Ultimate SEO v3 (and v2.200) [Support Thread]

[SPH]

If I might jump in: I am a big fan of doing zencart upgrades via a fresh install. In fact, that is the only way I now do upgrades. Then I do the Database upgrade, as Inhungil mentioned (although once I just began again with a new DB.) Fresh installs seem more reliable to me. Also, allows me to re-think my plugins. Also seems faster than trying to winmerge and compare a bunch of files.

But, after doing my fresh install upgrade, the very first plugin I install is DrByte's Database backup/restore plugin. It's fantastic, allowing backups and, if necessary, immediate db restorations...and all from your zencart admin. I use it before anything that might affect the database when upgrading and installing plugins. I also use it before every easypopulate product upload, just in case.*

If you're not already using it you can get it here. Note there may be some server restrictions. Also, I had a problem once when my DB password had, or began, with special characters:

http://www.zen-cart.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=7

However, instead of installing my theme/template last, the template would normally be my second plugin. That's because many other plugins are template specific, having to be assigned to the template.

My third plugin would normally be Ultimate SEO.

But whatever works. :)

*All Easypopulates we use work, now primarily using Easypopulate 4. But occasionally we might make an error in the spreadsheet...operator error. A quick DB restore from admin can fix that back to square one.

[lhungil]

... The very first plugin I install is DrByte's Database backup/restore plugin. It's fantastic, allowing backups and, if necessary, immediate db restorations...and all from your zencart admin. I use it before anything that might affect the database when upgrading and installing plugins. I also use it before every easypopulate product upload, just in case.

Always a good idea - and saves time if something goes awry in the database during the installation of a plugin or template. Sleepy lhungil = forgetting a time saver. Thanks SPH!

However, instead of installing my theme/template last, the template would normally be my second plugin. That's because many other plugins are template specific, having to be assigned to the template.

One of these days I need to stop writing templates from scratch. I have my reasons, but would be very off topic. I'll defer to SPH on this one (granted you are installing a pre-built template for Zen Cart >= 1.50 which includes Zen Cart plugins).

[dharrison]

Thanks lhungil and SPH I shall give this a try.

[SPH]

You're welcome. Also, you might want to practice on a test site. I have a couple of test/secondary sites that I use for this purpose.

[coucho]

I installed this mod on my v150 a couple of days ago and have a couple of issues now. The install went great and it is working but now when I click on the contact us tab or the links in the footer menu except useful links it comes back with a 404 error along with the site map. Checked with my hosting company and they could not find the problem. These links were working before I installed this mod. Any ideas or questions?

Thanks,
Coucho

[curlydan]

I installed this mod on my v150 a couple of days ago and have a couple of issues now. The install went great and it is working but now when I click on the contact us tab or the links in the footer menu except useful links it comes back with a 404 error along with the site map. Checked with my hosting company and they could not find the problem. These links were working before I installed this mod. Any ideas or questions?

Thanks,
Coucho

This is a general question, I was looking through the instructions and have no difficulty with any of the steps except step #3.

3. A sample .htaccess file is included. Edit
"3_htaccess/.htaccess" to match your web server's
environment. Pay particular attention to the
"RewriteBase" line. Make sure your server does not have
"MultiViews" enabled (rare).

If you have an existing .htaccess file in the folder
where you installed Zen Cart merge the new .htaccess
file with the existing file (remember rules are matched
in order, so any custom URL transformations or
redirects should appear before the "Start Ultimate
SEO URLs" block. Upload the .htaccess file to the
folder where you installed Zen Cart.


I have no idea what any of this means. More specifically, Can someone please explain in simpler terms for me. I have opened the "3_htaccess" file and it is empty... How do I make this match my web servers environment? What is a rewrite base line? How can I check if I have multiviews enabled?

Thanks.

[lhungil]

I have opened the "3_htaccess" file and it is empty...

The folder is not empty it contains a file named ".htaccess". If you are on an apple computer or linux computer you need to have "show files starting with a dot" enabled. By default these files are hidden on *nix and apple based computers.

How do I make this match my web servers environment?

Depends on your environment. For most *nix based operating systems (running Apache2) all you need to do is update the RewriteBase directive. For windows based environments you need to use an ISAPI .htaccess filter or convert the rules to a web.config for IIS7+.

How can I check if I have multiviews enabled?

This is rare for most hosting providers to enable by default. You can ask your provider if you run into problems.

[lhungil]

... when I click on the contact us tab or the links in the footer menu except useful links it comes back with a 404 error ...

Hard to say without further information. What is the address the contact us tab points to? What version of "Ultimate SEO URLs" was installed? What do you have in your .htaccess file? Can you give us a link to the website where this error is being experienced?