Google analytics, how _setDomainName works with iframes? - iframe

Question

on our site we would like to track with Google Analytics user actions in iframe content. The iframes are hosted on a different and 3rd level domain. For some reason my setup doesn't work.
Situation:
In the iframe I want to use two google trackers: one from the parent site, and a separate just for the iframe. I also want to use Events and VPVs. When browsed the page can be seen in GA account's "real-time overview" section. But I don't see a VPV which is attached to Submit button click.
I also don't really understand how function "_setDomainName" works and what should be there. These are separate issues and any help would be much appreciated.
The setup:
On parent site:
<script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-XXXXXX-1']);
_gaq.push(['_setAllowLinker', true]);
_gaq.push(['_setDomainName', 'parent.com']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
$(document).ready(function() {
var pageTracker = _gat._getTrackerByName();
var iframe = document.getElementById('myIFrame');
iframe.src = pageTracker._getLinkerUrl('http://mydomain.iframedomain.net/page.aspx');
});
</script>
ON Iframe page:
<script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['a._setAccount', 'UA-XXXXXX-1']);
_gaq.push(['a._setDomainName', 'parent.com']);
_gaq.push(['a._setAllowLinker', true]);
_gaq.push(['a._trackPageview']);
/* this is second tracking account */
_gaq.push(['b._setAccount', 'UA-XXXXXX-2']);
_gaq.push(['b._setDomainName', 'iframedomain.net']);
_gaq.push(['b._trackPageview']);
(function () {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script>
Then on a button click event I call this function:
function track() {
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/search-retailer-clicked']);
_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'Search - Event', 'Click - Event', 'Search Retailer Button clicked']);
}
what am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

You've named both trackers in the iframe (a._setAccount & b._setAccount), but in the button click event, you're using a default, unnamed tracker.
The outcome is that the virtual page view and event are getting sent to a tracker that hasn't had the account set. If you look at the tracking pixel requests (via ga_debug.js, firebug, chrome developer tools, or fiddler), they'll show a UA-XXXXX-X accountId.
You probably want something more like:
function track() {
_gaq.push(['a._trackPageview', '/search-retailer-clicked']);
_gaq.push(['a._trackEvent', 'Search - Event', 'Click - Event', 'Search Retailer Button clicked']);
_gaq.push(['b._trackPageview', '/search-retailer-clicked']);
_gaq.push(['b._trackEvent', 'Search - Event', 'Click - Event', 'Search Retailer Button clicked']);
}