index.js:65 Mixpanel error: distinct_id cannot have $device: prefix

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This error message suggests that you're encountering an issue with Mixpanel's identity management system, specifically related to the distinct_id property. The error occurs because you're trying to use a distinct_id with a $device: prefix, which is not allowed in Mixpanel's current identity management system.To resolve this issue, you need to understand how Mixpanel handles identity management, particularly in the context of the Simplified ID Merge system. Here's what you need to know: 1. In the Simplified ID Merge system, Mixpanel uses $device_id and $user_id properties to manage user identities, rather than directly manipulating the distinct_id Identifying Users (Simplified).2. The $device: prefix is used internally by Mixpanel to differentiate device IDs from user IDs. You should not manually add this prefix to your identifiers Identifying Users (Simplified).To fix this error, you should: 1. Use $device_id for anonymous users instead of prefixing distinct_id with $device:. 2. Use $user_id for identified users.Here's an example of how to correctly set these properties: LBKS// For anonymous users mixpanel.track("Event Name", { "$device_id": "your-device-id-here" });LBKS// For identified users mixpanel.track("Event Name", { "$user_id": "user-id-here" });LBKSBy using these properties correctly, Mixpanel will automatically handle the distinct_id for you, and you should no longer encounter the error.If you're still experiencing issues after making these changes, you may want to check your Mixpanel SDK version and ensure you're using the latest version that supports the Simplified ID Merge system.

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I apologize for the confusion in my previous response. After carefully reviewing the knowledge sources, I can provide a more accurate explanation of this error and how to address it.The error "distinct_id cannot have $device: prefix" is related to how Mixpanel handles identity management, particularly in the context of the Simplified ID Merge system. Here's what you need to know: 1. In the Simplified ID Merge system, Mixpanel uses $device_id and $user_id properties to manage user identities Identifying Users (Simplified).2. The $device: prefix is used internally by Mixpanel to differentiate device IDs from user IDs. You should not manually add this prefix to your identifiers Understanding Simplified ID Merge.To resolve this error, you should: 1. Use $device_id for anonymous users instead of prefixing distinct_id with $device:. 2. Use $user_id for identified users.Here's an example of how to correctly set these properties: LBKS{ "event": "View Anonymous Page", "properties": { "token": "{{token}}", "$device_id": "anonymous111" } }LBKSFor identified users: LBKS{ "event": "Sign Up", "properties": { "token": "{{token}}", "$device_id": "anonymous111", "$user_id": "charlie" } }LBKSBy using these properties correctly, Mixpanel will automatically handle the distinct_id for you. The distinct_id will be set to the value of $user_id if present; otherwise, it will use $device_id and prefix it with $device: internally.If you're still experiencing issues after making these changes, you may want to check your Mixpanel SDK version and ensure you're using the latest version that supports the Simplified ID Merge system. Also, make sure that your project is configured to use the Simplified ID Merge API in your project settings Identity Merge APIs.

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To register or set a device ID in Mixpanel using the Simplified ID Merge system, you need to include the $device_id property in your events. Here's how you can do it: 1. For client-side implementations (Web/Mobile SDKs): The SDK automatically generates and manages the $device_id for you. You don't need to set it manually. The SDK will include it in all events sent to Mixpanel.2. For server-side implementations: You need to generate and manage the device IDs yourself. Here's how you can do it: a. Generate a unique identifier for each device or anonymous user session. It's recommended to use a UUID (Universally Unique Identifier). b. Include this identifier as the $device_id property in your events.Here's an example of how to set the $device_id in an event: LBKS{ "event": "View Anonymous Page", "properties": { "token": "{{token}}", "$device_id": "anonymous111" } }LBKSIt's important to note: 1. The $device_id should be persistent for the duration of the anonymous session. 2. You should not prefix the $device_id with $device:. Mixpanel will handle this internally. 3. Once a user is identified (e.g., after login), you should include both $device_id and $user_id in the events to trigger identity merging.For server-side implementations, you might want to store the generated device ID in a cookie or local storage to maintain consistency across requests. Here's a pseudocode example using Python and Django: ```import uuiddef track_to_mp(request, event_name, properties):

properties["$device_id"] = request.cookies.get('SESSION_ID') # Set $user_id if the user is authenticated (logged in). if request.user.is_authenticated(): properties["$user_id"] = request.user.username # Note: leave the first argument blank here, since we're passing $device_id and $user_id as properties. mp.track("", event_name, properties)```This approach ensures that you're correctly setting the $device_id for anonymous users and both $device_id and $user_id for identified users, which is crucial for proper identity management in Mixpanel's Simplified ID Merge system.Identifying Users (Simplified)Remember, the key is to have a consistent $device_id for anonymous users and to include both $device_id and $user_id when the user becomes identified. This allows Mixpanel to correctly merge the anonymous and identified user data.

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