Regarding the reported number of "views" for an ArcGIS Online map

[MarcWeinshenker1]

I have created a number of ArcGIS Online maps which are used in a Map Gallery, and I am curious about the "view" count reported on the ArcGIS Online page for the map.  The number is reported along with the rating next to the map thumbnail.  My observations are that if I refresh the ArcGIS Online page for the map description, the view number increments by one.  If I open the map via the Map Gallery, then return to refresh the page with the view count, the count increments by three.  Is the view count doing what it was meant to do?  What it is meant to do?  What it is actually doing?  I'd like to use it to have some sense for map usage, but the increments I've observed are a little odd at best.

Thanks,
Marc

[MikeMinami]

For a web map, viewing the description increments the view by 1. Opening the map will also increment the counter by 1.

So, if from the gallery, you viewed the description of the map, then proceeded to open the map, that would be 2 views. If you then when to another browser page where you are looking at the description, then refreshed the page, that would be 1 more view. Thus, the total increment would be 3.

Mike

[MarcWeinshenker1]

Mike,

Thanks for the explanation.  But it leaves me wondering why viewing the thumbnails in the description page and in the gallery count as views.  Was this a deliberate decision?  I have to say that it would be much more useful to me as a map manager to see the map view count increment only when the map itself is accessed.  What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks,
Marc

[MikeMinami]

We didn't really implement "views" to be an absolute metric about the usage of an item. Rather, views are useful to help sort a set of search results to see what is most popular or most used. It helps to bubble things to the top of the list.

Thus, if someone expresses interest in an item by viewing the details of it, we count that as a view. If that person goes one step further and actually opens the item, that's another view. Now, in looking at your counts, it does seem like there may be an extra increment of the counter. However, I do recall that when we implemented this, we discussed that it was a more significant "viewing" of the item if someone actually opened the item (not just viewed it's metadata). Thus, we may be adding an extra view to the counter. Without looking in depth at the code, I can't tell you for sure. (In the case of map service items that are referenced in web maps, their view count increments whenever the map is opened too.)

The bottom line is that you shouldn't consider "views" as an absolute measurement of the number of times your map has been opened.

thanks,

Mike

[MarcWeinshenker1]

Mike,

Thanks very much.  Not as useful as I would have hoped, but now with the full explanation I can make better use of it.

Marc

[MatthewKing]

A related question, does viewing the map through one of the mobile apps also increase the view count?

Thanks!

[MikeMinami]

Yes, viewing the map on a mobile device also increases the view count.

Thanks,

Mike