Ok, I've been having issues with my website cheapsheetmusic dot com and I believe the problem may have to do with an old installation of simple-url. I tried it (unsuccessfully) and then removed it. I found a much better program (ceon url) and am trying to install it. They refer to an htaccess modification and I realized that the simple-url program may have modified my htaccess. Here it is:

BOF SSU

Options +FollowSymLinks -MultiViews
RewriteEngine On

Make sure to change "zencart" to the subfolder you install ZC. If you use root folder, change to: RewriteBase /

#RewriteBase /zencart/
RewriteBase /

Deny access from .htaccess

RewriteRule ^.htaccess$ - [F]

RewriteCond %{SCRIPT_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{SCRIPT_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.+) index.php/$1 [E=VAR1:$1,QSA,L,PT]

alternative rewrite rule, seem to work on GoDaddy hosts http://codeigniter.com/wiki/Godaddy_Installaton_Tips/

to use it, please make sure you comment out the rewrite rule above, then uncomment the line below

RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /index.php?$1 [L]

EOF SSU

BOTTOM LINE: I AM LOOKING TO MODIFY THIS FILE SO IT WORKS WITH CEON. HERE IS THE INFO FROM CEON:

Apache Webserver

The server appears to be using the Apache webserver.

The rule below should be placed in a .htaccess file or the VirtualHost Directive for the site (although in this case the rule will have to modified slightly).
If using a .htaccess file

If placing the rule in a .htaccess file, the .htaccess file into which it should be placed is the site root's .htaccess file, which is:

cheapsheetmusic.DOT.com/.htaccess
If using an Apache VirtualHost Directive

If the store runs on a server using Apache and it is possible to modify the VirtualHost Directive for the store, then the rule can be modified and entered into the VirtualHost Directive for the store.

Simply add a slash to the front of index.php, to make the rule compatible with the VirtualHost Directive:

RewriteRule .* /index.php [QSA,L]

ANY ADVICE ON HOW I CAN MODIFY THIS FILE SO CEON WORKS (WITHOUT 401 ERRORS) I WILL BE SO GRATEFUL! THX

So, don't know where you got the "they suggest" portion of the .htaccess, and unfortunately I'm not near a copy of one, but it looks like in your current version you have a + instead of an *...

I haven't run the .htaccss creator tool using the latest version, so am not sure how much of it is/would be the same as what you have, but that would be the first place I would sugggest looking/trying to see what is suggested. The next thing to identify is whether that other old uri rewriter is still installed in part or whole. Well written software wouldn't have an effect, but seeing as that other software was causing issues on it's own, then ideally it too would be completely removed and not just turned off...

ok, I've gone in and made sure that simple-seo-url is completely gone. The only thing I need to resolve is the htaccess file. The one I have listed above (it begins with SSU) is the htaccess file created by simple seo url. When I installed the CEON uri mapping module, it did not create an htaccess file. I'm quite sure this is why ceon is not working. The problem is I have really limited knowledge of the htaccess process and have no idea how to modify this file correctly. Thanks again for any advice/direction.

Correct, it does not create a .htaccess file... But it does provide (or used to) instruction about what should be contained in one.

Goto: admin panel, modules->Ceon URI Mapping (SEO) Config

Then should go to the Installation Check tab, followed by clicking on the installation check page link just before the configuration check.

Before posting the results online, realize that it may be possible that your admin directory or other directories to remain hidden may be listed... So either obscure them or do not list them. If one or more are so omitted, just indicate that at least one directory is hidden... (Only be an issue when you report the inability to access that/those directories, so not too much of an issue.)

Ok, thanks for that response... it helped me resolve the problem. If there are any newbie's like myself out there:

1. this program does NOT make changes to your existing inventory. If you have a huge inventory you can purchase a module from CEON that will do this OR you can manually do it. Simply go into your inventory, edit an item (no changes needed), save it, and now the item has a human url.

2. BACK-UP BACK-UP BACK-UP YOUR HTACCESS FILE. IF YOU GET AN ERROR ON THE WEBSITE AFTER REVISING YOUR HTACCESS FILE YOUR WEBSITE IS DOWN UNTIL YOU FIGURE IT OUT. Use your file manager in Cpanel to edit the file.. make sure to check the "hidden file" box or you will not see the htaccess file

3. CEON provides you with the contents needed for your htaccess file. While I'm not claiming this will work for you, it worked great for me. I went into modules/cri mapping config then click on the installation check tab. Then click the link under the "installation check". I copied that information, pasted it into my htaccess file (in Cpanel) saved it and everything was groovy.

My apologies if this is a redundant post but I'm hoping it might be of help to some one.

Thx again for your replies.

The CEON module is not the only that can populate the database with product uris, there. Is also a product that will do the same thing. It can be found by searching the internet on: EasyPopulate CEON URI and find something that accomplishes the same goal.