Data Mining Log Files

How to find out what is really going on at your website

Presenter:
What:
When:
Where:

Ed Palmer, CEO, SolarAttic, Inc
Minnesota Entrepreneurs, Inc. Pre-meeting Seminar
November 7, 2000 @ 5:00 p.m.
Minnesota Entrepreneurs Meeting
St. Thomas University, 10th& LaSalle, Minneapolis

Contents:

1. Three Powerful Log File Analysis Tools
a. Analog(Free)
d. Summary(Shareware)
e. WebTrends(Premium software for PCs)

2. How to download and use Analog, Summary & WebTrends.
a. Free trial periods are available for Summary & WebTrends.
b. How much money do you really need to spend to analyze your log files?

3. Other Shareware Tools
a. LogTran- Allows Mac users to translate files for PC WebTrends
b. LogMerge- Allows Mac users to merge log files.
c. Analog Helper - Provides an easy menu for Mac Analog users
d. Report Magic- Freeware that graphs output of Analog for all users
e. DNSTran- Allows all platforms to convert IP Numbers to Names

4. Locating your log file and what is available from your web host.

5. Definitions & Terms.What do they mean? Are Hits really important?
a. Hits
b. Page views
c. Visitors
d. Unique Visitors
e. etc.

6. Example of website constructionand how it impacts site analysis efforts.
If you don't know what your files are, you won't have a map.

7. How to understand and plot your web site's growth.

8. Report examples from Analog, Summary & WebTrends.

9. ED'S BEST TIPS FOR DATA MINING

10. Questions & Answer Session

Meeting attendees will learn the basics of log file data mining & the kind of information available.

"If you think you need expensive software to mine the goodies from your log file, you are wrong!
Analog's freeware can give you all the information you really need on PCs or Macs." Ed Palmer

Join us at 5:00 p.m. on November 7th and learn HOW TO DATA MINE YOUR
LOG FILE. If you are building a dot com business, don't miss this ME Seminar!

Tools To Build Your Website

Log File Analysis Tools

Analog 1

Freeware
http://www.statslab.cam.ac.uk/~sret1/analog

Shareware
http://www.summary.net

Premium
http://www.webtrends.com

Mac/PC

Summary 1

Mac/PC

WebTrends 1,3

PC

Other Log Tools

LogTran

Shareware that translates files to WebTrends
http://www.summary.net/soft/index.html
Shareware utility that merges log files.
http://www.summary.net/soft/index.html
Shareware utility to simplify Analog.
http://www.summary.net/soft/index.html

Freeware that graphs Analog output.
http://www.summary.net/soft/index.html

Shareware that translates DNS numbers.
http://www.summary.net/soft/index.html

Mac

LogMerge

Mac

Analog Helper 1

Mac

Report Magic 1

Mac/PC

DNSTrans

Mac/PC

Building Fast Web Content Tools

Adobe Acrobat 1

http://www.adobe.com/products/main.html

Mac/PC

GoClick 1

http://www.terrymorse.com/

Mac

Click To Convert 2,4

http://www.clicktoconvert.com/

PC

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Tools

Interarchy 3.8 1, 5

http://www.interarchy.com/

Mac

Direct FTP 2

http://www.coffeecup.com/directftp/

PC

Notes:

1. Personally used and recommended by Ed Palmer, CEO of SolarAttic, Inc.
2. Comparable PC products reviewed but not currently used by Ed Palmer.
3. Premium and expensive log file analysis software for PC's only. Many web hosts
provide a version of WebTrends accessible from your web's control panel. It provides
limited analysis features, but covers the main reporting functions of the software.
4. Click to Convert recently released Version 2.0.
5. Formerly Anarchy Pro FTP software. Name changed & features were enhanced.