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bigbrook
Known Participant
June 1, 2009
Question

Using Google Analytics in large robohelp project

  • June 1, 2009
  • 2 replies
  • 8411 views

I want to use google analytics to track a large training and help website. Actually seperate sites but same material. Training just has a browse sequence turned on.

When I insert google analytics code via template to all pages, as suggested here, I get google reporting on the skin pages rather then the real pages, except for the initial welcome page.

What can I do to get google analytics to track each page and how do I insert the code properly so it doesn't catch extraneous pages?

I'm using robohelp 7 and did have it on roboserver, but it would never work properly for us.

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

Jason_A_Nichols
Jason_A_Nichols
Participating Frequently
April 9, 2010

Hi bigbrook,

I've gotten Google Analytics to work with my (AIR) browser-based Help project (on our company's intranet). I know you use RoboHelp 7 and publish to WebHelp (I use RoboHelp 8 and publish to [AIR] browser-based Help, which is just HTML files + some Flash), but below is the procedure I use. Perhaps you'll find it helpful. I think the main difference is that RoboHelp 8 uses master pages, which are like topic templates in RoboHelp 7, and that you can apply a master page when generating the Help.

  1. Open your RoboHelp project.
  2. Go to the Project Set-up pod.
  3. Right-click Master Pages and select  New Master Page.
  4. Give your master page a name. Google is a good  suggestion.
  5. Add the Google tracking code after the <?rh-region_start type="body"  ?> tag.

    The topic <body> should look like  this:

    <body>
        <?rh-region_start type="body"  ?>
             <p>&#160;</p>
        <?rh-region_end  type="body" ?>
    <!-- Google Analytics tracking code -->
        <script type="text/javascript">var gaJsHost = (("https:" ==  document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
        document.write(unescape("%3Cscript  src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js'  type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));</script>
        <script  type="text/javascript">try {
        var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("    UA-xxxxxxxx-n");
        <!-- The following line allows you to track the Help on an Intranet that does not have a Fully Qualified Domain name (such as our SharePoint site. It is sharepoint.xyz.local and not sharepoint.com/.net/.org.)-->
            pageTracker._setDomainName("none");
            pageTracker._trackPageview();
            } catch(err) {}</script>
    </body>


  6. Save the master page.
  7. Open your Adobe AIR/browser-based Help/WebHelp Single Source  Layout.
  8. In the Content section, select Apply  to all Topics and select the master page you just created.
  9. Generate the Help.
  10. Upload the Help to the web server.
    S
    SueKL
    Known Participant
    June 22, 2010

    Hi miauster,

    I saw your posting about using Google Analytics in RoboHelp.  I haven't used Google Analytics yet myself.  Can you tell me, since the URL for a RH project doesn't change regardless of the topic the user clicks on, is Google Analytics able to provide you with information about what topics users went to, how many times, etc.

    For others reading, I know RoboHelp Server does reporting but we won't be purchasing.  I am interested in finding other ways to capture information on what topics users are navigating to within my RH project and gain insights into possibly which topics are getting hits most often, etc.

    Any information would be appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Sue

    Captiv8r
    Captiv8r
    Legend
    June 22, 2010

    Hi Sue

    It is my understanding that one adds the Google Analytics tracking code to the topics that you wish to track. When the topics load into the frame of the frameset or into the browser, the code is then executed. So even if you don't see the URL changing in the address bar, it is still able to track things.

    Cheers... Rick

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    RoboColum_n_
    RoboColum_n_
    Legend
    June 2, 2009

    I don't want you to think that we are all ignoring your query so I'll pipe up and say I doubt there is much expertise in these forums with Google analytics. Having said that now I suspect someone somewhere will pop up and answer your query . That said, as you stated the RH Server is the Adobe tool that does much the same thing and it does work. If upgrading to RH Server 8 is an option I'd strongly recommend it as it is a whizz to install and use and has some additional features over previous versions that are IMHO worth getting. In the meantime maybe some other forum may provide the answer.

    Read the RoboColum(n) for mutterings on RoboHelp, Technical Communication Suite and technical communication.

    B
    bigbrookAuthor
    Known Participant
    June 2, 2009

    Thanks Colum,

    I know there is limited knowledge here regarding GA....as there is limited knowledge about Robohelp on the analytics forum.  I just hope that somehow between the two, I can get a resolution.

    We have paid for the RH server 3 times and each upgrade has failed like those before. It conflicts with other items on the servers and we can just not get it to work properly.  Our techie has spent many hours with RH with no resolution.  The powers that be do not want to spend any more money on RH server since it has not worked for any of the upgrades.

    Peter Grainge
    Community Expert
    Peter GraingeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 2, 2009

    There are a couple of good threads on RH Server 8 and the general opinion seems to be that RH8 is way better than any previous version. I don't work with it so I cannot say either way. Nevertheless, while understanding the feeling, it might just be you are abandoning just at the wrong moment.

    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips

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