Short URLs: help implementing

[netcentric]

I've developed miva stores for several years but this is my first attempt to use short URLS. I'm running 5.5 with MMUI. I've turned on short URLs in the admin interface and have read all the threads I can find on here but am still struggling with how to pull it all together and make it work. I'm thinking modifying the .htaccess file is the next step but I'm unsure. If anyone would be so kind as to walk me through it, I'd be grateful.

[Siamese-Dream.Com]

Re: Short URLs: help implementing

Since short URLs come in many different flavors, can you give us an example of what you WANT your short URL to look like?

I'm thinking modifying the .htaccess file is the next step but I'm unsure.

In general, when you enable short URLs, Miva Merchant will modify your .htaccess file for you automatically, so you shouldn't have to do anything. However, if you are using ToolKit and the TKSL function to do your short links, you will have to add a few lines of code to your .htaccess file.

so just let us know what structure you want your short URLs to look like, and we can better help you.

[netcentric]

Re: Short URLs: help implementing

Thanks for the reply. What I'd like is a very simple URL structure.

Domain name/category name/product name

I have no category tree. Links to categories are hard coded within the global header.

Whatever else you need to know just say so. Thanks again.

[netcentric]

Re: Short URLs: help implementing

Not sure what Tool kit and TKSL is so I doubt I'm using it. I did check the .htaccess file in my root folder and there has been no changes made by miva.

[Siamese-Dream.Com]

Re: Short URLs: help implementing

Try going into your global Settings -> Domain Settings -> SEO Settings. What check boxes do you have checked?

Also, look at the section where it says sample URLs based on settings. What does your Product URL look like?

[netcentric]

Re: Short URLs: help implementing

Short URL settings are:

Enable SEO-friendly store front is checked
Enable sitemap is unchecked
Enable short links is checked
Prefix is set to None (adjacent text field is blank)
Product page identifier says PROD in both fields
Use in breadcrumb link is unchecked
Suffix is set to shtml
Category Identifier says CTGY in both fields
URL delimiter is set to /
Always include store code in URL is unchecked


Sample URLs based on settings

Store front URL: http://www.mydomain.com/mm5/merchant...SA&Screen=SFNT
http://www.mydomain.com



Product URL:
http://www.mydomain.com/mm5/merchant...Code=F0001-001
http://www.mydomain.com/PROD/F0001-001.shtml



Category URL:
http://www.mydomain.com/mm5/merchant...de=accessories
http://www.mydomain.com/CTGY/accessories.shtml



Breadcrumb URL:
http://www.mydomain.com/mm5/merchant...Code=F0001-001
http://www.mydomain.com/accessories/F0001-001.shtml



Screen URL:
http://www.mydomain.com/mm5/merchant...SA&Screen=SFNT
http://www.mydomain.com/SFNT.shtml



Site Map URL:
http://www.mydomain.com/mm5/merchant...SA&Screen=SMAP
http://www.mydomain.com/SMAP.shtml

[Pete McNamara]

Re: Short URLs: help implementing

Here is a short links tutorial for V5.0 (i.e. before Miva added short links). While V5.5 has superseded the necessity to creat short links using this method, this page contains a lot of useful information regarding .htaccess files, the instructions therein and tips and tricks to ensure success. I apologize that I have not updated it to V5.5 but I just haven't had the time.

There are tricks to uploading .htaccess files and from what you have said, it seems your .htaccess file created/modified by Miva Merchant, has not been uploaded correctly to the server.

[netcentric]

Re: Short URLs: help implementing

Pete, thanks for the reply but I've read that tutorial and it's not real clear. It might make more sense to me if I understood exactly what Miva is doing when you enable short urls. Also, it's my understanding that Miva creates/modifies your .htaccess file as part of the process, yet my .htaccess (the file in the root of my website), remains unchanged.

[Siamese-Dream.Com]

Re: Short URLs: help implementing

Can you post the contents of your .htaccess file here?

[Pete McNamara]

Re: Short URLs: help implementing

As you read that tutorial, you would have read this

There may be multiple .htaccess files on your server, each located in a different directory.

and this

NB: You may not be able to see an existing .htaccess file in the /httpdocs/ (or /html/) directory

.

Be aware that some webhosts do not allow uploading of files such as .htaccess or require them to be uploaded via Telnet or via secure FTP. Your .htaccess file on the server is evidently not being changed so ask your webhost how to upload a changed one.

Also, I know this is a basic one but ensure you have cleared your cache when testing the short URLs. Sometimes we get tired and miss the obvious. Well OK, I do :)