Today Google announced a major update to the Google Analytics platform in regards to it’s ability to track flash events. As previewed to us Google Analytics Authorized Consultants at the 2008 GAAC and WOAC conference, the javascript tracking code ga.js has been fully ported to Actionscript 3 meaning that it just got a whole lot easier to track user interaction with flash files in Google Analytics.
Flash, Flex, and AS3 content will now be far easier to track, even across multiple domains. The new tracking code has two modes, Bridge Mode and AS3 Mode. Selecting the mode will determine how your tracking communicates with the Google Analytics servers.
Bridge Mode
Bridge Mode is used most effectively when Flash elements are part of a larger site, for example a site which is largely PHP-based but has Flash-based banners or navigation. Bridge mode will tie the interactions with these elements into that page’s Analytics numbers. This will create a view where the Flash elements and other elements are all part of the same page.
AS3 Mode
AS3 Mode is designed for situations where the creator and host of the flash file may not have control over the environment where the flash file is displayed, but is the primary host of the SWF file. AS3 mode will be a boon to game creators and advertisement hosts alike. AS3 mode treats the SWF flash file as an independant object, and collects analytics data for interactions with this object separately from the page in which it is embedded. For example, it would be ideal to track a flash game which is centrally hosted, but is embedded on a number of flash game websites.
Google’s public announcement can be read on their Analytics blog here, and the technical details can be read here.
November 17, 2008
