Hits verses Visits

Frequently, I am asked what the difference is between a hit and a web visit.

Here are the official definitions from the Webalizer website:

Hits represent the total number of requests made to the server during the given time period (month, day, hour etc..).

Files represent the total number of hits or requests that actually result in something being sent back to the user. This includes all of the individual items that make it up a page, such as graphics and audio clips. Not all hits will send data, such as 404-Not Found requests and requests for pages that are already in the browsers cache.

Visits occur when some remote site makes a request for a page on your server for the first time. As long as the same site keeps making requests within a given timeout period, they will all be considered part of the same Visit. If the site makes a request to your server, and the length of time since the last request is greater than the specified timeout period, a new Visit is started and counted, and the sequence repeats.

Pages are those URLs that would be considered the actual page being requested, and not all of the individual items that make it up (such as graphics and audio clips). Some people call this metric page views or page impressions, and defaults to any URL that has an extension of .htm, .html or .cgi.

Speed-up your Flash with Xtivity

I have a program that I adore. The program is from the company Tivity. The software is called Xtivity.   Xtivity is a web design program that lets anyone add motion, video, audio, animation and interactive graphics to a web site. It also gives you the ability to import .swf files that have already been created previously into the program and implement them.   Xtivity helps designers replace boring static web sites with motion based designs. The software is so easy to use that usually within an hour you can build an entire web page with moving photos and audio. I personally recommend this software because it has dramatically sped up my workflow.   Xtivity has a 30 day trial that you can download here: Xtivity     Here are some of the things that this programs offers:   Professional Workflow - Xtivity uses a streamlined workflow to enable you to rapidly create interactive SWF projects. Using a simple layout style approach, you can draw content boxes and then populate the content box with your information. Adding interactive actions and functionality to your project is as easy as selecting a box and then adding actions to it using the actions panel. Click to select an action, define what triggers (makes the action start) and you're done. It is literally that fast and easy to do.   Click and Get Interactivity - Xtivity lets you add interactivity to your project by clicking on an object such as a photo, and then clicking to apply actions to it. You can apply combinations of different actions to any object and control when and what triggers the action to start.   Drag-and-Drop Elements - Xtivity features drag-and-drop Components and Elements that give you instant functionality and interactivity. These pre-made objects let you add to your project to get immediate results. Customize the Component or Element with your own content and publish them live on the web.   Advanced Layer Management - Layers in Xtivity are built around a robust architecture that allows you to reorder, clone, group and ungroup and transfer attributes from one layer to another to speed up project development. As you click on each layer the corresponding object on the layout will show active blue handles around it.   Grouping and Clipping - Xtivity layers let you group objects together to both apply actions to the entire group and to organize the content. Groups can clip an object or can be set to non-clipping mode. You can create a clipping area that gives you complete control over what is shown and hidden by moving items into the clipped area during either runtime or author time.   Content Management - Keeping your content organized is critical when you are working on larger projects. Xtivity features an integrated database driven content management system that archives and stores a copy of all imported graphics, SWF, sounds and videos that you bring into your project. The Document Contents panel provides a preview and information about the content you have imported.   Robust Text Editor - Adding and editing text in Xtivity is a snap. The full-featured text editor allows you to stylize your text with full color, multiple fonts and sizes, tabs, bullets and more. You can import and export your work from the text editor, conduct find-and-replace operations, spell check and can even import Microsoft Word formatted text and the styles applied in Word are retained in Xtivity.   Streaming Audio and Video - Xtivity lets you import and generate highly-optimized streaming audio and video SWF files. Audio and Video files are externalized and stream into your project as the viewer needs them. Pre-buffering controls and bandwidth settings help you establish the right streaming method for your target audience.   Library Graphics - Xtivity ships with over 1000 pre-made graphics. Drag any of these graphics into your project and then customized them as desired. Many of the graphics will automatically tile and resize without loosing any quality as they are created to be dynamic.   Transfer Attributes - Xtivity allows you to copy and transfer attributes from one object to another. This allows you to setup the interactivity how you like it on one object and then quickly apply it to an unlimited number of other objects in your project. This feature is very useful for making navigational systems such as menus and lists.   Creative Imaging Actions - Xtivity includes powerful imaging actions that can work at runtime to change images to-and-from the effect state. You can apply a sepia-tone effect to images when they are rolled-over with the mouse, or add black-and-white transitions to change the image to-and-from color.   Instant Transitions - Transitions are a great way to show and hide objects in Xtivity. Using transitions you can reveal or hide all or part of an object. Controls allow you to stop the transition partially so that only a percentage of the objects is hidden or revealed. Transitions work on videos, SWF, photos, text, color and group boxes.