This release contains multiple functionality, speed and stability improvements.

List of changes:

+ Multiple websites for Apache Combined
+ Downloading log files via FTPS (FTP over TLS/SSL) supported now
& Faster file size checking operations (used throughout application)
& Better KnownFiles handling
& WhoIs button to lookup IP address (Single Session report)
& Change application font to Segoe UI
& Sort files before reading
& Cleanup project files of unnecessary remains on save
& Update IP locations database
& Updated OS/Browsers
* HTTP(S) log file downloading: follow redirection
* Autoupdate doesn’t work
* Adds cached files for analyzing even if dates are outside the range
* Cancel parsing freezes when reading from Cache
* Occasional phantom threads on exit
* Cache presence wasn’t always checked if multiple locations are defined
* After Back report, parameters should be reverted
* Check for updates window dark theme problem
* Access Violation in AdvGrid in some occasions
* Few other small bug fixes and improvements

Links:

Download an update

The main goal for this release is to help analyzing multiple websites in same report model. The option was already present, but now you will be able to more easily differentiate hits from different websites.

List of changes:

+ Multiple domains: add host name as page prefix
+ Search log file locations recursively
& Multiple domains option ON and empty own domain name, now it will show all websites

Links:

Download an update

This release includes more modern user interface, Analyze From Clipboard option, search engines recognition updates and multiple small improvements and bug fixes.

The update is free for everyone who purchased in last three years (after March 21, 2016) or own a lifetime license.

Full list of changes:

• Introduced Modern Dark and Modern Light user interface themes
• Paste log lines option: File | Analyze From Clipboard (Pro only)
• Added search engines: DuckDuckGo, Yandex and Baidu
• Middle-click on report tree now opens report in a new tab
• Various user interface improvements
• Update Country/City IP database
• Click on empty Overview report area should be ignored
• Two hard-to-reproduce crashes while analyzing log files
• Problem filtering queries containing ‘[‘ and ‘]’
• When no data in report, top-right Info button is not properly aligned
• Few other minor fixes and improvements

Links:

Download an update

In this release we’ve added correct recognition of Windows 10 as an operating system and Microsoft Edge and Vivaldi as browsers. Other changes also include using existing IIS cookies for determining sessions and visitors, improved Cache handling, updated IP country database and several bug fixes.

The update is free for everyone who purchased in last two years (after May 31, 2014) or own a lifetime license.

Links:

Download an update

Some time ago, we have decided to change behavior of File wildcards parameter so it applies to sessions, not the result list itself. However, in some situations the old behavior could be useful too. That’s why we have added another File parameter: “Show only files matching“. Naturally, it only works and makes sense for file-based reports.

Significant changes also include improved analysis performance and number of bugs fixed when using “Consider queries as part of filename” option. Apparently, this option is not used very often (us included), as one or two of fixed problem existed for years.

The update is free for everyone who purchased in last two years (after September 8, 2013) or own a lifetime license.

Links:

Download an update

Changes from v2.9 are numerous and include Hybrid analysis, several new reports, log file caching, number of various usability and aesthetic improvements, etc. For more detailed explanation of most important additions, you can check What’s new page.

As usual, the update is free for all who purchased in last two years (after March 29th, 2013) or those with a Lifetime license. Others should use an in-application button to get to the subscription extension form.

Download Web Log Storming

Part #1: Redesigned reports and 30% discount
Part #2: Log files caching

This is a third part of Version 3.0 Sneak Peek series, but this time you can try it yourself:

Version 3.0 beta is ready for download

Page tagging / Hybrid analysis

One of most important additions is page tagging feature (so-called “hybrid” analysis). Basically, major drawback of using log analyzers instead of script-based analytics is eliminated now, while keeping all benefits. In addition, by using Web Log Storming’s scripts, there is no contact to third-parties – all data stays on your server and your website loading speed won’t be affected much, almost not at all.

“Early Bird” 30% discount available until official release

As a special promotion, you can use this coupon for 30% discount:

WLS89445EARLYBIRD

The coupon applies to any purchase (new license or an upgrade) and will be valid until v3.0 is released.

We are keen to hear your comments.

Part #1: Redesigned reports and 30% discount
Part #3: Beta available and Hybrid analysis

On several occasions in the past, users have asked why we don’t import data from log files into some kind of database. The answer is still the same: using any kind of database actually significantly reduces performance, even with some of fast libraries like SQLite. Sure, it would be much easier to develop, but the trade-off on the users’ end would be enormous, if we want to follow the original idea of web log analyzer capable for free on-the-fly filtering and creating ad-hoc reports.

So Web Log Storming utilizes series of our own algorithms to:

• Parse and analyze text log files as fast as possible
• Organize data in complex model, so it doesn’t take any more memory than it’s necessary
• Provide fast routines to search and filter reports “on-the-fly” by any available data

It is clear that any of third-party libraries, database or other, cannot be more optimized for specific tasks that Web Log Storming requires, then those developed by ourselves from the scratch.

Still, starting with version 3, we have introduced a small improvement with optional log files caching. Basically, Web Log Storming will now analyze text log files, convert to numbers, dates, IP addresses, etc, and then the new step: save parsed data to cache files in format suitable for further usage. Next time when you analyze same log file, software will check if cache exists and read a prepared cache, instead of parsing text file again.

Naturally, in case caching is enabled, first reading will be slower for the exact time needed to save data to the disk, but each next reading will be significantly faster for the time needed to convert texts to operable data. The speed change will depend on various factors, such is the typical size of individual log files and your preference if you want to keep cache compressed or not, etc. According to our tests, here’s a approximate rough speed comparison:

Typically, for moderate sized log files, you can expect a better performance (closer to lower ranges). For very small individual files (up to few kilobytes) or very large files (hundreds of megabytes or more), caching might not be such a good choice.

As you can see, best total speed improvement is with uncompressed cache, but at the cost of the additional disk space. By setting a caching options, you can decide what works best in your case.

Upgrade policy and “Early Bird” 30% discount

As our users probably already know, we switched to subscription upgrade model years ago. That’s why we don’t specifically charge for major updates like this one: update is free for anyone who bought or upgraded within at least a year before a release day or for anyone who bought a lifetime license.

So feel free to download and try current version and, if you decide to buy even today, you will get version 3 for free. As a special promotion, you can use this coupon for 30% discount:

WLS89445EARLYBIRD

The coupon applies to any purchase (new license or an upgrade) and will be valid until v3.0 is released.

* * *

Feel free to send us your thoughts regarding version 3, either by commenting here or by using a contact form. We’ll be happy to hear your opinion.

Part #2: Log files caching
Part #3: Beta available and Hybrid analysis

We are heavily working on version 3.0 of our web log analyzer software, which will, we are certain, be a pleasant surprise for all users. In that regard, in next several posts we will talk about of some of more important additions.

Redesigned reports

Honestly, having different types of reports (lists, trends and pies) is something we are not happy with for some time. Discrepancies were not big so far either, but small inconsistencies could disrupt an usual workflow. Yes, some analytics reports should be naturally presented as histograms (bar or line charts) and some as pies, but should they really be different functionally? Also, plain and visually unappealing list reports in Web Log Storming analyzer are far more useful and precise when it comes to data analysis (if you used Web Log Storming at least a bit, you know why).

So we have decided to bring those three types closer to each other. The main idea: (almost) all reports should have both, list and chart representations and consistent right-click menus. Changes include:

• You will be able to see any list report as chart now (as pies or as horizontal bars, depending on report)
• Old Pie report become both list and chart reports
• Old Trend reports will be also presented as a sortable lists, with additional columns for averages and goals

Additional browsing capability

How many times you clicked on item in report to get related sessions, then immediately right-click on left-hand report tree and choose “Keep parameters and select”, to see another report based on selected item? (If you didn’t, you are seriously missing one of unique features of Web Log Storming.) You will be happy to hear that, from the next version, you can do the same by right-clicking on list item (or bar or pie slice) and choose any of available reports or bookmarks directly.

Optimized code

In the process, we’ve re-inspected and changed lot of program code, keeping in mind typical hardware differences compared to years back. As a result, some parts of underlying analysis routines are better optimized, faster and more stable.

Upgrade policy and “Early Bird” 30% discount

As our users probably already know, we switched to subscription upgrade model years ago. That’s why we don’t specifically charge for major updates like this one: update is free for anyone who bought or upgraded within at least a year before a release day or for anyone who bought a lifetime license.

So feel free to download and try current version and, if you decide to buy even today, you will get version 3 for free. As a special promotion, you can use this coupon for 30% discount:

WLS89445EARLYBIRD

The coupon applies to any purchase (new license or an upgrade) and will be valid until v3.0 is released.

* * *

Feel free to send us your thoughts regarding version 3, either by commenting here or by using a contact form. We’ll be happy to hear your opinion. And stay tuned for the next Sneak Peek.

To be honest, we thought that version 2.9 will never exist, as we are preparing some exciting additions for version 3.0 that will bring WLS to a new level. However, there were few matters that needed our immediate attention, so there it is.

• Better Files/Pages/Images reports when combined with file parameters
• Unavailable search phrases (not provided) are displayed as “-” to avoid confusion
• IP to country/region/city database updated
• Sessions without any referrer info are not considered as spiders anymore
• Better behavior when error happens in log file reading thread
• Fixed detection of countries (no more “.RD”)
• Referrer grouping fixed (all “*.yahoo” or “*.facebook” domains are now grouped as “yahoo” and “facebook”)
• Several other minor fixes and improvements

Changes in Files/Pages/Images reports

Maybe you have noticed that file-related reports were showing only files that match wildcards in File parameters, until now. For example, if you type “*.exe” in File Parameters, All Files report will only show the list of exe files. In other words, filtering was done on hit level.

It is how it worked from the very beginning and, although this behavior might have its uses, we felt it’s much better if filtering is done on session level. So, starting from v2.9, if you type “/myfile.exe” into File wildcards field and select one of reports in Top files and queries group, Web Log Storming will show all files accessed by visitors who also accessed /myfile.exe.

Search keywords not provided by Google

You might be aware that Google decided to stop sending search keywords to website owners through referrer information or even in Google Analytics (at least for now). The only way you can see search keywords related to your website is in Google Webmaster Tools, but we are still clueless how each keyword performed after visitors arrive to your website. I’m sure most marketers will agree that this is a major limitation.

At first, only small number of visits were affected (HTTPS or if visitors were logged into Google account), but now you can see search keywords for only about 10% of Google traffic. The reason behind this is, allegedly, security, but the question remains: why Bing and Yahoo don’t follow this policy?

In any case, Web Log Storming doesn’t provide solution for this problem, as it can’t magically extract information that isn’t there. But until now it was simply ignoring empty keywords, which confused lot of users: “How come Web Log Storming shows only dozen of keywords when there are thousand visits from Google?” That’s why starting from v2.9 it also shows empty keywords as “-“, to make it more clear that this is not caused by some kind of bug. I’m afraid, that’s best we can do at the moment, but we are open for suggestions.

Download Web Log Storming

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