How do I dynamically load Google Analytics JavaScript?

Question

Without using any other JS frameworks (dojo, jquery, etc), how would I dynamically load Google Analytic\'s javascript to be used on a web page for w

Answer 1

function loadGA()
{
    if(typeof _gat == 'function') //already loaded
    {
        //innitGA();
        // you may want the above line uncommented.. 
        // I'm presuming that if the _gat object is there
        // you wouldn't want to.
        return;
    }
    var hostname = 'google-analytics.com';
    var protocol = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");
    js = document.createElement('script');
    js.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript');
    js.setAttribute('src', protocol+hostname+'/ga.js');
    document.body.appendChild(js);
    //2 methods to detect the load of ga.js
    //some browsers use both, however
    loaded = false; // so use a boolean
    js.onreadystatechange = function () {
        if (js.readyState == 'loaded') 
        { 
            if(!loaded)
            {
                innitGA();
            }
            loaded = true;
        }
    };
    js.onload = function () 
    {
        if(!loaded)
        {           
            innitGA();
        }
        loaded = true;
    };
}

function innitGA()
{
    //var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker('GA_ACCOUNT/PROFILE_ID');
    //pageTracker._initData();
    //pageTracker._trackPageview();
    alert('oh hai I can watch plz?');
}

just call loadGA()... tested on IE6/7/8, FF3, Chrome and Opera

sorry if I'm a bit late to this party.