AlterWind Log Analyzer Professional Editor's Review

This program analyzes web server logs to provide statistical data to the webmaster. Several types of log files are supported: Apache combined, Apache common, MS IIS version 4.0 to 6.0, MS IIS short, and you can also define your own log file format by writing a template. The program supports command line parameters so you could configure a script to run at specified time intervals and update a HTML page with statistical information.

When you start the program a wizard appears. You should use it to customize the program's output page and data. Then you must import one of your server's access log files. Reports can be generated for a specified time range by selecting "Generate report" from the "Report" menu.

Generated reports look very good and nicely structured. On the left you have the types of statistics that were gathered from the log file, while on the right you have the actual information. The program gathers information about activity, accessed pages, visitors, referrers, errors, and about browsers used to access the web server. Data is displayed clearly and it's very easy to read. Sometimes pie charts and graphs are used.

Pluses: Reports are generated based on templates which the user can customize. Also, there are filters which can be configured to remove unwanted data from the reports. For example, you could filter spiders, certain browsers, hits from an unwanted domain, specified hours of the day and many more.

Drawbacks / flaws: The configuration settings that you modify using the integrated wizard aren't always used to generate reports. However, if you modify them manually they work great.

In conclusion: This program helps you optimize your marketing strategy by extracting data from your web server log files which provide details about your website and its visitors.

version reviewed: 3.1