WebTrends Data Source

Using multiple Data Sources in WebTrends

[dejamant]

Hi all,

I have a question about WebTrends Data Sources.
I see in Data Source definition that you can select multiple Data sources.
Is it possible to use both IIS log files and SDC as Data Sources in one profile?
Will this combination produce benefits of both data collection methods, and rule out the drawbacks? For example, will I be able to identify the downloads, which is easier with IIS log files, and at the same time, use features such as SmartView and Scenario Analysis, which is possible only with SDC?

If this combination of log files is possible, how will WebTrends identify visitors?
Is WebTrends smart enough to combine, for example, IP address of visitor from IIS log file with cookie information from SDC and identify this as one visitor in one session?

Thanks a lot.

[tonynoriega]

first note, no you can not use log files and SDC in one profile.

when the profile displays stats, its pulled from one or the other.. i.e. with an SDC profile, its calling the *.sdc log file, no the raw IIS log file.

unfortunately (as far as i know and have looked) this cant be done, which is why i have multiple profiles.. one for SDC and a few for raw log files.

[dejamant]

OK, then I will use separate profiles for each data source.
Is it possible perhaps to mix data sources in Custom Reports?
Thanks a lot for this clarification.

[cgrantski]

I think you are referring to the "Custom Data Sources" feature that's found in the custom reporting area. It was a poor choice of language on WebTrends' part because "data source" in that context does not refer to what you are talking about - it refers to lookup tables. I think they've changed the name in recent versions of the program, but am not sure.

I think your best bet is to use the WebTrends ODBC driver to create a direct connection from the reports you want (one in an SDC profile, one in a server log profile) and have the data dump directly into Excel. Once you have one Excel sheet for the results of each report, it's easy to combine them in a third sheet, or do whatever it is you're after that makes you want to use both kinds of files.

Once you have that Excel workbook set up with the connections, you can open the workbook whenever you want and just change the date range. Or you can use date macros to create a relative date range so that when you open it, it automatically pulls data from yesterday, or whatever you have the macro set to. What I'm trying to say is that after the workbook is set up, you actually don't need to open WebTrends at all and look at their reports. Everything is pulled into Excel and manipulated by whatever formulas and lookups you have there.

[michelewarther]

Thanks Chris - you point out some language/naming inconsistencies we have addressed in recent verisons and others we are revisiting for future verisons. Appreciate the feedback.

[dejamant]

Thanks Cgrantski, I knew that you will answer. :)
While reading posts on this forum, I noticed that you answered on almost every WebTrends issue. ;)

We don't have Custom Reports feature yet, I just read about it, that is why I asked this. We are alredy using WebTrends ODBC driver, so I will follow your suggestion on this. Basically, my task was to provide the answer whether the mixing of data sources in one profile is possible or not.
I got my answer here, so thanks again to all.