmark in the window) or distribute them to different pages.

As hosts are not fixed by separate pages, consequently, it is difficult to make divergences in host count. However, it is necessary to remember that the number of hosts displayed on the counter is edited on the separate bookmark. It is not calculated too, and it is stored in the base as a separate parameter. At changing statistics of hosts on this bookmark - it is necessary to remember about it (the separate parameter).

For convenience of "overcounter" – there is the information about total number of hits/hosts for all your site history in this window (hits/hosts are updated only for concrete date, as well as for pages).

Changing statistics on this bookmark, you can influence on the data displayed on the main page of statistics (Basic Info), more concrete, on “Total Hit count”, “Today Hits/Hosts ”, “Yesterday Hits/Hosts ” fields.

Note: the number of hits/hosts can be increased only.

9. About the program developers and used technologies

RCounter, version 1.0, 09.11.2001, FREEWARE

© 2001 Bendersky M, remlo@noonet.ru

I thank Rusin Alexander and Sheremet Dmitry for the help in product creation.

RCounter home page - www.rcounter.noonet.ru.

The product is developed with using “DataLinX” technology (www.noolab.ru/projects/datalinx.htm), “ESF Inside” DBMS is used in the product (www.noolab.ru/products/esffamily/esfinside.htm).

10. Plans about improving the system

The developers of the RCounter system plan to develop it in the following directions and realize the following improvements:

  • Display of geographical distribution of site visitors;
  • Using graphs (diagrams) for reviewing statistics;
  • Account and display of distribution of visitors according to the time of day;
  • Open the rating of sites using RCounter pages (participation of sites in the rating at desire of site owners) on www.rcounter.noonet.ru;
  • Account of enclosure of site pages, count of total parameters for groups of pages (by site sections);
  • Preparation and issue of statistic report in the form of Excel tables;
  • Writing detailed log-files with information about visits of sites (optional).

11. Additional useful documentation, Internet-resources, addresses

Please, visit www.rcounter.noonet.ru to find other documentation and articles about the RCounter product, new product versions, add-ons, and plug-ins as well as free version of the product and some examples of its usage.

Some references to the RCounter documentation:

  1. Product structure. "Contents.doc" is in the root directory of the product;
  2. License and warranties. License.doc is in the root directory of the product.;
Some Internet-resources:
  1. www.rcounter.noonet.ru - Internet-site of the RCounter product.
  2. www.noonet.ru & www.noonet.ru/eng - Internet-studio NooNet (our web-hosting provider, thank them for a lot of help and useful consulting).

Electronic addresses:

Maxim Bendersky - remlo@noonet.ru
Alexander Rusin - amfora@lvs.ru
NooNet studio noonet@noonet.ru

RCounter v1.0 multiplatform. FREE
Count your visitors!
USER DOCUMENTATION.

Developed by Bendersky Maxim © 2001
Tested and documented by Rusin Alexander © 2001
English translation by Sheremet Dmitry © 2001
November 09, 2001.