CEON. URI Transfer from local computer to web host

[mc12345678]

Post has been transferred to allow longer discussion than would be allowed in original support thread.

Re: Ceon URI Mapping v4.x
I've been searching everywhere, but cannot find an answer to what I would think would be a common question.

I'm building a ZenCart site locally on my computer using AMPPS server software. I'm using Ceon URI Mapping. When I did a test of moving the site to the hosting server all of my links no longer work. Is there a way to have Ceon URI Mapping automatically update all of the links? What is the best way to do this? Is it possible or must I build the site, or at least add all my products, on the final server?

[mc12345678]

I've been searching everywhere, but cannot find an answer to what I would think would be a common question.

I'm building a ZenCart site locally on my computer using AMPPS server software. I'm using Ceon URI Mapping. When I did a test of moving the site to the hosting server all of my links no longer work. Is there a way to have Ceon URI Mapping automatically update all of the links? What is the best way to do this? Is it possible or must I build the site, or at least add all my products, on the final server?

So CEON URI is a database managed URI rewriter that uses the path of the store to create the associated link(s). Now, I think of this "exercise" more as a database manipulation than a "set it up equivalent" the first time exercise.
Basically, if you are familiar with how to add the other rewrites that are not included with the utility then you could do a SQL update to replace the prefix of the URI or to copy it over in your local database before transferring to your site, and then deleting the entries that relate to your local server, keeping the entries related to your remote server.

Otherwise, I would think there is something that can be "setup" to have CEON create URIs on your local server so that they are in fact in a relative format to your online server. It creates the link(s) relative to the information held in I think HTTP_CATALOG/HTTPS_CATALOG. So whatever works from there.

[torvista]

When I implemented the code tested locally to my hosting I just regenerated the .htaccess code. Even now I have identical databases in use remotely and locally. The only change is the .htaccess file.

[mc12345678]

When I implemented the code tested locally to my hosting I just regenerated the .htaccess code. Even now I have identical databases in use remotely and locally. The only change is the .htaccess file.

My guess, and we'll have to wait for the OP to respond is that the local database is in a different subdirectory off of the local web server than the remote database. Ie, http://localhost/store2 as compared to http://www hostname com instead of http//localhost with the same remote. By having a different subdirectory for the local site as compared to the remote site, the CEON URI's won't match and therefore not work properly when transferred.

Sound correct?

[DivaVocals]

My guess, and we'll have to wait for the OP to respond is that the local database is in a different subdirectory off of the local web server than the remote database. Ie, http://localhost/store2 as compared to http://www hostname com instead of http//localhost with the same remote. By having a different subdirectory for the local site as compared to the remote site, the CEON URI's won't match and therefore not work properly when transferred.

Sound correct?

No.. I agree with Torvista.. The issue is likely that he is using the SAME .htaccess file for his local and live versions.. and honestly he needs to post a WHOLE LOT MORE DETAIL than saying "When I did a test of moving the site to the hosting server all of my links no longer work" (which tells us NOTHING) to know exactly what the problem is..

[mc12345678]

No.. I agree with Torvista.. The issue is likely that he is using the SAME .htaccess file for his local and live versions.. and honestly he needs to post a WHOLE LOT MORE DETAIL than saying "When I did a test of moving the site to the hosting server all of my links no longer work" (which tells us NOTHING) to know exactly what the problem is..

Sigh, so, yes OP's input is needed. Regarding my statement, I have the following supporting information that the problem could be related to the difference of sub directories off of the local server as compared to the remote server. It could be that I have things setup incorrectly, but here goes with what I have seen.
My active cart is installed iin a subdirectory of our host.
The configure.php's each identiify the server variable as only the server name (not the server name/subdirectory) as described and explained in the files as well as on this site.
Per the instructions of the htaccess generator of the plugin, the htaccess file is placed in the stores root (not in the stores directry)
Autogenerated URIs are created that include the subdirectory as the first part of the path to the new URI.
A subdomain assignment was not used because we have not paid for a separate SSL certificate (non-profit organization)
Our host though, even though we don't have our own SSL certificate, provides SSL communication via a rearrangement of the host name allowing all subdirectories to remain the same following the host name. So the configure.php's need nothing special other than the different host name for SSL communication.
At a point in time after using this plugin and assigning URIs, the subfolder was changed. This resulted in the redirection URIs attempting to go to the old directory until they were updated to reflect the current subdirectory.
Hence if the subdirectory in which the URIs are originally assigned is changed, then the URIs will not properly follow.
So that is why I stated that if the local server does not mirror the destination server, the generated URIs when transferred will not properly follow.
Now, if there is an htaccess trick to modify that or work around the differences of the subdirectories, I know I would appreciate it. :)

[mc12345678]

Sigh, so, yes OP's input is needed. Regarding my statement, I have the following supporting information that the problem could be related to the difference of sub directories off of the local server as compared to the remote server. It could be that I have things setup incorrectly, but here goes with what I have seen.
My active cart is installed iin a subdirectory of our host.
The configure.php's each identiify the server variable as only the server name (not the server name/subdirectory) as described and explained in the files as well as on this site.
Per the instructions of the htaccess generator of the plugin, the htaccess file is placed in the stores root (not in the stores directry)
Autogenerated URIs are created that include the subdirectory as the first part of the path to the new URI.
A subdomain assignment was not used because we have not paid for a separate SSL certificate (non-profit organization)
Our host though, even though we don't have our own SSL certificate, provides SSL communication via a rearrangement of the host name allowing all subdirectories to remain the same following the host name. So the configure.php's need nothing special other than the different host name for SSL communication.
At a point in time after using this plugin and assigning URIs, the subfolder was changed. This resulted in the redirection URIs attempting to go to the old directory until they were updated to reflect the current subdirectory.
Hence if the subdirectory in which the URIs are originally assigned is changed, then the URIs will not properly follow.
So that is why I stated that if the local server does not mirror the destination server, the generated URIs when transferred will not properly follow.
Now, if there is an htaccess trick to modify that or work around the differences of the subdirectories, I know I would appreciate it. :)

Okay, so I've been thinking about this a little further, one thought that came to mind is that prior to the htaccess code to work with this plugin, it could be possible to redirect the old folder to the new folder and not require changes to the database, but that seems sloppy. I'm also not sure how the URIs will look after that/as a result. I can't remember if I tried that route when it had happened.

[palafirst]

First of all THANKS to everyone for your thoughts, ideas and work on this issue. I think Torvista and mc12345678 may be right and that it has to do with the fact that the name of the directory where the site is sitting on the web server is different. I'm going to do a test to check if creating the site in a directory of the same name will make a difference. Honestly the problems (mostly due to my own lack of knowledge) have made me nervous about the process of moving the site and we're going to avoid the possible pain and do an end around.

Fortunately, we haven't started inputting products so all the discussion has made me reconsider finishing the site locally (AMPPS)...and have decided to go ahead and take the designed site...upload it to the web server and do the product input online. Part of the decision was based on the fact that we don't want to take the chance with complex solutions (ie Db changes, etc.) the other is that in the Ceon URI documentation they have the following:

If the site has existing Categories/Products/Manufacturers/EZ-Pages, they'll continue to use the standard Zen Cart dynamic URIs, until a URI has been entered or auto-generated for them, by editing the respective Category/Product/Manufacturer/EZ-Page in the admin.
This means going in and editing every Category/Product/Manufacturer/EZ-Page for which a static URI mapping is desired.
This gives you full control over all of the site's URIs, one of the main points of this module.

Since it sounds like the module is made to keep the old page address we just don't want to mess with it at the point because we want to have the site up and running soon. On the other hand I'm definitely interested in exploring this issue because I want to continue developing Zen Cart sites locally and if there is a easily replicable way of solving this problem I would like to do it.

I'll do some experimentation with creating the site in a directory with the same name as the local version...and with playing with the .htaccess file. I'll update the thread with my progress.

Thanks!