Google indexing pages with a strange URL

Hopefully someone can help shed light on this issue. I recently began setting up local landing pages on my Zencart v1.5 website. The URL of one of the landing pages is, for example:

http://dialgift.com/new_haven_ct_06511

However, Google has indexed the page as:

http://www.dialgift.com/index.php?main_page=new_haven_ct_06511

This is disadvantageous. I'd like the pages to be indexed by their standard URL. I had a Zen Cart pro, who has helped with many aspects of the site, generate the landing pages with the proper URLS (I am filling them in with content). Unfortunately, I've lost contact with him and can't get his opinion on the issue. I'm guessing he used some special software to help create all of the pages, but I really can't be sure of his techniques.

Any help or insight is greatly appreciated, and I'll be glad to provide any info that would be beneficial. Thanks-

Josh

Your canonical link for that page is the "standard" URL for Zen Cart (/index.php?main_page=new_haven_ct_06511). Search Engines will typically use the URL you provide in the canonical link as the "display URL" in search results.

As your URLs are not the "standard" URLs for Zen Cart, it appears you have installed an alternative URL add-on. If the "guesses" below do not help you change the canonical link, it would be beneficial to tell us which one you have installed (and the version).

Most likely one of the following is why the canonical link contains the "standard" URL instead of your alternative URL:

1. The alternative URL add-on is not configured to rewrite / generate alternative URLs for the page "new_haven_ct_06511" (95% of the time this is the cause).
2. The "/includes/init_includes/overrides/init_canonical.php" file included with your alternative URL add-on or something was missed when installing the add-on (10% of the time this is the cause).
3. The alternative URL add-on is out of date or unsupported under Zen Cart 1.5.1 (5% of the time this is the cause).

I understand you had someone else originally add the pages (and possibly install / setup your website). You can find most of the options for alternative URL add-ons in the Zen Cart administrative interface. In Zen Cart 1.5.1 the value for "main_page" in the URL usually refers to the Zen Cart "page" to display.

I've tweaked a few things but won't be able to tell whether they were effective until Google indexes some more pages. For now, let me say thanks VERY much for the suggestions. Hopefully that's all I need and it won't get more complicated! Much appreciated.

JoshAaron:

I've tweaked a few things but won't be able to tell whether they were effective until Google indexes some more pages. For now, let me say thanks VERY much for the suggestions. Hopefully that's all I need and it won't get more complicated! Much appreciated.
Still seeing the "standard" URL in the canonical for that page:

<link rel="canonical" href="http://www.dialgift.com/index.php?main_page=new_haven_ct_06511" />

To check yourself, you can look at the "source" using your web browser and search for "canonical". Alternatively FireBug provides a good interface for inspecting the website as well.

Ya, it looks like your URL-rewriter isn't working correctly.