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

I've been thinking about re-visiting the filters for the next release to make things a little cleaner. Suggestions are welcome.

sports guy:

1. Remove all non-alphanumeric characters? is set to true
   This is the last filter (third) run over the generated URLs. If enabled: All non alpha-numerical characters are removed (including the -). If disabled it only strips punctuation (again this includes -).

sports guy:

2. Enter special character conversions. is set to: /=>-
   This is the second filter run over the generated URLs. This was left from a previous version to allow simple character conversions.

The most powerful (and first filter run) is the PCRE filter. This allows you to convert most any character or phrase into another character or phrase. For example: '\/=>and' would convert "CONTROL / SHAPER" to "CONTROL and SHAPER" in the URL.

Just a heads up for everyone. I am currently working on the next release of this plugin. The next release is quite ambitious and includes all the patches, fixes, and updates released since 2.207 along with a number of other changes including a complete rewrite of the installation, upgrade, and uninstall scripts. There is no ETA at this time, but when I am ready for some people to BETA test, I will post more information here.

Looking forward to see what you have!

There are a large number of changes coming to the next release.

Don't Panic!

Installation, Upgrades, and Removal
The largest change from previous versions is a complete rewrite of the installation, upgrade, and removal process. With the new system you will have feedback provided on the top of the browser window letting you know if the installation was successful or failed (and why it failed in many cases).

The installer handles detecting which version you have installed (supports back to version 2.150) and makes the needed database and setting changes for you automatically. Yes, it actually migrates your old settings for you! So no more losing settings during an upgrade!

In addition by commenting a small block of code and uncommenting another block the installer can be turned into an uninstaller. No more struggles if you need to re-install or remove this plugin.

All previous patches
The next version will include all the patches released since version 2.207 - including some you may have never known existed!

Automatic parsing of zen_href_link "static" pages
How does this affect you? Among other things (and pages) the module will automatically handle those pesky EZ-Pages "Internal URL" links and generate the appropriate link based upon your settings.

Configuration
The next version includes a simplified configuration and by popular demand some new options (such as additional URL Formats)!

Beta Testers
If you wish to beta test the next release you can send me a PM here with:

• Your email address
• A note saying you understand the BETA version may break your site
• A note stating you will not share the link to the BETA version with others

Translators
Due to the large number of changes made in this version new translations are needed. Anyone who wishes to provide translation should let me know in a PM along with an email address where I can send the English language file.

Thank You in Advance!

Thank You all BETA testers!

Plugin Features

• You can choose the extension filenames will end with (.html, .htm). Entering nothing will result in no extension being added.
• You can choose to show just the page / product / category name or the parent category before the product / category name.
• You can choose to display your categories as directories (short or full).
• You can configure string replacements using PCRE rules (regexp).
• You can configure (single byte) character replacements.
• You can choose to strip all non-alphanumerical characters or just "special" characters (dash is excluded).
• Any spaces in names will be replaced with a dash.
• You can choose to "filter" out short words.
• You can select which page types will have rewritten URLs.
• You can enable automatic 301 redirects from Zen Cart dynamic URLs to generated URLs.
• You can choose to have generated URLs cached. Caching is supported at multiple levels including the use of memory and database backends.

Plugin Compatibility
Zen Cart 1.3.9h & 1.5, MySQL 5.0/5.5, PHP 5.2.17+/5.3/5.4
If running Zen Cart 1.3.9h it is not recommended to run with Zen Cart SQL Caching enabled. Support for running Zen Cart 1.3.9h with this option enabled will not be provided. It is strongly recommended to upgrade to Zen Cart 1.5 if you use this feature.

If you are running a version of this plugin prior to version 2.150 it is recommended you uninstall the old version of the plugin including all database entries prior to installing this version. While most settings will be automatically upgraded the installation scripts have not been tested against versions prior to 2.150.

New Enhancements (since the last version)

• Updated all configuration options to provide better clarity.
• Added some additional URL Rewrite modes (including short categories as directories).
• New .htaccess sample to support new modes.
• Moved the product type code into an init_script to reduce the number of affected core files.
• Added the ability to enable the EZ-Pages URL cache.
• If the "page" variable contains "index.php?" and "main_page=" the "page variable will be parsed to determine the appropriate destination page and paramaters. You no longer need to edit internal links on EZ-Pages.
• The generation of the "cPath" parameter is handled automatically.
• Moved all language specific items into the language folder.
• Simplified the code used to hook into zen_href_link.
• Created installation, upgrade, and removal scripts. These handle automatically upgrading from older versions without the loss of settings (supports upgrading from version 2.150+).
• When SEARCH_ENGINE_FRIENDLY_URLS is enabled htmlspecialchars is run over the generated URL with mode and characterset specified (PHP 5.4 compatibility).
• Provided affected files for Zen Cart 1.3.9h.

Bugs Addressed (since the last version)

• Product links on the shopping_cart strip out the uprid to allow rewritten links to work.
• "Buy Now" and "Add Selected Products to Cart" on product listing pages will now work.
• Fixed some issues with generating the EZ-Pages cache.
• Removed obsolete language files.

When will the new version be available?
I am planning to upload the new version on 16 Nov 2012. Those wishing to test the new version prior to when it appears in the plugins section of the Zen Cart website are advised to apply to be BETA testers.

Just downloaded and installed the latest 2.210 on my main site in signature. Smooth install, everything appears to be working. Great job, thanks!

Steve

Lhungil:
Uploaded to my mirror for testing.
Followed installation instructions - the only file that required merging was the general.php file.

Under the admin:

When I click on Enable EZ Pages Cache: It gives me 2 radio buttons with the same choice...
[QUOTE]
Enable ez pages cache?
This will turn off caching for ez pages.

enable-ez_pages
enable-ez_pages
[\QUOTE]

When adding something to the cart, I got a 404 error. I will take the mirror out of maintenance mode if you care to have a look.

http://www.spritelygoods.com/zencartv151

First thank you for reporting the issue(s). Unfortunately a couple of bugs made it past the last BETA Test rounds.

woodlandsprite:

When I click on Enable EZ Pages Cache: It gives me 2 radio buttons with the same choice...
Yup, known bug. Should not affect anything adversely. It's fixed in the current BETA.

When adding something to the cart, I got a 404 error. I will take the mirror out of maintenance mode if you care to have a look.
Yup, found this one early this morning while I was working on some new 301 redirect code. Another item fixed in the current BETA. I'll send you an invite to the BETA version.

:) invite received, I'll update again and poke around

Zen Cart v1.5.1 + ultimate_seo_urls_210
Product details page, Comment Link returns a wrong address
http://www.domain.com/category-c-1/product-name-p-1.html?cpath=1

Have been fixed...

Hoping to finish off changes sometime tonight and then upload the next version. There are still open BETA test slots for those interested. There have been a number of fixes, changes, and enhancements added by the BETA.

Redirect Changes
Version 2.211 includes a re-code of the automatic 301 redirect code (while this is not needed as canonical links are generated some people prefer 301's when the URL changes). This option can be enabled or disabled in the configuration.

In older versions, when enabled, Zen Cart parameter based URLs (in the list of pages to rewrite) were redirected to the URLs generated by "Ultimate SEO URLs" for the same page.

In version 2.211, when enabled, when URLs change (for pages in the list of pages to rewrite) the old URLs are redirected to the new URLs. This includes name changes, option changes, and Zen Cart parameter based URLs.

Some examples
You change the configuration settings to "URLS end with: ".
Requests for "/product-name-p-1.html" will generate a 301 Redirect to "/product-name-p-1".

You change the name of a manufacturer (or category or product).
Requests for "/old-mfg-name-m-1" will generate a 301 Redirect to "/new-mfg-name-m-1".

I have added the newest version of Ultimate Seo to a new 1.51 zen cart and I am getting the following error message in my admin.
Filesystem Error: Unable to access admin/includes/extra_datafiles/seo.php'. Please make sure you uploaded the file and your webserver has access to read the file!
Filesystem Error: Unable to access admin/includes/functions/extra_functions/seo.php'. Please make sure you uploaded the file and your webserver has access to read the file!
Filesystem Error: Unable to access admin/includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/seo.php'. Please make sure you uploaded the file and your webserver has access to read the file!
Ultimate SEO installation failed!

I change all the permissions and checked the files and there are loaded fine but the message still stands. The db is as the config file initiated.

I found that I had to change my admin name back to admin(which I ahd changed to another name) and add the new name to the FS_ADMIN, 'store name/new admin name'. After I change this the program installed correctly and the error message went away.
With the new 1.5 and 1.51 you should not have to change this config define but when adding this program it was necessary.

As noted earlier in this thread some bugs did make it past the BETA test of version 2.210. If you need the newest features, you may wish to apply to be a BETA tester. There are instructions earlier in this thread :)

mhawkins:

I found that I had to change my admin name back to admin(which I ahd changed to another name) and add the new name to the FS_ADMIN, 'store name/new admin name'. After I change this the program installed correctly and the error message went away.
With the new 1.5 and 1.51 you should not have to change this config define but when adding this program it was necessary.
The location of the admin folder is read from the admin configure.php ('DIR_FS_ADMIN') during install / upgrade. If you are running 1.3 or upgrade from 1.3 to 1.5 you should check and make sure this entry in the admin configure.php points to the correct folder. Zen Cart 1.5 does not set this statically.

This was an issue with your Zen Cart configuration, not this plugin.

Originally Posted by mhawkins
I found that I had to change my admin name back to admin(which I ahd changed to another name) and add the new name to the FS_ADMIN, 'store name/new admin name'. After I change this the program installed correctly and the error message went away.
With the new 1.5 and 1.51 you should not have to change this config define but when adding this program it was necessary.

I posted the fix so that others with a similiar problem will know where to look. Sometimes we forget to look beyond the new addon.

Help... I did backup before installing and could not get it to install properly and then my site went blank.

Now when I did restore it; it's still blank and I took out the .htaccess modifications.

Any ideas?

heteromorphic.com/zencart

heteromorphic:

Help... I did backup before installing and could not get it to install properly and then my site went blank.

Now when I did restore it; it's still blank and I took out the .htaccess modifications.

Any ideas?

heteromorphic.com/zencart

Hi,

You should state what version of zencart your are using and what version of Ultimate SEO you tried to install. I can tell you that this is a very easy, straight-forward plugin to install and it works. The only "tricky" part might be the htacess file, indicating the location of your zencart. For your installation, it looks like it should be the following, since your zencart appears to be in a subfolder named "zencart":

Options +FollowSymLinks
RewriteEngine on
RewriteBase /zencart/

If your zencart is in the top level domain, the installation would be this, with just a single /:

Options +FollowSymLinks
RewriteEngine on
RewriteBase /

But it sounds like you have way more issues than just a failed Ultimate SEO problem. When you say you backed-up, what does that mean (what did you do)?

Thank you for your prompt response. I am running zen 1.3.9h and did the most recent download for Ultimate SEO from this site.
I did a "Database Backup Manager - MySQL" backup before installing in case I needed to go back as I'm no zen expert so I always do a backup to be safe.

When doing the above after I put in /zencart/ the entire site showed blank (as it does now when on the /zencart part) so I "restored" back to my backup and deleted the additions to the .htaccess file and it's still blank which I can't figure out since the entire site was fine before I tried to install this and now it's still blank?

I would think the restore would take out what I did and it would work again?

And I'm not sure I understand this if I try to install again:

4. Log into the admin side of your Zen Cart installation using a web browser. Yes, log into your admin interface now before continuing. Copy over the file from "4 install/your_admin_folder" to your Zen Cart installation under your admin folder.

Where do you copy anything from the admin panel? Or is it still via FTP (which is what I did originally).