persist data value across subdomains?

[martijn_van_vre]

When we setup a persist data value extension to add a value to a session cookie, will this persist across subdomains?

[roshan_gonsalko]

Hi Martijn, Yes - this should persist across any sub-domains on the same domain. Do you have any example URLs you want to test sharing across? I can take a look for you and confirm... Thanks, Roshan

[roshan_gonsalko]

Hi Martijn, I've had a look on your seat.nl and mii.seat.nl and our cookies are persisting across the sub-domain as the cookies are being set on '.seat.nl'. This means any page on 'seat.nl' or a sub domain (e.g. bigcars.seat.nl) will be able to persist values. However, I've looked at the logic of a persist values extension and I believe I know why you might have an issue:

Basically, the persist value extension will persist a variable whether it is populated or not unless you have a condition on it (see note). This might be the cause of issues you might be seeing. Any Qs, let me know! Thanks, Roshan

[martijn_van_vre]

Hi Roshan, Thanks! We will definitely have to change the gclid condition. Just to make sure I understand. The session_variable extension doesn't need this same change, does it?

[roshan_gonsalko]

Hi Martijn, Yes, I believe so. I think it will need to check whether 'session_id' is populated. Although the extension keeps the first value set, if a user doesn't have the variable persisted in a cookie already, if the user's first hit is on a page where 'session_id' isn't populated (e.g. http://mii.seat.nl/) then it will persist 'undefined' until the user deletes that cookie. e.g. - user's first hit is http://mii.seat.nl/ - session_id is undefined so it is persisted in 'pon_session_id' cookie - user then hits http://www.seat.nl - session_id is defined but as the 'pon_session_id' is set to keep its first value 'pon_session_id' will continue with a value of 'undefined' If you add the condition, the 'pon_session_id' cookie will only be populated if a 'session_id' is present to it will always have a valid value. Hope this makes sense! Hope this helps!

[martijn_van_vre]

Hi Roshan, I just had some time to check the way this works when all extensions are setup properly (I think they are). I have tested at Audi.nl First I go to the homepage www.audi.nl Then I click on the link in the footer to "directe selectie" (http://directeselectie.audi.nl) Both the session_id cookie value and the visitor_id cookie value change when I do this. However, this is not related to subdomains. It seems the cookie expires when I go to any page, even inside the same subdomain. Can you have another look at this please?

[roshan_gonsalko]

Hi Martijn, Thanks for your note. Let me take a look at this now...

[roshan_gonsalko]

Hi Martijn, I've had a look at this and I can't replicate the issue you are seeing - if I clear my cookies and then navigate across both sites I see the same values for both cookies: http://screencast.com/t/3WUxijrt4VVi Are you able to replicate this and show me how to do this? Thanks, Roshan

[martijn_van_vre]

Hi Roshan, I was finally able to find the time to replicate this. Seems to work fine. Thanks for looking into this for me!

[roshan_gonsalko]

Great - glad it works!