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

OK, marton_1 and carlwhat, I have done as you suggested:

First, I level set my Z-C. I removed all plugin files (I searched my entire Z-C for all "seo" and "usu" filenames and blew them out.) and by ensuring I had no trace of the plugin .htaccess rules in my live .htaccess. (had backed it up, before editing it)

I placed the plugin .htaccess rewrites at the end of my live .htaccess file.

I tested the site -- all worked without a hitch. Thus, marton_1's suggestion worked.

I then copied all plugin files to their appropriate folders. Retested site, all still fine (as expected, but providing full detail)

I then set Plugin debug log = true and enable alternate urls = true.

Again, testing site, I find all is fine. It continues to operate as before installation and activation.

However, I am seeing no difference in URLs. Its the same category and product format as before, i.e.

https://australianbakerycafe.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=65

or

https://australianbakerycafe.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=180

Carlwhat - direct entry of https://australianbakerycafe.com/pie-p-185 DOES, in fact, render the product, that the URL by way of site navigation to Steak and Onion Pie does,

https://australianbakerycafe.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=185

But the . . . /pie-p-185 URL doesn't show up on my site. So I don't know how you came up with that URL for that pie.

In summary, the plugin is installed, .htaccess merged, activated, and my site is working fine (:clap:). But I do not see it rewriting any URLs.

http:\australianbakery.com\Screenshot_20210217_143753.jpeg

Sounds good so far.

Did you check the logs?

Dh-oh, I meant to post one of those messages, too. Nothing extraordinary there. Yeah, good so far, in that my site is running fine, but I don't see what the plugin is doing for me.

=====> URL Generation Log Started, for page: /<admin_directory>/configuration.php?gID=43&cID=1477&action=edit.

Request sent to href_link('index', '', 'NONSSL', true, true, false, true)
Generated URL: https://australianbakerycafe.com/

Request sent to href_link('index', '', 'NONSSL', true, true, false, true)
Generated URL: https://australianbakerycafe.com/

greg_beyer:

Carlwhat - direct entry of https://australianbakerycafe.com/pie-p-185 DOES, in fact, render the product, that the URL by way of site navigation to Steak and Onion Pie does,

https://australianbakerycafe.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=185

But the . . . /pie-p-185 URL doesn't show up on my site. So I don't know how you came up with that URL for that pie.
i've been doing it longer than you? :P

In summary, the plugin is installed, .htaccess merged, activated, and my site is working fine (:clap:). But I do not see it rewriting any URLs.

http:\australianbakery.com\Screenshot_20210217_143753.jpeg

we need to see how you have it configured now. your screenshot has the wrong permissions on the file. when i go to that link:

Shot of plugin config. All is default except I turned on debug log and activated.

greg_beyer:

Shot of plugin config. All is default except I turned on debug log and activated.

Same as mine, wot works.

Scritching my head mightily why its not working for me. What does your log usu-admin log look like?

Nothing untoward shows in my log:

=====> URL Generation Log Started, for page: /<admin_directory>/configuration.php?gID=43.

Request sent to href_link('index', '', 'NONSSL', true, true, false, true)
Generated URL: https://australianbakerycafe.com/

Request sent to href_link('index', '', 'NONSSL', true, true, false, true)
Generated URL: https://australianbakerycafe.com/

greg_beyer:

Scritching my head mightily why its not working for me. What does your log usu-admin log look like?

Nothing untoward shows in my log:

=====> URL Generation Log Started, for page: /<admin_directory>/configuration.php?gID=43.

Request sent to href_link('index', '', 'NONSSL', true, true, false, true)
Generated URL: https://australianbakerycafe.com/

Request sent to href_link('index', '', 'NONSSL', true, true, false, true)
Generated URL: https://australianbakerycafe.com/

greg,
i have not looked at usu logs in a bit...

that said, i do not think we want to look at:

usu-admin-2021....

the logs we want to look at are:

usu-202102....

the admin side generates few links (i think...), but when we got to your store home, it should be generating various urls. for example, here is some of the log from a test site of mine:

Params from $_GET: cPath=62
=====> URL Generation Log Started, for page: /burgundy-red-wine-aoc-62.

Request sent to href_link('index', 'cPath=62', 'SSL', false, true, false, true)
Parsing Parameters for index
array (
  0 => 'cPath=62',
)
Generated URL: https://la155.com/burgundy-red-wine-aoc-62
NO REDIRECT: Alternative URI matched the requested URI.

Request sent to href_link('index', 'cPath=62&', 'SSL', false, true, false, true)
Parsing Parameters for index
array (
  0 => 'cPath=62',
)
Generated URL: https://la155.com/burgundy-red-wine-aoc-62

Request sent to href_link('index', '', 'NONSSL', true, true, false, true)
Generated URL: https://la155.com/

Request sent to href_link('index', 'cPath=62', 'NONSSL', true, true, false, true)
Parsing Parameters for index
array (
  0 => 'cPath=62',
)
Generated URL: https://la155.com/burgundy-red-wine-aoc-62

Request sent to href_link('login', '', 'SSL', true, true, false, true)
Generated URL: https://la155.com/login

Request sent to href_link('index', '', 'NONSSL', true, true, false, true)
Generated URL: https://la155.com/

lets look at stuff that has something like:

Request sent to href_link('index', 'cPath=62&', 'SSL', false, true, false, true)

that is a category link.

not real sure what is going on; but having the .htaccess resolved lets us get focused on the usu or link generation part of it.

once we figure this out, i need some steak, bacon and cheese pies sent my way! (:P kidding....)

best.

Thanks Carl,

carlwhat:

greg,
i have not looked at usu logs in a bit...

that said, i do not think we want to look at:

usu-admin-2021....

the logs we want to look at are:

usu-202102....

1. First, usu-adm vs usu- To clarify, I mistyped "usu-admin" I meant "usu-adm"

All I HAVE is usu-adm-YYYYmmmdd-<timestamp>.log files. Note that this is the format described in the plugin debug logging config: (usu-{adm-}yyyymmmdd-hhmmss.log)

I do not have any usu-YYYYmmmdd.....log files. You, OTOH, apparently have usu-YYYYmmmdd . . . . log files. I wonder if this is a significant clue to what's wrong?

2. What you show me in your log is very interesting and revealing! Yours show an actual product rewrite occurring (Burgundy red). Your log is much "busier". In contrast, my logs only ever show the root of the website, which, BTW, there's no difference between the two lines:

   Request sent to href_link('index', '', 'NONSSL', true, true, false, true)
   Generated URL: https://australianbakerycafe.com/

Request sent to href_link('index', '', 'NONSSL', true, true, false, true)
Generated URL: https://australianbakerycafe.com/

I can browse around all my categories and products, but nothing else shows up in my debug logs. In fact NO debug logs are generated unless I browse around in my Admin. :huh:

greg_beyer:

All I HAVE is usu-adm-YYYYmmmdd-<timestamp>.log files. Note that this is the format described in the plugin debug logging config: (usu-{adm-}yyyymmmdd-hhmmss.log)

I do not have any usu-YYYYmmmdd.....log files. You, OTOH, apparently have usu-YYYYmmmdd . . . . log files. I wonder if this is a significant clue to what's wrong?
greg,
i want my pies! :P

the adm part of the log name is optional and would indicate URLs generated from the admin side of your site.

with regards to the fact that you have no log files without the adm in the name, yes it is clue.... yes a significant one at that!

i think you did not install the storefront includes portion of the plugin... my guess!

does this file exist:

/YOUR_STORE_ROOT/includes/auto_loaders/config.usu.php

there are 2 directories to copy; one for the admin and one for the store front.

re-read the installation directions and ensure that you did it all and you did it properly. i think that is where the problem lies.

best.

Sorry to disappoint you, Carl

Yes, that file exists. As do all 11 usu and seo files which should be in the /includes tree.

After I started over, doing a complete fresh install of the plugin I methodically ftp'd directory-by-directory all files into their respective directories. BTW, by fresh install, I mean install of THIS version of the plugin -- I did not have an earlier version.

You gotta work harder for your pies than that, mate! :D

In the readme of the plugin there is a Plugin File List. It shows only 5 files in the /includes tree and 11 in the /admin tree, see below. However, having done a search of those two hierarchies in the the .zip file, I find 11 and 21 respectively. It seems the readme needs to be updated.

.htaccess
/includes/auto_loaders/config.usu.php
/includes/classes/usu.php
/includes/classes/observers/UsuObserver.php
/includes/extra_datafiles/usu.php
/includes/init_includes/init_usu.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/usu_uninstall.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/auto_loaders/config.usu.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/classes/observers/UsuAdminObserver.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/extra_datafiles/usu.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/functions/extra_functions/usu.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/init_includes/init_usu_admin.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/init_includes/init_usu_admin_install.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/init_includes/init_usu_admin_update.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/init_includes/init_usu_admin_update_from_ultimate_seo.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/languages/english/usu_configuration.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/languages/english/usu_uninstall.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/usu.php

greg_beyer:

In the readme of the plugin there is a Plugin File List. It shows only 5 files in the /includes tree and 11 in the /admin tree, see below. However, having done a search of those two hierarchies in the the .zip file, I find 11 and 21 respectively. It seems the readme needs to be updated.

.htaccess
/includes/auto_loaders/config.usu.php
/includes/classes/usu.php
/includes/classes/observers/UsuObserver.php
/includes/extra_datafiles/usu.php
/includes/init_includes/init_usu.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/usu_uninstall.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/auto_loaders/config.usu.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/classes/observers/UsuAdminObserver.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/extra_datafiles/usu.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/functions/extra_functions/usu.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/init_includes/init_usu_admin.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/init_includes/init_usu_admin_install.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/init_includes/init_usu_admin_update.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/init_includes/init_usu_admin_update_from_ultimate_seo.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/languages/english/usu_configuration.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/languages/english/usu_uninstall.php
/YOUR_ADMIN/includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/usu.php

The readme doesn't track the 'overwrite' files for older versions of USU and its SEO versions.

You can use your admin's Tools :: Developer's Toolkit to see that the database constant USU_ENABLED is, in fact, not set to false.

Make sure, too, that your site's /includes/functions/html_output.php's zen_href_link function includes the highlighted notification:

/*
 * The HTML href link wrapper function
 */
  function zen_href_link($page = '', $parameters = '', $connection = 'NONSSL', $add_session_id = true, $search_engine_safe = true, $static = false, $use_dir_ws_catalog = true) {
    global $request_type, $session_started, $http_domain, $https_domain, $zco_notifier;
    $link = null;
    [B]$zco_notifier->notify('NOTIFY_SEFU_INTERCEPT', array(), $link, $page, $parameters, $connection, $add_session_id, $static, $use_dir_ws_catalog);
    if($link !== null) return $link;[/B]

Without that notification, USU won't be 'in play'.

Hi Lat!

1. I searched USU_ENABLED, found 5 hits, this being the only one mentioning 'false'

   /OBFUSCATE/OBFUSCATE/public_html/includes/classes/usu.php

   Line # 139 : if (!defined('USU_ENABLED') || USU_ENABLED == 'false') {

2. Missing from /includes/functions/html_output.php, so added where you indicated.

$zco_notifier->notify('NOTIFY_SEFU_INTERCEPT', array(), $link, $page, $parameters, $connection, $add_session_id, $static, $use_dir_ws_catalog);
if($link !== null) return $link;

Website went down. Nothing loads. Changes 'false' above to 'true' in usu.php. Refreshed browser -- site still down.

Reverted to 'false' and removed notification code. Site is restored to normal operation.

My zen_href_link function is different from yours, see below:

Mine

function zen_href_link($page = '', $parameters = '', $connection = 'NONSSL', $add_session_id = true, $search_engine_safe = true, $static = false, $use_dir_ws_catalog = true) {
global $request_type, $session_started, $http_domain, $https_domain;

Yours
function zen_href_link($page = '', $parameters = '', $connection = 'NONSSL', $add_session_id = true, $search_engine_safe = true, $static = false, $use_dir_ws_catalog = true) {
global $request_type, $session_started, $http_domain, $https_domain,** $zco_notifier;**

re-inserted

$zco_notifier->notify('NOTIFY_SEFU_INTERCEPT', array(), $link, $page, $parameters, $connection, $add_session_id, $static, $use_dir_ws_catalog);
if($link !== null) return $link;

AND added $zco_notifier to end of function. Refreshed browser - site's still up AND, URLS are being re-written! :clap:

Running thru all my categories, and some of my products (we have hundreds) and URLs are looking pretty good. I hate to quibble after all the progress made. Thanks so much, guys!

But . . .

My categories look like so:

https://australianbakerycafe.com/pies-sausage-rolls-c-65/

and my products look like so:

https://australianbakerycafe.com/pies-sausage-rolls-c-65/steak-cheese-onion-pie-4pk-p-186.html

Is there any way to clean this up, eliminating category number and product number, thusly?

https://australianbakerycafe.com/pies-sausage-rolls/

https://australianbakerycafe.com/pies-sausage-rolls/steak-cheese-onion-pie-4pk.html

Hang on -- PCRE rules . . mentions regex....maybe I can do a regex replace of -c-## and -p-### ???

greg_beyer:

...You gotta work harder for your pies than that, mate! :D

oh, oh, oh.... i see how it is... running v1.5.5e.... hmm.....

https://github.com/zencart/zencart/blob/c31871ba8eda38504fe8332c67a176071f5a166f/includes/functions/html_output.php#L17

that notifier is been there for 6 years.... hmmm... wonder who did your upgrade? :p

greg_beyer:

re-inserted

$zco_notifier->notify('NOTIFY_SEFU_INTERCEPT', array(), $link, $page, $parameters, $connection, $add_session_id, $static, $use_dir_ws_catalog);
if($link !== null) return $link;

AND added $zco_notifier to end of function. Refreshed browser - site's still up AND, URLS are being re-written! :clap:

Running thru all my categories, and some of my products (we have hundreds) and URLs are looking pretty good. I hate to quibble after all the progress made. Thanks so much, guys!

But . . .

My categories look like so:

https://australianbakerycafe.com/pies-sausage-rolls-c-65/

and my products look like so:

https://australianbakerycafe.com/pies-sausage-rolls-c-65/steak-cheese-onion-pie-4pk-p-186.html

Is there any way to clean this up, eliminating category number and product number, thusly?

https://australianbakerycafe.com/pies-sausage-rolls/

https://australianbakerycafe.com/pies-sausage-rolls/steak-cheese-onion-pie-4pk.html

glad you got it working!

with regards to your question on elimination of product and/or category numbers, in a word no.

it would require a rewrite to the point that it would be a whole new plugin. probably a new database table.... but not part of this plugin.

best.
ps #gluten4punishment

carlwhat:

oh, oh, oh.... i see how it is... running v1.5.5e.... hmm.....

https://github.com/zencart/zencart/blob/c31871ba8eda38504fe8332c67a176071f5a166f/includes/functions/html_output.php#L17

that notifier is been there for 6 years.... hmmm... wonder who did your upgrade? :p

glad you got it working!

with regards to your question on elimination of product and/or category numbers, in a word no.

it would require a rewrite to the point that it would be a whole new plugin. probably a new database table.... but not part of this plugin.

best.
ps #gluten4punishment
Just to add emphasis to @carlwhat's statement. Rather than relying on additional database tables to map those "pretty" URLs to their respective homes, that cryptic -c-, -p- and (for EZ-pages) -e- designation identifies the associated 'id' to use to find the page requested. Remove those and USU won't be able to do its thing.

Thanks Carl and Lat for the guidance on the -c- and -p-. I'm very happy with the improvement in human (and crawler ) meaningful URLs. Now I need to get goog and others to re-index my new URLs.

I do know I need to upgrade my site and php version. Just got to pick the right Z-C responsive template from the ones offered here. Ain't gonna make the TemplateMonster mistake again!

best to both of you,

Greg

Wondering if anyone can help.

I've been using this add-onn for as long as I can remember & never had an issue.

Last year after a long migration process we upgraded from a fairly old version of ZC to the then current 1.5.6c. Everything went fine with the upgrade and the site has been working well. This last month Google has started highlighting redirect loop errors for deleted products. After having a dig through the settings, it would appear that if I enable automatic rewrites in utlimate URLS & then try to visit the url for a now deleted product, it will fire a redirect loop in firefox. This confirms the behaviour I'm seeing in search console.

if I disable automatic rewrites, the "sorry, product not found" page will show and after a 302 redirect will show a 404 header.

I've used the automatic redirects in ultimate urls for years & never noticed a problem, but for some reason it is now not playing ball. I don't know where to start. My .htaccess is the same as when it did work on the older version of Zen Cart. I've compared the two and all ultimate URLS rewrites are present & correct. For now I've disabled automatic rewrites & will let google uses the canonical/nofollows generated by zen cart. The changes include the newer version of ZC & now running on php 7.3.27

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I tried uninstaling ultimate URLS completely & have freshly installed version 3.0.8 from numinix website. Still can't get it to work as expected. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, John.