Documentation Data Plus Download Tracker Report

Download Tracker Report

The Download Tracker report page provides detailed insights into both internal and external file downloads on your website. This report is useful for understanding which files are being downloaded and how frequently, helping you to manage and optimize your downloadable content effectively.

Requirements

To utilize the Download Tracker report, the DataPlus add-on must be enabled. This add-on is necessary to gather and display detailed tracking data.

Report Features

The Download Tracker report includes two main sections:

Recent Downloads:

  • Date: Displays the date and time when the file was downloaded.
  • File: Shows the name of the downloaded file.
  • Link URL: Displays the URL of the download link.
  • Link ID: Indicates the unique identifier for each link, if available.
  • Link Class: Displays any CSS class associated with the link, providing additional context for styling or functionality.
  • Link Text: Shows the anchor text of the download link.
  • Page: Indicates the page on your website where the download link was clicked.
  • User Information: Displays information about the user who downloaded the file, if available.

Top Downloads:

  • File: Lists the names of the most downloaded files.
  • Download Count: Displays the number of times each file was downloaded.
  • View Details: Button to view more detailed information about each download. (Note: This feature will be available in upcoming versions of the DataPlus add-on.)

Data Collection

  • Internal and External Downloads: The report tracks clicks on both internal and external download links. Downloads are recorded if the link matches the following regex pattern:
  pdf|xlsx?|docx?|txt|rtf|csv|exe|key|pp(s|t|tx)|7z|pkg|rar|gz|zip|avi|mov|mp4|mpe?g|wmv|midi?|mp3|wav|wma
  • Author Filter: This filter allows you to view downloads for content published by a specific author. By selecting an author, you can filter the report to show only the downloads from that author’s published content.

Filters and Options

  • Date Range: Use the date range selector at the top of the page to filter the report by a specific time period.
  • Page Filter: Filter the report to show downloads on specific pages.
  • Post Type Filter: Filter by post type to view downloads within posts, pages, or other custom post types.
  • Author Filter: Select an author to view downloads on content published by that specific author.

Usage

  1. Accessing the Report: Navigate to the WP Statistics plugin dashboard, and select the “Download Tracker” report from the available options.
  2. Enabling/Disabling the Report: You can enable or disable the Download Tracker report through the plugin settings. Go to Settings -> Data Plus -> Download Tracker to manage this feature.
  3. Filtering Data: Use the provided filters (date range, page, post type, and author) to refine the report data according to your needs.
  4. Analyzing Downloads: Review the data provided for each downloaded file, including the date, file name, link URL, and the page where the download occurred. This information helps identify which files are most engaging to your users.

Benefits

  • Performance Tracking: Gain insights into how users interact with downloadable content on your website.
  • Content Optimization: Identify popular files and optimize your content strategy accordingly.
  • Author Insights: Understand the impact of individual authors on download engagement.

By leveraging the Download Tracker report, you can make informed decisions to enhance user engagement and improve the overall performance of your website.

Limitation

Due to web API limitations, the Download Tracker cannot track file downloads when users right-click and select “Open in new tab.” This limitation means that some user interactions might not be fully captured in the report.

Upcoming Features

In future versions of the DataPlus add-on, a detailed page for each download will be available, allowing for even deeper analysis of user interactions with downloadable content.