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

[DivaVocals]

There appear to be a bit of bug which occurs when zencart is set up with a shared SSL Certificate. To test the system it should be set up with SSL for the main site to allow a customer SSL login. - When someone selects a product from any area (which is not SSL) but being controlled by Ultimate SEO then the item does get sent to the basket. However if they try to log into the system turns to SSL. When the login button is pushed Ultimate SEO throws them to not found page.
This is a test i did

https://web131.secure-secure.co.uk/X...9rda2vc4u0obe1 - without Ultimate SEO - result OK

https://web131.secure-secure.co.uk/X...9rda2vc4u0obe1 - with Ultimate SEO FAILS


Standard links when logged on without SSL

http://XXXXXX.co.uk/shop2/index.php?...products_id=33 - without OK

http://XXXXXX.co.uk/shop2/logs-c-34/...logs-p-33.html - with OK

This only occurs in this occurrence -

The customer can click the back button and everything returns on this url
https://web131.secure-secure.co.uk/X...9rda2vc4u0obe1

I have checked out the .htaccess and everything is fine.
I have also checked this on another site with the same result

Any ideas how to overcome this problem???

You say your .htaccess is fine, but unless you post it, how will anyone be able to check to see that it IS correct.. Post your .htaccess file contents.. obscure any admin folder names.. and post REAL links to your site so folks can see what you see..

The only way I can see is to remove from the SEO Limit list those items that are causing problems like the contact link which I found also to be the same

I have set my list to this - index, product_info, product_music_info, document_general_info, document_product_info, product_free_shipping_info, products_new, products_all, featured_products, specials, conditions, privacy, reviews, shippinginfo, faqs_all, site_map, gv_faq, discount_coupon, page, page_2, page_3, page_4

Not a bug with the module at all.. You don't say if you have issues with your shared SSL with this module turned off.. No matter.. Either way, the REAL issue is you are using a shared SSL and the shared certificate changes the the base URL. This in turn requires some very specific configure.php file settings and probably some special .httaccess settings too to point to the right top level domain..

With Shared SSL, the URL may look something like this:

https://servername.yourhost.com/

Whilst with dedicated SSL, the URL is determined by you, either as another registered domain or as a sub domain of your website domain name. You can have your private secure url such as

https://yourname.com/

Others who are more knowledgable can help with those very specific modifications to use a share SSL with Zen Cart and this module.. However, the RIGHT answer is to get a REAL dedicated SSL cert..

Hosting companies offer them for pretty cheap, and they will provide your customers with the confidence they are looking for when they shop at your store.

A private SSL shows that you are a business and shows your domain in the url address versus a shared SSL where the url address is that of the shared certificate holder.

The main downside to the shared SSL certificate is that your business name is not usually on the certificate. The person who bought the certificate (and you are sharing it with) usually appears. For some online shoppers, this might raise red flags. Another problem is that if the person who bought the SSL certificate lapses, you lapse as well, leaving your Web site vulnerable.

Shared SSL is installed globally on the server and configured to be used from all users on the servers. The shared SSL certificate generated for the hostname of the server and it will cause a certificate warning message pop up on your site when it used as it's not matching the domain names.

On the other hand a dedicated SSL will use your domain name and will not cause any warnings messages, it can be very beneficial for your online store and web presence as it’s issued specially for your domain name by a trusted authority. When a potential customers visit your site, they will see that you own the certificate, giving them assurance and the confidence they need to feel safe when shopping on your site.

The dedicated SSL needs a dedicated IP address which makes your website separate, so that if the shared IP address gets blocked, your site wouldn't be blocked automatically along with it.

Dedicated SSL is preferred for protecting credit card information for E-Commerce website.

[lat9]

I've got a client who's using v2.212 of Ultimate SEO on Zen Cart v1.5.1. When I look at the canonical link generated for a product, it has the full category information prepended to the product's information. Is this working-as-designed?

[lhungil]

I've got a client who's using v2.212 of Ultimate SEO on Zen Cart v1.5.1. When I look at the canonical link generated for a product, it has the full category information prepended to the product's information. Is this working-as-designed?

Depends on how Ultimate URLs is configured, if the product is a "linked" product, if the canonical override is in place ("/init_includes/overrides/init_canonical.php"), and if Ultimate URLs has been modified by the end user.

If the end user has successfully installed an unmodified copy of Ultimate URLs, the following will apply:
When configured to "Display categories as directories", product URLs will be prepended with the category information. When not configured to "Display categories as directories" and "Format of alternate URLs" is configured to use "parent", product URLs will be prepended with the parent category name. Otherwise product URLs will not be prepended with category information.

When a linked product is encountered, the master category cPath is used to generate the canonical.


Example (Stock Zen Cart URLs):

Generated URLs:
/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_20&products_id=24
/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=22&products_id=24

Canonical URL:
/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=24

Example (Format of alternate URLs = original; Display categories as directories = full):

Generated URLs:
/software-c-2/strategy-c-2_20/disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24
/big-linked-c-22/disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24

Canonical URL:
/software-c-2/strategy-c-2_20/disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24

Example (Format of alternate URLs = original; Display categories as directories = short):

Generated URLs:
/strategy-c-2_20/disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24
/big-linked-c-22/disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24

Canonical URL:
/strategy-c-2_20/disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24

Example (Format of alternate URLs = parent; Display categories as directories = short):

Generated URLs:
/software-strategy-c-2_20/disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24
/big-linked-c-22/disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24

Canonical URL:
/software-strategy-c-2_20/disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24

Example (Format of alternate URLs = parent; Display categories as directories = off):

Generated URLs:
/strategy-disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24?cPath=2_20
/big-linked-disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24?cPath=22

Canonical URL:
/strategy-disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24

Example (Format of alternate URLs = original; Display categories as directories = off):

Generated URLs:
/disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24?cPath=2_20
/disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24?cPath=22

Canonical URL:
/disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24

Note 1: When "Display categories as directories" is configured as off, the handling of cPath matches the Zen Cart stock URL behavior (this may change in the future).

Note 2: Ultimate URLs 2.215 includes a large number of changes, enhancements, and fixes. I am no longer actively supporting older versions of Ultimate URLs (and would recommend upgrading as soon as possible).

Note 3: I do not provide support for forks (I know of at least one fork reporting itself as "Ultimate SEO URLs" - the author did not change the plugin name in the database or files). Third party forks of "Ultimate URLs" are not always actively maintained. Upgrading directly from a fork may result in unintended behavior. Some forks may also contain hard-coded changes to the URLs (instead of using the built-in PCRE filter) or may include changes in violation of the HTML specification (such as replacing "&" with "&" in attributes).

Note 3: Ultimate URLs will also handle "shortened" URLs (anchor + id; ex: "/-p-24" or "/sacred-land-p-24?cPath=22"). The canonical for "shortened" URLs will be the same as for the configured alternate URL (ex: "/software-c-2/strategy-c-2_20/disciples-sacred-lands-linked-p-24"). If making use of this feature, one may wish to enable "automatic redirects" (will issue a 301 to the configured alternative URL when a "shortened" URL is requested).

[lat9]

Whew! Thanks, lhungil, for the overview. This is the first site I've worked on that uses the Ultimate SEO plugin and I'm appreciating the detailed information.

[slafrenier]

Need help. New install of Zen-cart 1.5.4. The only plugin I have added is Apsona-shopadmin. Trying to load Ultimate SEO V2.215. When doing the manual install I was getting the admin blank page when clicking on the Home Admin button. If I remove the config.usu_onetime.php the admin opens just fine. I loaded in the new files in the appropriate folders. Then ran the config.usu_onetime.php and it installed great but I am still getting strings of code after the .html.

Product UrL
http://whitemagik.com/jewelry-bracel...l#.VYYTZflVhBc

Catagories
http://whitemagik.com/jewelry-earrin...?pg=categories

Thanks in advance, if anyone has seen this any help would be appreciated.

[jeking]

The first url with the #.VYYTZflVhBc is perfectly normal. It's the session id, I believe.

[lhungil]

... Trying to load Ultimate SEO V2.215. When doing the manual install I was getting the admin blank page when clicking on the Home Admin button. If I remove the config.usu_onetime.php the admin opens just fine. I loaded in the new files in the appropriate folders. Then ran the config.usu_onetime.php and it installed great ..

Glad you were able to resolve the installation issue by making sure all files were copied to the correct locations in the store. The most common causes of the behavior reported (blank admin page; nothing in logs; removing config.usu_onetime.php to restore admin access) are: Forgetting to upload a file, accidentally uploading to the wrong location, files being corrupted during upload, or invalid paths in one or both of the configure.php files.

... a37-pentagram-gaelic-plait-p-1529.html#.VYYTZflVhBc ...

It appears you have installed "AddThis" on your website. The part in red comes from "AddThis" (added using JavaScript), not Ultimate URLs or Zen Cart.

... jewelry-earrings-c-65_90/?pg=categories ...

Your store most likely has a 3rd party modification injecting / adding the "pg" parameter. Ultimate URLs leaves any "extra" URL parameters added by 3rd party modifications alone. If you do not want these in your URLs, remove whatever 3rd party modification is adding the "pg" parameter.

[meksicus]

Need help.
Generally fresh instalation of 1.5.4. Everything works well, but one thing dosnt. When i choose on any manufacturers from manufacturers list, the link in the browser is in the old version (attached screenshot).
For example categories are ok (attached screenshot)
categories_ok.jpg
manufacturers_dosnt_work.jpg

First lines of debug log file :
============================================================
===== URL Generation Log Started 2015-Jul-18T19:32:55
============================================================
Real URI: index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=16
Request URI: /?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=16
Canonical URI:

============================================================
===== Generated Alternative URLs
============================================================


Request sent to href_link('index', 'manufacturers_id=16&', 'NONSSL', false, false, true, true)
Parsing Parameters for index
array (
0 => 'manufacturers_id=16',
)
Generated URL: http://sklep.italiadesign.pl/krzesla-zuiver-m-16.html

Request sent to href_link('index', '', 'NONSSL', true, false, true, true)
Generated URL: http://sklep.italiadesign.pl/

Request sent to href_link('index', 'manufacturers_id=16', 'NONSSL', true, false, true, true)
Parsing Parameters for index
array (
0 => 'manufacturers_id=16',
)
Generated URL: http://sklep.italiadesign.pl/krzesla-zuiver-m-16.html
=========

So, it seems mod works well.

I have no idea what and where is wrong.
Marek

[lhungil]

Need help.
Generally fresh instalation of 1.5.4. Everything works well, but one thing dosnt. When i choose on any manufacturers from manufacturers list, the link in the browser is in the old version

...

I have no idea what and where is wrong.

The "manufacturers" sidebox may not be using zen_href_link to generate the URLs. There is a post (one page back) explaining your options regarding the "manufacturers" sidebox. The OP also responded in this post, letting us know the previous post was correct (and the source of the issue for the OP's Zen Cart installation). The OP also kindly included a short snippet showing the correct code for generating the manufacturer link (for http, not https).

[100asa]

Format of alternate URLs = original; Display categories as directories = off
but I've always the cPath, as http://www.100asa.it/100asa-kit-4-te...13_28300_28325
Why?