Top level categories in tabs rest in sidebox??

[caios]

I have inherited a zencart which has 3 tabs at the top of the page and they then set a variable to 1,2 or 3 and load a set of catogories in the left hand box. You set the 1,2 or 3 manually in a new mysql table. Think of it as 3 different sections of one shop.

This is what I want to do, but from an SEO point this hasnt been done in the best way as the 1,2 or 3 looks to be a session variable and is not controlled by what product page your on etc. Thus its not included in any seo urls mod and probably looks a bit odd from a spiders point of view.

What would be best would be a more intergrated solution. e.g. all catogories are currently at the top level in admin with no mention of the tabs. Instead what would be better would be if the tabs where top level catogories in admin with the catogories that go in each under them.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a contribution or how this should really be approached?

Heres the site http://www.motorsport-tools.com/ sells Sealey Tools & Car Parts

[jackie.taferner]

I suppose to accomplish what you're after, just make the new top 3 categories in admin, then "move" all the existing categories into the appropriate place. You can then have a normal menu up top that would link to that category section, and the category sidebox would expand to show all subcategories automatically.

You will need to dynamically change the stylesheets depending on what top category you are in, since the existing setup would no longer accomplish that custom header and colors for you. There are probably a few other bumps in the road, but I think it's doable.

But... the question would be, really how much difference will the change make? I see you've got .html links already, are your rankings not doing well? How long has the site been around? If your rankings are good now, and the site has been this way for some time, there's a possibility that any changes might actually hurt your rankings.