Visitor Movies for WordPress

Did you ever want to know what exactly your visitors are doing on your site? Watch them!

A client of mine wanted a plugin to log what users type into forms. I kind of didn't see the point at first. But a few days later I was a little annoyed that there was apparently no free alternative to websites like clixpy, clicktale and similar services.

It occured to me that recording movies of visits isn't really hard to do. And so i started a new plugin, loosely based on the unpublished form input tracking plugin.

I am very pleased with the results so far. Of course it's no match for the professional services mentioned above. But it is good enough to gain a few insights into what can be improved on your website.

The recording script is pretty lightweight but has a rather hefty dependeny: jQuery. It also loads json2.js. I'm sure the logging could be rewritten without the jQuery dependency but that really wasn't a priority for the first public release.

This plugin probably needs WordPress 2.8 and PHP 5. I didn't bother to test older versions and won't support them in the future.

Here is a sample movie of what a recorded session can look like. As you can see mouse movements, clicks, form input, select boxes, checkboxes and radio buttons are recorded.

Title: VisiorMovies

Author: nkuttler

Important: For the playback you should always use the same browser as the visitor. If you don't, the mouse position will probably be very wrong. The plugin also doesn't save a page's state at the time of recording. This means if comments are added or the content changes, you will see the old movements on a new website.

Downloads at WordPress.org.

Most plugin demos are disabled at the moment. I'll restore them as soon as possible.

Published on May 21, 2010 at 12:02 p.m. by Nicolas and tagged clicktracking, jQuery, marketing, onclick, onfocus, usability, WordPress, WordPress plugin. You can follow the discussion with the comment feed for this post.

40 comments

Anders wrote this comment on May 23, 2010, 3:50 p.m.

What a great plugin. I Can not use it for few websites because I also use jquery for other tasks. I do marketing for people so this new tool is great to understand behavior. Do you know what to do if the plugins conflict?

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- Nicolas wrote this comment on May 23, 2010, 4:53 p.m.
  
  Hi Anders, the plugin shouldn't really conflict with others. Maybe you use a plugin that doesn't use the wp_enqueue_script() function to load jQuery. Then jQuery could be loaded twice. You could install firebug and activate the script console. It will show an error message that you can paste here. A link to the site would also help.
  
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martin4paja wrote this comment on June 25, 2010, 7:19 p.m.

Hi I would like to ask if it and how to clear log.Sorry my englis Thank you

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- nicolas wrote this comment on June 25, 2010, 8 p.m.
  
  Hm, no I didn't build log deletion into the plugin. You'll have to delete old logs with an ftp client.
  
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  - martin4paja wrote this comment on June 25, 2010, 8:12 p.m.
    
    :-( I tried to delete the log. I used Total Commander and FireFTP (Mozilla) but reported to me Permission denied
    
    Reply to this comment
    - nicolas wrote this comment on June 25, 2010, 9:30 p.m.
      
      Oh, right, an earlier version changed the permissions of the files, but I removed that feature. Your ftp client should allow you to change permissions on files (recursive 777 will do if you intend to delete them). I hope that helps.
      
      Reply to this comment
  - Monty wrote this comment on Oct. 18, 2011, 5:21 a.m.
    
    Any chance that an update could be done to include log deletions? Manual deletions work, but could be a bit tiresome.
    
    Reply to this comment
    - Nicolas Kuttler wrote this comment on Oct. 24, 2011, 12:41 a.m.
      
      Hi Monty, sorry, I don't really plan to work on this plugin any more.
      
      Reply to this comment
      - Monty wrote this comment on Oct. 28, 2011, 5:43 p.m.
        
        OK,sorry to hear that; but it's a great plugin as it is. Thanks you.
        
        Reply to this comment
        
        Nicolas Kuttler wrote this comment on Nov. 2, 2011, 8:30 p.m.
        
        You're welcome :-)
        
        Reply to this comment
Felippe Nardi wrote this comment on June 30, 2010, 8:11 p.m.

Hello There, I've installed the plugin and setted it to work on all pages. My site (http://www.portaltibia.com.br) have more then 10k unique visitors a day and I couldn't see any log files stored on the folder. Is there any need to change permissions so files can actually store those informations?

Reply to this comment
- nicolas wrote this comment on July 1, 2010, 6:58 a.m.
  
  Hello Felippe, it looks to me like your theme is incomplete, please see http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/visitor-movies/faq/ (wp_footer). Or maybe you did only install the plugin but didn't enable it?
  
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Elizabeth wrote this comment on July 1, 2010, 9:15 p.m.

Hi, can I use this fireworks on the wordpress.com? ( or org only)> I downloaded the plug in, it's on my computer. How do I get it to my wordpress blog? BTW, you look like Andre Rieu in this little thumbnail photo.

Reply to this comment
- nicolas wrote this comment on July 2, 2010, 8:28 a.m.
  
  Hello Elizabeth, no, unfortunately you can't use the plugin on wordpress.com. You'll need to have a self-hosted blog.
  
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  - Elizabeth wrote this comment on July 2, 2010, 3:24 p.m.
    
    ok, thanks
    
    Reply to this comment
Ibrahim wrote this comment on July 15, 2010, 12:28 a.m.

Is there any way this could be used on a simple php page, not a wordpress blog.

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- nicolas wrote this comment on July 15, 2010, 9:47 a.m.
  
  Absolutely, the code is modular and could run on a different website. It could use a different WordPress install to record the movies or a new server-side recording script could be implemented. Feel free to use the contact form on this site for professional support.
  
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Patung wrote this comment on July 19, 2010, 3:13 a.m.

I tried putting the folder outside the web root but it won't let me save the new location, it seems to insist that it be in httpdocs

Reply to this comment
- nicolas wrote this comment on July 19, 2010, 8:59 a.m.
  
  Hm, the webserver needs permissions to write to that directory. You should probably check your error log.
  
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  - Patung wrote this comment on July 19, 2010, 1:53 p.m.
    
    It just keeps saying: "Settings saved." "/var/www/vhosts/mysite.com/httpdocs/wp-content/visitor-movies-logs/ does not exist or the plugin can't write to it. Please create it or make sure the webserver can write to it. " But the location I specify is /var/www/vhosts/mysite.com/visitor-movies-logs/ I tried lots of different User:Group settings, psaserv, pasacln, root, and of course it's 777 permissions, but it just seems to keep insisting that it has to be /var/www/vhosts/mysite.com/httpdocs/wp-content/visitor-movies-logs/
    
    Reply to this comment
    - nicolas wrote this comment on July 19, 2010, 2:10 p.m.
      
      Well as I said check the server's error.log. PHP seems to think it can't write to that location.
      
      Reply to this comment
Bec wrote this comment on July 19, 2010, 4:36 a.m.

I'm so excited to find this plugin! Its exactly what I have been looking for, for ages. I have installed it, however I can't see any recorded videos either in Wordpress or in my FTP. Any ideas? From what I can tell the footer is being called, I have 100% as my % and I have accessed the website from a couple of computers to test, but still can't see anything... Thanks again!

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- nicolas wrote this comment on July 19, 2010, 9 a.m.
  
  Is the JavaScript included on the frontend? Can you post a link to your site?
  
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  - Bec wrote this comment on July 21, 2010, 12:39 p.m.
    
    Hi, Sorry it is http://www.trophywarehouse.com.au.
    
    Reply to this comment
    - nicolas wrote this comment on July 21, 2010, 1:06 p.m.
      
      The JavaScript isn't loaded anywhere. http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/visitor-movies/faq/. Or maybe you just didn't enable it? Odd.
      
      Reply to this comment
Jim wrote this comment on Oct. 23, 2010, 6:37 p.m.

Question. Love the plug-in works perfect! I am trying to interpret the time stamp. For example one time stamp is 163200?

Reply to this comment
- nicolas wrote this comment on Oct. 28, 2010, 5:24 p.m.
  
  Actually, I just had a look again. I think you're referring to the admin interface? 163200 -> 16:32:00, or 4:32 p.m.
  
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- nicolas wrote this comment on Oct. 25, 2010, 1:31 p.m.
  
  Hi Jim, hm, I think the date on your server might not be configured properly?
  
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Nico wrote this comment on Oct. 28, 2010, 4:50 p.m.

Hi I can't see video recorded. I only have single logg which inform me about the URL and referrer ! How can I see the video ? Sorry for my poor english thanks in advance regards Nico

Reply to this comment
- Nico wrote this comment on Oct. 28, 2010, 5:14 p.m.
  
  In fact the duration of my logs are 0 second is it normal ? Even if I'm browsing during 3 minutes on the website ?
  
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  - nicolas wrote this comment on Oct. 28, 2010, 5:26 p.m.
    
    Did you check the percentage setting, and is logging enabled for the page you're browsing? Do you maybe use https for the admin section? Maybe you could try and install firebug and have a look at the console if there are any errors.
    
    Reply to this comment
    - Nico wrote this comment on Oct. 28, 2010, 5:32 p.m.
      
      My website : www.cbfc.fr Screen of configuration : http://2leet4you.free.fr/visitor.PNG No https :( percentage 100% Any ideas ? Thanks in advance.
      
      Reply to this comment
      - nicolas wrote this comment on Oct. 28, 2010, 7:23 p.m.
        
        Hm, the logging looks fine to me, although there are some javascript errors. You should try firebug during the playback.
        
        Reply to this comment
Rohit @techkol wrote this comment on Nov. 20, 2010, 6:33 a.m.

its a great plugin..........thanks

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vijay wrote this comment on Feb. 10, 2011, 10:30 a.m.

Terrific plugin... i am amazed by the amount of info. recorded... Very well done... 10/10 .. Looking forward to great updates on this ...

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pop art portraits wrote this comment on Feb. 22, 2011, 8:39 p.m.

Hi, I really love this plug-in thank you! However it does not seem to record the drop down menus? is there a way to record these also? thank you

Reply to this comment
- nicolas wrote this comment on Feb. 23, 2011, 3:01 p.m.
  
  Hi, hm, I guess it's possible that I didn't add drop-downs. Sure, it could be added. I'll make a note.. not sure when I'll get to work on it though.
  
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  - Matt wrote this comment on March 4, 2011, 9:42 a.m.
    
    Thank you Nicolas, that would be great! All my product options are dropdowns so I can't actually see anything my customers are doing. But would love to make use of this plug, great plug! look forward to next update, thank you
    
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