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.
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
- Many kinds of gathered statistics.
- Statistics for separate pages of the site.
- “Where from” statistics.
-
Rights on the statistic base.
- Access limitation to statistics.
- Editing the statistic base.
- Quality of count of visits.
- Possibility of skin editing (creation).
- Ignoring “debug” site visits.
- 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:
- Hit - a one show of any site pages to any visitor.
- 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:
- 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;
- 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:
- Open web-page of setting/administration of the
counter database.
- Move to the “Edit Settings” page
- Select “Edit skin database”.
- Press the “Add” button on the opened page (on
which the current list of skins in the base is displayed).
- Set a filename of a skin (*.rcs), or select the
file from the dialog box, and press “Send”.
- 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:
- Copy the file of the base with statistics on a local
computer.
- Make a backup copy of the base (copy it somewhere
“in a dry cool place” or, for example archive it).
- Start the “Overcounter” program and open the copy
of the base.
- Execute desirable changes according to the descriptions,
which you can see below.
- Close the base (exit from the “Overcounter” program).
- Close the base (exit from the “Overcounter” program).
- View results via the page of administration and
access to statistics (web-access).
- 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:
- Product structure. "Contents.doc"
is in the root directory of the product;
- License and warranties. License.doc
is in the root directory of the product.;
Some Internet-resources:
- www.rcounter.noonet.ru - Internet-site of the RCounter product.
- 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
|