vRewrite - SEOed URLs for vBulletin

About

vRewrite is an advance but simple system to rewrite vB's URLs. The rewrite system uses preg_match_all and str_replace to rewrite the URLs. It will rewrite any URLs that are dynamic ex: showthread.php?t= to /the-forum/title-of-the-forum-id.html. Why? SEs (Search Engines) rate results based on filename. Not only that, but most SEs give a "boost" to static URLs (what we do here) versus dynamic URLs. vRewrite accomplishes both of this, for all URLs that a search engine (or a guest) will see.

Installation

Please download vRewrite.zip and read install.html for more information on how to install it.

Requirements

vRewrite assumes that you are using Apache with the mod_rewrite module enabled, and running vBulletin 3.5.x. However, if you ask for support here on IIS' module or on vBulletin 3.0.x - I will be more then happy to assist you.

Contributions

I would like to thank Chroder and Cole for assisting me release vRewrite. I could not have released it if it wasn't for them.

I would like to thank the following people/boards for helping beta test vRewrite and making it a better product.

Gaming Ultimate, BP Gaming, NBS Designz Cyclez, Hosting-Talk and Forum University.

Copyright

I've spent many hours working and perfecting vRewrite. The only thing I ask you to do is if you use it, please keep the link back. If you wish to put it in your style instead, simply remove or comment out that line. However, if you use vRewrite you MUST link back. That is the only thing I ask.

Known Issues

There are no known issues with the latest release (1.0).

Support / Issues

If you have any problems or discover a bug please post here in this thread. I have also included my email in the install.html email for one-on-one support. The only thing I ask you is please do not post this email address publicly - it is my personal email.

Changelog

1.5 Release - vRewrite 1.5 has become stable, and all users under 1.5 RC3 and 1.0 need to upgrade. Support for 1.0 will no longer be offered, and you will be told simply to upgrade. Please continue to keep all bug and feature suggestions on the bug tracker at:

http://www.techhelpforum.com/vrewrite

1.1 Release - Several bug fixes, and a few new features. Details here.

03/26/06 - Updated the thread to reflect vRewrite 1.5 Beta links. vRewrite files has NOT changed.

03/11/06 - Updated the thread to take advantage of vB.org's new prefix feature. vRewrite itself has NOT changed.

1.0 Release (02/19/06) - I have released the much awaited 1.0. This is the first stable release of vRewrite. All users now should be safe installing vRewrite. For more information, and how to upgrade, please see here.

1.0 Preview (01/12/06) - I have released a preview version of 1.0. This is the final version before 1.0 is considered stable. I believe everything should work in this new preview, but one bug (see known issues). Please see here for more information and how to upgrade.

01/05/06 - Updated ZIP to include a fix for boards running a table prefix. You do not need to upgrade unless you previously had SQL errors. You can upgrade by importing the product and choose "Allow Overwrite".

Donations

Any donations are very much appreciated! I do this out of my free time and work many hours on it - all for free. Anything to help is always very welcomed

If you use vRewrite, please click Install. This helps you keep track of additional upgrades and shows to me that you care about vRewrite


You may not post vRewrite ZIP or any files contained in the ZIP on any website. You may not also post any support requests/give support on any website other then this one, without my permission. If you do so, you will get a DMCA for copyright infringement. I do not want this spread to pirated users. Please stop piracy and do not share the source outside of this thread and vB.org/com. Thanks.

Support will only be obtained at:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/forumdisplay.php?f=182

[DementedMindz]

i take it you dont read... they just posted about it...

Originally Posted by Bhuwan

For those waiting for RC2, be patient -- Tyler myself and Jlaine are trying to work out on the bugs -- I dont want to give any time frame but it is very very close :-).

[jdingman]

I did, I had just missed that part.

[Bhuwan]

Originally Posted by jdingman

So we should expect a 1.5 RCx or FINAL in the next week or so?

Very soon :-).
Sit back, relax, grab a Coke (or Pepsi) or beer.
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:
HAND UP...THIS IS A HOLDUP

[jdingman]

awesome, that's what I like to hear. I'll keep an eye out for it

[Immortal]

DementedMindz: I haven't forgotten about you! Just takes some time, very sorry

But on a lighter note, vRewrite 1.5 RC2 is now released. DO NOT report vRewrite RC1 bugs, because, honestly we don't care. Make sure you are running the most up to date vRewrite, and then report the bugs you find

Same links as before:

http://www.techhelpforum.com/vrewrite/vRewrite_15_beta.zip

And the bug tracker:

http://www.techhelpforum.com/vrewrite/

Thanks to everyone, but especially Bhuwan and jlaine

[jdingman]

Looks like that fixed most or all of the problems I was having. Great release, thanks!!!!

One last question though, how easily would a sitemap plugin interact with these SEF links so that a proper sitemap could be created instead of giving the regular showthread.php? links?

EDIT: I seem to be getting an error on one of my 'lastpost' links too..

Database error in vBulletin 3.5.4:

Invalid SQL:

SELECT postid AS postid, post.dateline, t.title as threadtitle, f.title as forumtitle, f.forumid as forumid
FROM post AS vb_post JOIN vb_thread AS t ON(t.threadid=post.threadid) JOIN vb_forum as f ON(f.forumid=t.forumid)
WHERE post.threadid = 165 AND post.visible = 1 AND
postid = (
SELECT MAX(t2.postid) AS postid
FROM vb_post AS t2
WHERE t2.threadid = 165 AND t2.visible = 1
)
LIMIT 1;

MySQL Error : Table 'forums_vb.post' doesn't exist
Error Number : 1146
Date : Sunday, April 2nd 2006 @ 03:33:32 PM
Script : http://forums.site.net/page-###.html
Referrer : http://forums.site.net/
IP Address : X.X.X.X
Username : Jonathan
Classname : vB_Database

As I'm looking at my database, the table vb_posts most certainly DOES exist.

[xStylezx]

I searched the thread and didnt notice what im looking for.On the forumhome my link to a forum shows as

http://www.somesite.com/f-main-forum-2.html/

and a link to a thread shows as

http://www.somesite.com/main-forum/t-just-a-test-1.html

What would i have to modify to get rid of the .html and have it show as its doing in the link to a thread?Ive tried searching the xml for what i thought was the right code and then editing htaccess but no luck.Also,im curious as to why links are rewritten like this by default?Thanks for the help

[Immortal]

We will be playing with something shortly

But, in the mean time it is safe as it redirects to the proper URL.

[Immortal]

.html means static URLs most of the time, so it makes sense to add .html. This will not be a feature, until 2.0. The only way is to do it manually through the XML and .htaccess. I posted a tutorial on custom links AWHILE ago, so you'll have to search for it.

Edit: I lied, in 1.5 it's a feature. In vB Options->vRewrite.

[Bhuwan]

Originally Posted by xStylezx

I searched the thread and didnt notice what im looking for.On the forumhome my link to a forum shows as

http://www.somesite.com/f-main-forum-2.html/

and a link to a thread shows as

http://www.somesite.com/main-forum/t-just-a-test-1.html

What would i have to modify to get rid of the .html and have it show as its doing in the link to a thread?Ive tried searching the xml for what i thought was the right code and then editing htaccess but no luck.Also,im curious as to why links are rewritten like this by default?Thanks for the help

Silly me -- I forgot to mention, thi sis now possible --
go to admincp->vbulletin options->vRewrite
there you can change .html to be blank and it wont write HTML.

you still have to edit .htaccess manually.