This WebCom FAQ contains pointers to documentation describing the log file analysis and reporting tools provided by WebCom, and explains our policies regarding access reporting and on-line log file analysis.

WebCom access logging and reporting services include a personalized WWW/FTP access log, in either the custom WebCom log file format, or in the common log file format, and a periodic Site Activity Report Through E-mail, which can be configured through an Form Interface.

Web Communications is developing minor enhancements to the Site Activity Report through E-mail, but for the reasons outlined below, we do not intend to develop this into a highly sophisticated analysis and reporting tool.

In the networked, client-server environment, Web Communications feels that log analysis belongs on the desktop, and not on the server. For this reason, any development we do in the area of log analysis will be towards facilitating off-line analysis.

We encourage the development and use of tools utilizing widely available commercial software (such as is being done by a number of WebCom users, who are often willing to make their work available to others) and we are exploring the possibility of providing templates for spreadsheets (such as Microsoft Excel) with which you'll be able to graph, chart, and otherwise analyze your log files.

We feel that developing on-line analysis tools is inappropriate, given that affordable, highly optimized tools, with sophisticated, extensively documented user interfaces and features already exist for this purpose.

What about UNIX users? We provide the option for your log file to be stored in the common log file format. This allows UNIX users to use existing, publicly available UNIX tools for analyzing that log format (and/or DOS/Mac users who have log analysis tools for those platforms which require common log format). However, this requires your own platform for using the tools (your own UNIX machine, a shell account on a UNIX machine, etc.), since this function is best accomplished on the client side.

In short, we are very receptive towards developing tools, features, and services which help you to analyze your log off-line, but have no plans in the near future to develop or install further analysis facilities on the WebCom servers (outside a few enhancements to the activity report, such as the ability to filter out unwanted URLs).