Che Sta Accadendo? Another change to the GA Tracking Code?

MoreVisibility - November 14, 2008

My Italian friends at goanalytics.info have probably already noticed this as well – when I logged in to my Google Analytics account today to create a new profile (using an existing domain), I saw a GA Tracking Code that looked different:

<script type="text/javascript">
var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ?
"https://ssl." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost +
"google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
try {
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-XXXXXX-1");
pageTracker._trackPageview();
} catch(err) {}
</script>

The Legacy Tracking Code (urchin.js) also has been updated to include these new “try – catch” enclosure:

<script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
try {
_uacct = "UA-XXXXXX-1";
urchinTracker();
} catch(err) {}
</script>

It does not appear that any data collection has been affected, which means you most likely won’t have to change any coding on your website, unless Google Analytics officially releases a statement via their blog. However, I am big proponent of having the most up-to-date code on your website if possible, so if these new coding variables stick around for a while, you may want to go ahead and update your website to match.

Also, as a side note, there is a known bug with the Reverse Goal Path report in the Goals section of your Google Analytics profile(s). If you’re noticing some strange data appearing in there – don’t worry, the folks at Google Analytics are well aware of this issue and are doing their best to repair the report, as soon as they possibly can.