What counts

A File download result counts a click on a link to a file. Trace knows it is a file from the end of the link’s address, so https://www.example.co.uk/files/menu.pdf is a PDF. The file can be on your own website or on another one, such as a file store.

Trace watches for these kinds of file:

• PDF: .pdf
• Word: .doc, .docx
• Excel and CSV: .xls, .xlsx, .csv
• PowerPoint: .ppt, .pptx
• Text: .txt, .rtf
• Ebook: .epub
• Zip: .zip
• Audio and video: .mp3, .mp4

Narrow it down

Both are optional:

• Kinds of file: pick one or more, such as PDF, to count only those. Leave them all off to count every kind in the list above.
• Only files whose name or folder contains: type part of the file’s address, such as brochure, to count only matching files. brochure counts /files/Brochure-2026.pdf but not /files/menu.pdf. Capitals do not matter, and the website part of the address is not checked.

To count two files separately, for example your menu and your price list, add a result for each with its own name.

A File download result added this way counts once per visit, so someone who downloads three brochures in one visit counts once.

What does not count

• A download through a button that is not a link, or a link whose address does not end in the file’s type, such as /download?file=3. Ask whoever built your site to link to the file itself, or add the result with A custom event and trace.track instead. See Send a result with one line of code.
• Images, such as .jpg and .png files.
• A file someone opens by typing its address, or from an email: there is no click on your site.

Check it works

1. Save the result.
2. On your site, click the link to the file. If your site asks about cookies, accept them first, or the visit is not counted.
3. Open Conversions. The result shows as seen once it has happened.