After some tweaking on my blog theme, I re-added the Google Analytics code, an absolute div tag generated by the GA javascript code created an overlay on top of my page, everything underneath was unclickable and this was only in Firefox.
Code below:
<div style=”position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 100%; height: 1000px; background-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); opacity: 0.5; z-index: 100000; display: block;” id=”ga_shade”></div>
Page works on IE and div code is not visible on source code. Simple solution though is just delete the cookies on Firefox.
Makes me wonder how many site owners who uses Google Analytics have visitors that have been unable to use their site because of this issue. Hmm.
[…] fix for thi is simple — clear your browser cookies and reload the page. Thanks to Paulo Orquillo for the […]
The effect is only seen for the developer not for general users as the cooking in question is a result of using the GA overlay feature. The ga_shade is something that temporarily drops down over pages when you are browsing with the GA overlay. Watch your screen closely as you move from URL to URL watching people’s click paths. The good thing is that the end users of your site don’t see the problem.
tnx hiker, nice info to know!
Nice tip guys. The shade is not visible to end users, Hiker is right.
The ga_shade is visible only when logged in analytics/gmail with the account linked to analytics one.
Theoretically the ga_shade layer should show clicks on various links in the page and other side infos.
[…] Link: http://blog.lopau.com/the-ga_shade-div-tag-on-google-analytics-on-firefox/ […]
Thank you for posting this blog. I totally freaked out for about 5 minutes and thought my site was hosed. I cleared my cookies and and checked a couple other computers. This is definitely a developer bug only.
Thanks for the info…I was stuck this morning and your solution popped up as the first google result! which is great.
tx Lopau,
have posted some more fix info here, if that’s handy…
http://www.guvnr.com/web/web-dev/ga_shade-site-overlay-bug/
Thanks for this post! Clearing the GASO (Google Analytics Site Overlay) cookie resolved the problem.
I had the same problem. The simple solution is to go into analytics, select the site overlay link, and then at the top click “Hide Overlay”. Clears it right up 🙂
@brad that’s a new solution i’ve heard regarding the overlay problem, tnx for the tip.
I had this problem.. I googleed “ga_shade”.. click the first link.. solution and explanation perfectly provided! Thanks!
This type of internetty goodness makes all our lives easier!
Many thanks for the info. I almost freaked out, thinking someone had hacked my wordpress and created the overlay to sabotage. Search through all the theme’s php codes for ga_shade but found nothing. Thanks again.
Could you email me with any hints & tips about how you made your blog look this cool, Id be thankful!