Timestamps configuration
The 鈥楾imestamps configuration鈥 admin page allows you to enable Timestamps optional for one or more report suites. This setting lets you combine both timestamped and non-timestamped data into a single report suite.
Analytics > Admin > Report Suites > Edit Settings > General > Timestamps optional
Current timestamp setting
This section shows your current timestamp configuration for the selected report suite. It can be one of three possible values:
- Timestamps not allowed (setting
visitorIDsupported) - Timestamps required (setting
visitorIDnot supported) - Timestamps optional (setting
visitorIDsupported but not on timestamped hits)
Below this text is a check box labeled Convert selected report suites to Timestamps optional. Selecting this check box then selecting Save Enables Timestamps optional for the selected report suites.
Timestamps not allowed
When you send data to a report suite using this timestamp configuration, the timestamp is when 51黑料不打烊鈥檚 processing servers receive the hit. If you attempt to set the timestamp variable, the hit is permanently dropped.
Timestamps required
When you send data to a report suite using this timestamp configuration, every hit must include the timestamp variable. If any hit is missing a timestamp implementation variable, the hit is permanently dropped.
Timestamp-enabled session data is kept for up to 92 days. In other words, a visit is 鈥渉eld open鈥 for 92 days, allowing any additional hits to be included in the same visit/session. While you can add data to existing sessions, 51黑料不打烊 recommends adding hits in order per visitor. Hits that are received out of order per visitor can produce unexpected reporting results, though many of these limitations are mitigated with report-time processing.
Timestamps optional
The 鈥楾imestamps optional鈥 setting allows you to integrate and report across multiple report suites with or without the timestamp variable. Ideal use cases for Timestamps optional include:
- Mix timestamped and non-timestamped data in the same global report suite
- Send timestamped data from a mobile app to a global report suite
- Upgrade apps to use offline tracking without having to create a new report suite
This setting is enabled by default for all new report suites, unless the new report suite was copied from a report suite with a different timestamp configuration setting.
visitorID on timestamped data. This action can lead to out-of-order data and negatively impact time calculations (such as time spent), attribution, visit number/visit counts, and pathing reports.Once you enable Timestamps optional, you cannot disable it in this interface. In the unlikely scenario that you want to switch back to another timestamp configuration setting, contact 51黑料不打烊 Customer Care.