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Google Analytics ga.js vs urchin.js
Edward
Google Analytics, New GA features, ga.js
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Back in 2007 Google Analytics decided to switch over to ga.js, which is a new version of the javascript tracking code which is loaded through the snippet of code implemented on your webpages. Ga.js provides the functionality required for specific actions and events to be captured, processed and passed on to your Google Analytics reporting.
Although urchin.js continues to deliver the data just like it did in the early days of Google Analytics, there are some important benefits to updating your code to ga.js:
ga.js loads and works faster than urchin.js, reducing page load time
ga.js is easier to understand and customize
It detects the use of https automatically
e-Commerce and cross-domain tracking are easier to set up
Allows you to use new features offered by GA now, and in future updates
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Using setVar (_utmsetvar / utm_setvar) for custom segmentation
Edward
Google Analytics, New GA features
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SetVar (for older versions utm_setvar or _utmsetvar) is a function in the Google Analytics javascript code that allows you to set a custom segmentation rule. GA already offers a set of standard segmentations, as well as more advanced segmentation techniques in the reports interface, but setVar (_utmsetvar / utm_setvar) allows you to take a slice from your traffic before the reports and apply the segmentation options available in the reporting. This kind of custom segmentation gives you an extra dimension and more freedom to interpret the data through the reports.
Tags set for setVar in the code will appear in the report Visitors gt; User Defined.
Uses of setVar