Counters

[Roy Tennant]

Every Web server software of which I'm familiar records a number of 
statistics. What is done with those statistics is in the hands of the 
person managing the Web server. There are various programs (both free and 
commercial) that can be used to produce various reports from the raw log 
files. You need to check with the person who manages the Web server where 
your site is hosted to see what your options are. If you are that person, 
then you should load some statistical analysis software. Go to 

http://www.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Software/Internet/
World_Wide_Web/Servers/Log_Analysis_Tools/ 

to see what's available.

While you're at it, enter a bogus document address for your Web server. 
If all you get is an error message like this:

404 Not Found
The requested URL /xxx was not found on this server. 

Then you have something else to speak with your Web manager about. They 
can easily implement a more useful Web page instead of this very 
unhelpful message. I suggest a page that offers a server-wide search 
option, a list of links to the main sections of your site, and some 
advice on other strategies to try (check for typos, chop the URL, etc.). 
Roy Tennant

On Mon, 6 Oct 1997, Library Internet Resources Co-ordinator wrote:

> At 9:19 AM -0700 10/3/97, Roy Tennant wrote:
> 
> >So please, those of you who display counters on your pages, why do you do it?
> >Inquiring minds want to know...[Let's be clear that there are other
> >ways of both taking statistics and making them (unobtrusively)
> >available to those who wish to see them.]
> 
> Roy our pages do not have counters but could you explain more about easy
> ways to take statistics. Do you know of any automated ways to have this
> done and perhaps emailed to an address.
> 
> As you know from my stoping you on campus we are somewhat technically
> impaired at the GTU and some others may also find such information useful.
> 
> Thanks, and not just for this but for the other advice you've given us over
> the past year.
> 
> 
> 
> Library Internet Resources Co-ordinator webguru at gtu.edu
> (currently Gilles Poitras gpoitras at gtu.edu)
> Graduate Theological Union Library
> 2400 Ridge Road         Berkeley, California, USA
> http://www.gtu.edu/library/
> 
> 
>