Ceon URI Mapping (SEO)

Hi,

miamishop1:

My appology because it was a very simple and somehow stupid mistake of my side! My error was that for htaccess page I did not had included the . in front of the htaccess! That's why it wasn't reconizing it!

That of course makes sense. Glad you've got it sorted now.

miamishop1:

1. all pages that go inside of the information box that in my case includes: about us, shipping, returns, privacy, conditions, contact, sitemap, unsubscribe, discounts and coupons, newsletter, gift certificates. All of these, I have them inside of the information box and not part of the EZ-Pages.
   This is an example of how about_us shows: index.php?main_page=about_us. Please tell me if that's the right way to show instead of: domain.com/about_us?

Yes, these URIs are not mapped automatically. You can map them yourself by entering mappings directly into the database.

Please read the section in the documentation "Specifying the current URI Mapping for any other Zen Cart page" and follow the first part of that.

E.g. your uri is /about_us and the main_page is about_us and the rest of the values are as outlined in the instructions.

miamishop1:

2. Other pages that show like about us example include: New products: index.php?main_page=products_new (not sure if that's the way that's the way it should look here) and featured products: index.php?main_page=featured_products

These URIs can be mapped using the same procedure as above.

miamishop1:

3. I installed the addon Wordpress on Zencart (WOZ). Now, this addon on the admin configuration side stays the following:

Sorry, the custom modifications distributed with that addon are not supported by Ceon.

Eventually I intend to look at that contribution with a view to fixing it but unfortunately I don't have the time at the minute. I'd suggest not using it but using another Wordpress module instead. DivaVocals on the forum has another one I think, which works.

miamishop1:

4. I have written the 404 rule in the htaccess as: ErrorDocument 404 index.php?main_page=page_not_found . It works, just want to ensure that's the proper way to write it.

I'm not a rewrite expert but that looks alright to me.

miamishop1:

Will the below rule be enough and still compatible with the CEON URI MAPPING addon?

Sorry, I don't know if it will be enough. It certainly won't conflict with the URI Mapping rule though.

You'll have to ask someone who knows more about rewrite rules about this. Unfortunately that's not appropriate for this thread, so please search the forum or start another one.

miamishop1:

How do we apply this rewrite rule once we have applied the CEON URI MAPPING (SEO) addon?

Sorry, again, this thread is not the place to ask for advice on custom rewrite rules, please search the forum/start a new thread.

The software does allow you to enter "historical URIs" to be mapped to "current URIs", by manually adding records to the database with current_uri set to 0 instead of 1.. it should be easy enough to work out what other parameters you need to set to have the "old" URI map to the correct Zen Cart page.

Hope all the above helps!

All the best...

Conor
ceon

Hi,

miamishop1:

Ensure you have installed all files from the folder files, modified_core_files and template_override_files... read once again the installation instructions on docs.

Yes, that's right Raptors, please do as Loyd says, restart the installation from the beginning.. you've missed something.

miamishop1:

I have products that have the same name and sometimes the same description, except that have different color and different style number. Is there a possibility to make the rewrite something like this: category-name/product-name-p-2 (where p stands for product and 2 stands for the product number based on category) or something similar to this string and simple?

Sorry, one proviso of current versions of the module is that, to use autogeneration, you MUST rename any products which are in the same category which have the same name, so that they have UNIQUE names. You'll break the products otherwise and no-one will be able to buy anything but the first of the products which have the same name in a category.

If there's a difference between each product, such as colour or style number, make this part of the product's name.. it will make the URI more meaningful as well as avoid the problem of several products trying to use the same URI.

The only other option is to go as far as the "preview" stage of updating a product, then to copy the test of the autogenerated URI preview, press "back" and paste the URI into the text box. You'd then manually add your differentiating text to the URI (e.g. adding "2" after one, then "3" after the next etc.).

All the best..

Conor
ceon

Hello Conor,

Thank you for your answers! I appreciate it.

YOU REPLIED

Yes, these URIs are not mapped automatically. You can map them yourself by entering mappings directly into the database.
Please read the section in the documentation "Specifying the current URI Mapping for any other Zen Cart page" and follow the first part of that.
E.g. your uri is /about_us and the main_page is about_us and the rest of the values are as outlined in the instructions.

MY REPLY: While I noticed it does talk about it, since it doesn't give an actual example, it appears to be harder for me to implement. But I will give it a try and see if I can make these pages from the phpmyadmin tool. I know how to run sql commands on the tool, just that since I do not have an example of the command to run, makes it a little bit harder. Just an example could have made it easier.

YOU REPLIED:

Sorry, the custom modifications distributed with that addon are not supported by Ceon.

Eventually I intend to look at that contribution with a view to fixing it but unfortunately I don't have the time at the minute. I'd suggest not using it but using another Wordpress module instead. DivaVocals on the forum has another one I think, which works.

MY REPLY:
This addon actual does support Ceon, but the issue is that when you follow the instructions in adding the code given by WOZ for /includes/init_includes/init_ceon_uri_mapping.php you get a blank page. Since it is your page the one being customized and not one from the addon, I thought you were the right person to ask the question to. Anywhere I add it, it appears to get a blank page after it. So, I guess I'm adding it on the wrong spot.

As for the 404 rule, it's working for me ;) I ask you the question because I thought you might be good on htaccess rules.

YOU REPLIED:

Sorry, again, this thread is not the place to ask for advice on custom rewrite rules, please search the forum/start a new thread.

The software does allow you to enter "historical URIs" to be mapped to "current URIs", by manually adding records to the database with current_uri set to 0 instead of 1.. it should be easy enough to work out what other parameters you need to set to have the "old" URI map to the correct Zen Cart page.

MY REPLY:

Can you give me an example code (not how to do it, but a code example) to query on the database for "historical URIs"?
I will also post a new thread. I know there is a way to do it using htaccess, but I don't know the right way of the rule rewritte

Thanks

Loyd

Once again, thank you for answering my questions Conor!

YOU REPLIED:
Sorry, one proviso of current versions of the module is that, to use autogeneration, you MUST rename any products which are in the same category which have the same name, so that they have UNIQUE names. You'll break the products otherwise and no-one will be able to buy anything but the first of the products which have the same name in a category.

If there's a difference between each product, such as colour or style number, make this part of the product's name.. it will make the URI more meaningful as well as avoid the problem of several products trying to use the same URI.

The only other option is to go as far as the "preview" stage of updating a product, then to copy the test of the autogenerated URI preview, press "back" and paste the URI into the text box. You'd then manually add your differentiating text to the URI (e.g. adding "2" after one, then "3" after the next etc.).

MY REPLY:
I guess I will have to manually add the model number so that it makes it a different page.
If I'm not mistaken, I believe browsing this forum I noticed someone who is using Ceon URI Mapping does have a way to this where it adds an id to the end of the title. Just can't find her to ask her how she achieved it. If I cannot find her, I will go with the model number at the end of each auto-generated title.

Thanks once again for answering these questions,

Loyd

Hi Loyd,

miamishop1:

Thank you for your answers! I appreciate it.

No problem. I hope you don't mind that some I simply can't give a detailed response to as I have very limited time.

miamishop1:

E.g. your uri is /about_us and the main_page is about_us and the rest of the values are as outlined in the instructions.

MY REPLY: While I noticed it does talk about it, since it doesn't give an actual example, it appears to be harder for me to implement. But I will give it a try and see if I can make these pages from the phpmyadmin tool. I know how to run sql commands on the tool, just that since I do not have an example of the command to run, makes it a little bit harder. Just an example could have made it easier.

You don't create SQL commands. You use the "Insert" functionality of PHPMyAdmin and simply fill in the form for a row.. using that, the information I've given you should make easy indeed, just put in the values I gave an example off, along with the "standard values" the documentation talks about (date_added set to NOW() etc.).

Certainly it wouldn't have helped with a SQL command, that's far more complex! :)

miamishop1:

This addon actual does support Ceon, but the issue is that when you follow the instructions in adding the code given by WOZ for /includes/init_includes/init_ceon_uri_mapping.php you get a blank page. Since it is your page the one being customized and not one from the addon, I thought you were the right person to ask the question to. Anywhere I add it, it appears to get a blank page after it. So, I guess I'm adding it on the wrong spot.

I'm afraid I've no idea.

miamishop1:

As for the 404 rule, it's working for me ;) I ask you the question because I thought you might be good on htaccess rules.

No problem.. as I said, it looks alright to me, but yes, I'm not an expert in this field! ;)

miamishop1:

Can you give me an example code (not how to do it, but a code example) to query on the database for "historical URIs"?

Same as above, you don't use code, but the "Insert" functionality of PHPMyAdmin.

Hope that helps!

All the best..

Conor
ceon

Thanks once again Conor!

I was able to figure out that if I were to query the db the code to use is:
INSERT INTO zen_ceon_uri_mappings (uri, language_id, current_uri, main_page, query_string_parameters, associated_db_id, alternate_uri,redirection_type_code, date_added) VALUES

follow by the values to insert...

QUESTION1 (most important):
Using the Insert or the query command, do I still need to associate the uri I'm entering with 'associated_db_id' for contact_us, about_us, shippinginfo and so forth? If not, I leave the value as empty? If I do need to enter an associated_db_id for them, how do I find the right one because if I do a search for value on contact_us, I get a few values...

QUESTION2 (very imporant):
For the about_us, contact_us, shippinginfo, and so on pages, for 'main_page' value, do we need to enter: index for value or for example: CONTACT-US main_page value would be:contact_us and so forth as anyone could see just pointing the cursor to the link and seeing the browser footer link it gives where index.php?main_page=value?

QUESTION2:
What is 'alternate_uri' for?

QUESTION3:
When using the Insert tool, do I need to enter the Null Values or just leave it blank and it automatically fill it with NULL value? I'm not familiar with the insert tool. I always used a query command...

Sorry for keep asking questions about it. I just want to use your addon and I need to have these solved so it could work for me. I'm pretty sure that this thread will help others having similar problem until a new version help handdling the current and historic URI from admin.

Thank you once again Conor!

Loyd

Hi Loyd,

miamishop1:

I was able to figure out that if I were to query the db the code to use is:

Why are you using a SQL statement when I said that using the Insert function is easier?

It won't have taken you more than a few minutes to learn how to use the Insert function, but instead I have to answer more questions, taking up more of my time.

I appreciate your nice comments about the module but you are making things harder for me by not trying things out yourself but relying on me to answer questions first. That's a little unfair on me.

miamishop1:

Using the Insert or the query command, do I still need to associate the uri I'm entering with 'associated_db_id' for contact_us, about_us, shippinginfo and so forth? If not, I leave the value as empty?

As the documentation clearly says, you make the associated_db_id field NULL.

When using the Insert function this means leaving the box "Null" ticked.

A quick test or research into the PHPMyAdmin tool would have helped you work that out or showed you that's how it works.

miamishop1:

For the about_us, contact_us, shippinginfo, and so on pages, for 'main_page' value, do we need to enter: index for value or for example: CONTACT-US main_page value would be:contact_us and so forth as anyone could see just pointing the cursor to the link and seeing the browser footer link it gives where index.php?main_page=value?

Yes, for the main_page field you use the Zen Cart main page name, e.g.:

about_us

or

contact_us

miamishop1:

Sorry for keep asking questions about it. I just want to use your addon and I need to have these solved so it could work for me. I'm pretty sure that this thread will help others having similar problem until a new version help handdling the current and historic URI from admin.

You're the first person I know of to attempt to enter the data using SQL instead of learning the PHPMyAdmin Insert function so I doubt many will ever need to know this information (and for those who know SQL it's easy enough to see from the database structure). I appreciate you are trying but it would be better if for future work on Zen Cart you tried to listen to what the developer was saying to you a bit more, both in the documentation and on the forum.

Hopefully you've enough information now to get what you need done.

All the best..

Conor
ceon

miamishop1:

Thanks once again Conor!

I was able to figure out that if I were to query the db the code to use is:
INSERT INTO zen_ceon_uri_mappings (uri, language_id, current_uri, main_page, query_string_parameters, associated_db_id, alternate_uri,redirection_type_code, date_added) VALUES

follow by the values to insert...

QUESTION1 (most important):
Using the Insert or the query command, do I still need to associate the uri I'm entering with 'associated_db_id' for contact_us, about_us, shippinginfo and so forth? If not, I leave the value as empty? If I do need to enter an associated_db_id for them, how do I find the right one because if I do a search for value on contact_us, I get a few values...

QUESTION2 (very imporant):
For the about_us, contact_us, shippinginfo, and so on pages, for 'main_page' value, do we need to enter: index for value or for example: CONTACT-US main_page value would be:contact_us and so forth as anyone could see just pointing the cursor to the link and seeing the browser footer link it gives where index.php?main_page=value?

QUESTION2:
What is 'alternate_uri' for?

QUESTION3:
When using the Insert tool, do I need to enter the Null Values or just leave it blank and it automatically fill it with NULL value? I'm not familiar with the insert tool. I always used a query command...

Sorry for keep asking questions about it. I just want to use your addon and I need to have these solved so it could work for me. I'm pretty sure that this thread will help others having similar problem until a new version help handdling the current and historic URI from admin.

Thank you once again Conor!

Loyd

As Conor said you don't use SQL statement but you use the Insert function. Conor's instruction are very easy to follow if you follow them to the tee. I'm going to show you an image of what to inset into the fields. You have to do each link you want to change just like this. If you can not figure it out after this, you will need to pay someone to do it for you.
Here's the image link

Thanks Conor for your time and your hard work on explaining things with this module.:smartalec:

miamishop1:

YOU REPLIED:

Sorry, the custom modifications distributed with that addon are not supported by Ceon.

Eventually I intend to look at that contribution with a view to fixing it but unfortunately I don't have the time at the minute. I'd suggest not using it but using another Wordpress module instead. DivaVocals on the forum has another one I think, which works.

MY REPLY:
This addon actual does support Ceon, but the issue is that when you follow the instructions in adding the code given by WOZ for /includes/init_includes/init_ceon_uri_mapping.php you get a blank page. Since it is your page the one being customized and not one from the addon, I thought you were the right person to ask the question to. Anywhere I add it, it appears to get a blank page after it. So, I guess I'm adding it on the wrong spot.

As for the 404 rule, it's working for me ;) I ask you the question because I thought you might be good on htaccess rules.I don't want to get off topic for this thread.. So I'll say this and move on.. PLEASE post any responses to this post in the WOZ support thread. Since that is the correct place to ask questions about WOZ.

The code hacked into WOZ to "support" Conor's module is just that.. HACKS.. Instead of properly re-writing his module to work with URL re-writing and URI mods (like Ceon URI Mapping and SSU) the author of WOZ chose to write in a number of hacks to MAKE these mods "compatible", and as you found out they don't always work.. Conor cannot help you with this..

WOZ is now and has always been a poorly written, poorly supported module, and it needs a SERIOUS re-write. (and personally I hope Conor doesn't waste his time with WOZ..:clap:) Suggest using Numinix's Blog Embedding solution instead.. WORKS out the box, works with latest version of Zen Cart and requires no hacks to work with Conor's module..

Wish you luck... Again if you wish to respond to THIS post, please do so in the WOZ support thread as this whole line of discussion is NOT on topic for this support thread..

Conor,

Love the script. I now have it up and running on 1.3.9F.

I'm just wondering on how to do the mapping of each product page.

Do you have an opinion on which way to map each product page? I was thinking of going with cutting out the category in the url all together to shorten it up somewhat. Is there any disadvantages of doing such a thing?

Thanks!

choccybox:

Conor,

Love the script. I now have it up and running on 1.3.9F.

I'm just wondering on how to do the mapping of each product page.

Do you have an opinion on which way to map each product page? I was thinking of going with cutting out the category in the url all together to shorten it up somewhat. Is there any disadvantages of doing such a thing?

Thanks!

Hi, Conor will be able to fill you in on whether there is any issue in cutting out the category in the url, (Im thinking it might not work) but I thought id mention that having the category name in your url helps your search engine ranking. Google looks at the text on your page, the meta data, and the words comprising the url itself. For example:

Search: jam donuts

Google would show something like;

https://www.sweets.com/donuts/jam-donuts
Description: 6 flavors of jam donuts now available...

Finding the keywords in your url helps your overall 'score'

Since we installed Ceon, our results have improved greatly.

Hope this helps,

Scott.

Hi Scott,

Hope you're well!

Scott_C:

Hi, Conor will be able to fill you in on whether there is any issue in cutting out the category in the url, (Im thinking it might not work)

It'll work just fine, as long as each product's URI is unique. The software will not currently warn you if you try to set a product's URI to one which is already being used, it is up to the store owner to ensure uniqueness of URIs.

Scott_C:

but I thought id mention that having the category name in your url helps your search engine ranking. Google looks at the text on your page, the meta data, and the words comprising the url itself.

I agree with Scott. Although not the primary purpose behind the module, the autogenerated URIs do seem to have a positive effect on rankings by being structured as they are.

The primary purpose behind the module is that it's your choice though, it lets you set up your URIs whatever way you want! :)

All the best..

Conor
ceon

Hi Conor, im good thanks, but more importantly - how are you?

I hope you're getting plenty of rest and are not working too hard. :cool:

Thanks for letting me know Connor. I had kind of figured that everything would be ok if all urls were unique. The only thing I don't like about missing out the category is that it kind of makes the url structure unpleasant, but I was under the impression Google prefers 5 words or less in the url and some of mine go up to about 8-10 when I include cat and sub cat etc.

The final question I have is how do you delete old urls that the ceon mapping has made for a product, but which I have now changed? I notice that the old mappings are still viewable and they don't redirect.

Is there any way to delete them?

Thanks!

Hi,

I just got zen cart v1.3.9f and installed ceon Module Version: 3.6.3. But unfortunatelly it only convert url's to static links but pages don't display: i get "Oops! This link appears to be broken." page. Please see http://www.teaandmore.ca , e.g. http://www.teaandmore.ca/white-tea/pai-mu-tan
and click on any product image. Does ceon support zen cart v1.3.9f?
I have also instlled the following modules:

1. Categories Dressing
2. Column Divider Pro
3. Better Together
4. Column_Layout_Grid_For_Product_Listing
5. Define Pages Generator
6. Group Pricing (per Item)
7. Image Handler
8. FCK Editor
9. Admin Category / Product Images
10. Maximum Amount Allowed In Shopping Cart
11. Ultimate SEO URLs
12. ZEN Lightbox
13. Quick Updates
14. Search Log
15. Ad Manager

Any idea what might be the problem?

Hi, Ceon definetly works with 1.3.9f Im using it on two sites.

double-check the settings of your .htaccess file, and make sure each product is re-saved with the uri option checked.

and make sure you've installed ALL of the module files.. Often errors occur with incomplete installs..

Scott_C:

Hi, Ceon definetly works with 1.3.9f Im using it on two sites.

double-check the settings of your .htaccess file, and make sure each product is re-saved with the uri option checked.

Does anyone have the installation for the database? I know it does it automatically, but its not doing it after I completely removed it and tried to reinstall it.

I installed it on a new website I am working on, etc worked but when I would click on a category it would go to page not found, so i thought I did something wrong so I started from scratch. I unstalled all the files and search the database for "ceon" and removed it (found out I missed the folder "modified_core_files"). So I installed all the correct files and everything but when I went into Admin-> Module-> Ceon Mapping and saved it just said it was saved and didn't add anything to the database. I checked the database and nothing is in it. When I go to my website and click on a category now it just stays the normal zen-cart url. I belive its doing this because nothing is in the database... Does anyone have the sql for the installation that usually runs automatically so I can run it manually?

Hi,

monet60707:

I just got zen cart v1.3.9f and installed ceon Module Version: 3.6.3. Does ceon support zen cart v1.3.9f?

Yes, but it DOESN'T support mixing with other modules unless you know what you are doing and merge the code properly.

Did you just copy the files from the modified_core_files folder of the URI Mapping across or did you merge them? (I'm thinking and hoping you did merge them).

You haven't got a working .htaccess file set up.

This could be because you didn't follow the instructions properly to set one up, or could be because your .htaccess file is broken by whatever rule(s) you have for the Ultimate SEO module.

You cannot use Ultimate SEO and Ceon URI Mapping on the same site. You must remove one or the other.

Then you must make sure you have the .htaccess file configured for whichever module you choose to use.

That should get you sorted.

All the best..

Conor
ceon

Hi,

ryanb4614:

Does anyone have the sql for the installation that usually runs automatically so I can run it manually?

Don't do that, if you do you'll be using unsupported software.

You need to DROP the Ceon URI Mapping tables and follow the installation procedure again from the first step to the last. Everything should then install correctly and fresh new database tables should be created (You don't need to remove any files to start again, just overwrite/merge them as if you were doing a fresh install).

Hope that helps!

All the best..

Conor
ceon