Usage block

Usage Block

The Usage block provides on the fly site graph usage information: page views, number of distinct users, number of messages (forum posts). This information is shown in three scales: months, days, hours.

The scale on the left is for page views. The scale on the right is for the number of users and messages. The user can get numerical data by clicking on the graph.

This block does not create any tables, and use the mdl_log table only in the cron, not in each page view.

Installation

• Download the last version from moodle.org.
• Copy the usage folder into the \blocks folder of your Moodle site
• Login in to Moodle as an administrator and go to the \admin page (Notifications) to install the block
• When prompted, set the default settings for the block, or go to the block settings page (Administration Site > Modules > Blocks > Usage)
• Make sure the cron has run
• Add the Usage block to the front page

Configuration

In the global configuration of the Usage block (Site Administration > Modules > Blocks > Usage) you can specify:

• the number of months (2 - 12), days (2 - 30) and hours (2 - 24) to show on the block;
• the default scale (months, days or hours), but the user can always switch the scale;
• width and height of the graph;
• for the page views, users and messages: on/off the graph; colour; type (line, bar, area).

In the same form you have the number of the time period for each scale, that was calculated. If you clean those values, the block will recalculate data in the next cron run.

Languages

Thanks to the generosity of translators, the Usage Block is available in:

• English
• Portuguese

Other translations are welcome. If you would like to provide a translation of this block, please create an issue in the tracker with the language file attached to the issue.

To Do List

Feature requests and bug reports can be filed in the Moodle Tracker (http://tracker.moodle.org).

Contributor/Maintainer

The Usage Block was contributed and is maintained by José Coelho.