Client-Side Event Tracking with Sitecore Analytics

After the previous blog post about combining JavaScript and CSS, I decided to create more modules standardizing features that can be used out of the box at many websites.

Today I'll describe new module that allows tracking client-side events with Sitecore Analytics. Such feature is really important for today's highly interactive sites, and you'll see how easy it is to implement it for Sitecore.

After installing the module, you'll be able to track external file downloads, Ajax events and any kind of visitor interaction that does not cause the page to refresh (expanding / collapsing page areas, popup windows, etc.).

Visualizing Sitecore Roles Inheritance

Have you ever needed to review the security model of existing website? If yes, then you probably know how to use the Role Manager and "Member of" / "Members" buttons, or extract roles information via API. But how to get the quick summary if there is a hundred of roles? If A1 is a member of A2 where A2 also has members A3, A4, ... Can't imagine? -Visualize it!

Windows Live Writer Integration for Sitecore

Windows Live Writer is a great tool for blogging. It is simple, fast, and can be customized using plugins written in .NET. You can have web-based interface for adding your blog or articles, but integration with desktop client will not be superfluous as it provides a lot of benefits.
 In this post I'll show how to integrate it with Sitecore CMS using MetaWeblog API -  an application interface  that enables weblog entries to be written, edited, and deleted using web services.

Integration can be divided into two parts:

1. Implementing MetaWeblog API service members 
2. Creating and configuring various handlers that will tell Live Writer how to find and use our service