When I tried to export more than 500 rows in Google Analytics for the first time

Most Google Analytics users know that all reports in GA are subject to a maximum of the first 500 rows when exporting. The full list of data can’t be seen in the GA interface if the rows are more than 500. It only shows 500 rows on each report page. Also, the data can be downloaded 500 records at a time. However, I didn’t know that until I tried to download more than 500 rows of data to my spreadsheet. Like others, when I am stuck, I google on the internet to find an answer.

Many GA gurus provide the same solution.

Append &limit=x to the end of the URL.
where X = the numbers of rows I need to export. For older Excel (2003), the maximum rows are 63,500.

Some suggests, to make it simple, to append &limit=50000 to the end of the URL. When exporting, I will get back 50000 or whatever rows.

Well, I did follow the direction by changing Show Row option at the bottom of the report to 500 and adding &limit=50000 to the end of the URL. This made my Top Content URL look like below.




https://www.google.com/analytics/reporting/top_content?id=8010242&
pdr=20090126-20090225&cmp=average&trows=500
#lts=1235671650953&limit=50000

Then I clicked Export, selected CSV and downloaded the file...

Wait! It didn’t work! I still got only 500 rows on my spreadsheet. What did I miss? I googled again to check if I missed anything. Seemed like I did everything right. This is not supposed to be complicated!

Finally, I figured out what happened.

It's so simple!

After adding &limit=5000 to the end of the URL. I need to press ENTER before clicking Export to override the URL. Without pressing ENTER, the URL will remain the same.

Now I know… I told you learning by doing is the best way to learn…

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope you had a wonderful time celebrating the New Year with your family and friends.

How did I celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year?

I did something unusual this New Year since 2008 was kind of not so good year for me. I cooked dumplings, noodle and fish for my family. I have learned from my Chinese friends that dumplings is one of traditional Chinese new year food. It’s supposed to bring good luck and fortune. Besides dumplings, noodle and fish are good food to eat on New Year as well. Long noodle represents long-life and fish means success or abundance.

There are also some other dishes that are supposed to bring prosperity, wealth and happiness but I don’t remember all of them. So I did some research and found the website displaying the list of food and dumpling recipe. Just in case you are interested.

• Dumplings - Good luck, fortune, and family togetherness

• Noodles - When noodles are served, they are never cut because long noodles represent long-life.

• Whole fish - The Chinese word for fish “yu,” is the same word for “success” or “abundance.” Serving the fish whole is a symbol of togetherness of the family.

• Chicken - Like fish, chickens are served whole to symbolizing togetherness of the family

• Oysters - Receptivity to good fortune

• Dried bean curd - Like many of the foods that are served because the Chinese word for it also means something else, dried bean curd (tofu) symbolizes wealth and happiness

• Bamboo shoots - The word for bamboo shoots also sounds like the phrase for “wishing that everything would be well”

• Seaweed - Specifically, the black moss seaweed is the Chinese word for it also means “wealth”

• Turnips - “Cai tou,” the word for turnip, also means “good omen.”

• Meat balls - Symbolize reunion because the Chinese word “rou wan” is the same for both togetherness of the family.

• Lotus seed - Is a symbol (or wish) of having many male offspring

• Ginkgo nuts - Represent wealth

• Lettuce - Prosperity

• Garlic chives - Symbolize “everlasting”

• Prawns - Stand for liveliness and happiness

• Mixed vegetables - Represent family harmony

• Oranges - They stand for abundance and sweetness of the New Year.

I am not sure if the food will help bring me good luck and such. However, they were delicious and at the same time made me very full and happy. For those reasons which are strange enough, I feel happy and ready to start my first day in 2009.

How about you? What did you do? How did you celebrate your New Year?