Question about Google Analytics Tracking (w/ Rails)

Question

I\'ve got google analytics setup on a rails project, and I\'ve got \"A single domain (default)\" selected for the tracking options.

I\'ve copied and pasted the js code i

Answer 1

This tutorial shows you how to set it up. I don't know why there's a gem for this. Just put the code in a partial and render it in your application layout if rails.env.production?

http://aihuiong.com/post/452550136/google-analytics-and-rails-in-3-steps-and-less-than-5

Answer 2

I tried the gems but they didn't work; wouldn't spit out any code, etc. Seemed dumb for something so simple. So I ended up just doing this, in application.html.erb:

<% if Rails.env.production? %>
(GA JS Code Snippet)
<% end %>

Answer 3

In the google analytics admin, you can filter out visitors based on various attributes (e.g. ip address) This would also be a good idea to do.

Another option that I've done is add another analytics tracking account that you use for the dev/test environment so that you can test whether and how analytics are working.

Answer 4

Also, using a Google Analytics gem will automatically set some of these features for you. Here is a great way to do it:

Google Analytics and Rails in 5 EASY Steps:

If you are in Rails 3, I just found a great solution for doing Google Analytics in Rails apps.

(1) In your Gemfile:

group :production do
  gem 'rack-google_analytics', :require => "rack/google_analytics"
end

(2) Bundle Install

(3) In your config/application.rb (put this in the class definition section - careful not to drop it in a module. I put mine right under "class Application"):

if Rails.env == "production"
  config.middleware.use("Rack::GoogleAnalytics", :web_property_id => "UA-0000000-1")
end

(4) Initiate your Google Analytics account

(5) Copy and paste that funky web_property_id from Google's supplied code into the code from (3), replacing 'UA-000000-1'

That's it!

I originally found this solution here: David Bock Article

Answer 5

Yes, it does track local visits as well. You should probably use ruby conditional statement to exclude it for the local conneciton. For example, at the bottom of the layout file

<% if !request.local? %>
Your source codes for Google Analytics
<% end %>

This way, Google Analytics will not be printed if connection is made from local.