Track File Downloads in Google Analytics Using MooTools
A while back I wrote an article detailing how you can use forced downloads via PHP to track downloads. What if you could get that same data into Google Analytics? Using some simple MooTools and advanced Google Analytics tactics, now you can.
The HTML
<a href="/media/video.wmv" class="download">Download This Video!</a>
<a href="/media/document.pdf" class="download">Download This PDF!</a>
<a href="/media/document.doc" class="download">Download This Document!</a>
<a href="/media/archive.zip" class="download">Download This Zip File!</a>
Any download I want tracked, I add the "download" CSS class to.
The MooTools 1.2
window.addEvent('load', function() {
if(pageTracker) {
$$('.download').addEvent('click',function() {
pageTracker._trackPageview('/downloads/' + this.get('href').replace('http://',''));
});
}
});
Just like tracking AJAX clicks and outbound links, we direct Google Analytics to record the event.
Now you get download counts and it gets lumped in with the rest of your Google Analytics stats.
![fetch API]()
One of the worst kept secrets about AJAX on the web is that the underlying API for it, XMLHttpRequest, wasn't really made for what we've been using it for. We've done well to create elegant APIs around XHR but we know we can do better. Our effort to...
![9 Mind-Blowing Canvas Demos]()
The <canvas> element has been a revelation for the visual experts among our ranks. Canvas provides the means for incredible and efficient animations with the added bonus of no Flash; these developers can flash their awesome JavaScript skills instead. Here are nine unbelievable canvas demos that...
![Create a Spinning, Zooming Effect with CSS3]()
In case you weren't aware, CSS animations are awesome. They're smooth, less taxing than JavaScript, and are the future of node animation within browsers. Dojo's mobile solution, dojox.mobile, uses CSS animations instead of JavaScript to lighten the application's JavaScript footprint. One of my favorite effects...
![Web Notifications API]()
Every UI framework has the same set of widgets which have become almost essential to modern sites: modals, tooltips, button varieties, and notifications. One problem I find is each site having their own widget colors, styles, and more -- users don't get a consistent experience. Apparently the...
Wow, didn’t know that this was possible, this is a great trick! Thanks!
Thanks man! Even i’m not a big fan of Moo, i will surely use this with jquery :P
Thanks again ;)
A while back, I wrote a jQuery plugin that automatically adds tracking for external links, downloads, and mailto’s:
http://devblog.jasonhuck.com/2007/11/19/google-analytics-integration-with-jquery/
Rather than adding specific classes for each of these items, I based the tracking on the characteristics of the URL.
Thanks man.. I don not know the MooTool can do this.
Thanks David :) everyday i learn different things from you. Thanks lot.
Recently, I extended Google Analytics to add download tracking for Google’s new Asynchronous Google Analytics Model. I call the extension Entourage.js:
http://techoctave.com/c7/posts/58-entourage-js-automatic-download-tracking-for-asynchronous-google-analytics
One of my goals was a small footprint, so it’s narrowly scoped to track file downloads only – no mailto or external links. Also, it’s framework agnostic. I wanted developers to have the freedom to use the extension and still use whatever JavaScript framework they want.
I love jQuery, but I’ve always had much respect for the MooTools and Prototype.js community too.