customized application logging and the google visualization api
DESCRIPTION
This presentation is on two topics: 1. The concept of server-side custom logging to track fine-grained user behavior with a web application, and 2. A gentle introduction to the Google Visualization API, which is a useful tool for visualizing tracked via custom application logs. Includes screenshots of logs and charts for three university library web applications. Delivered to staff at the NCSU Libraries.TRANSCRIPT
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Custom Application Logging and the Google Visualization API
Tito SierraNCSU Libraries
DLI Tech UpdateApril 27, 2010
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1. Custom Application Logging
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2. Google Visualization API
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Custom Application Logging
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Background
Many general purpose web analytics tools exist to analyze website traffic.
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Background
Many general purpose web analytics tools exist to analyze website traffic.
Examples include Urchin, Google Analytics, AWStats, Mint.
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Background
Many general purpose web analytics tools exist to analyze website traffic.
Examples include Urchin, Google Analytics, AWStats, Mint.
I’m not talking about these today.
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Custom Logs Concept
Capture fine-grained usage metrics to reveal deeper or more specialized
insight into user behavior
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Presentation Scope
Custom application logs can also be used for tracking system related information such as exceptions and errors, but I’m
not going to talk about that today
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Motivation
Custom logs can be used to focus data analysis on the few specific metrics
that matter most for a given application
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Motivation
Enhanced knowledge of how people are using your web application can
improve product development planning and decisions
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Web App Usage Metrics
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Web App Usage Metrics
Server Logs• Pageviews• Visits• Referrer• IP Address• User agent• Platform• Browser
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Web App Usage Metrics
Server Logs• Pageviews• Visits• Referrer• IP Address• User agent• Platform• Browser
Custom Logs• App verbs• View• Search• Create• Click
• App views• Referrer categories• Source categories
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Local Examples
• QuickSearch• GroupFinder• Library Tools
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QuickSearch Example
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QuickSearch Example
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QuickSearch Example
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QuickSearch Example
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QuickSearch Example
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QuickSearch Example
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QuickSearch Example
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QuickSearch Example
CAT“catalog”
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QuickSearch Example
FA“find articles”
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QuickSearch Example
BB“best bets”
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GroupFinder Example
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GroupFinder Example
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GroupFinder Example
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GroupFinder Example
USER ID
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GroupFinder Example
VERB
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GroupFinder Example
ACTIVITY ID
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GroupFinder Example
SOURCE
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GroupFinder Example
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GroupFinder Example
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Library Tools Example
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Library Tools Example
History
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Library Tools Example
Reserves
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Which Metrics to Track?
One size does not fit all.
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Which Metrics to Track?
One size does not fit all.
Track metrics that support the analytic needs of your application and build the
log around these.
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Pros and Cons of Custom Logs
Pros:• Capture new data• More control of data• Cleaner data• Easier to work with
for developers or spreadsheet experts
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Pros and Cons of Custom Logs
Pros:• Capture new data• More control of data• Cleaner data• Easier to work with
for developers or spreadsheet experts
Cons:• Not an out of the
box solution• Development costs
to set up logging• Still need to process
data in the logs to yield value
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Caveat
If you don’t have anyone on your team that cares about usage data analysis, is willing to spend time on it, and has an open mind about it, than don’t bother
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Google Visualization API
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Overview
Google Visualization API is a Google hosted javascript-based API for
rendering data visualizations on a webpage
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Examples
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Simple Example
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src="http://www.google.com/jsapi"
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document.getElementById('chart_div')
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<div id="chart_div"></div>
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data.addColumn('number', 'Age');data.addColumn('number', 'Weight');
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data.setValue(0, 0, 8);data.setValue(0, 1, 12);
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More Examples
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More Examples
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More Examples
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Pros and Cons of Google Viz API
Pros:• Web friendly• Cross browser• No server software
install required• Simple API• Lots of “out of the
box” templates
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Pros and Cons of Google Viz API
Pros:• Web friendly• Cross browser• No server software
install required• Simple API• Lots of “out of the
box” templates
Cons:• Requires
programming*• Requires data to be
serialized in javascript format
• Not suitable for advanced visualizations
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Caveat
If you want to do data visualization, but don’t have a need to publish charts on a
webpage, you are probably better off just using Microsoft Excel to do your
charts
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Caveat
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Thank you!