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

[moftary]

Originally Posted by Bhuwan

1) example on 302 (too lazy to google)
2) difference between 301 vs 302
3) why isnt what is iad duplicate
4) example of duplicate

thx for your help!( I am not a SEO expert )

1) too lazy to answer
2) 301 is "moved permanently" and 302 is "moved temporarily"
3) Duplication penalties occure when the very same page appears for more than one URL that is linked.
4) http://www.techhelpforum.com/windows...dows-3059.html and http://www.techhelpforum.com/windows...bluh-3059.html

[Bhuwan]

Originally Posted by xStylezx

Well that would work.Im really just looking to make the url like this

/forum-name/

instead of

/f-forum-name.html/

or this way would be acceptable too

/f-forum-name.html

Here's the best I can do for 1.5

/f-FORUM-NAME-HERE-ID{EXTENSION HERE}

The end-user can choose {EXTENSION HERE} to be anything they want (.html, .htm, blank, etc.)

The 'id' and 'f' are req'd and can't be changed for 1.5 (too much work involved).

Furthermore, vRewrite displays data based on the ID - once I figure out how to omit the ID without any problems, I will certainly add this as a feature (2.0).

Hope this is a good enough comprimise...

[Bhuwan]

Originally Posted by moftary

1) too lazy to answer
2) 301 is "moved permanently" and 302 is "moved temporarily"
3) Duplication penalties occure when the very same page appears for more than one URL that is linked.
4) http://www.techhelpforum.com/windows...dows-3059.html and http://www.techhelpforum.com/windows...bluh-3059.html

thx!

[xStylezx]

Originally Posted by Bhuwan

Here's the best I can do for 1.5

/f-FORUM-NAME-HERE-ID{EXTENSION HERE}

The end-user can choose {EXTENSION HERE} to be anything they want (.html, .htm, blank, etc.)

The 'id' and 'f' are req'd and can't be changed for 1.5 (too much work involved).

Furthermore, vRewrite displays data based on the ID - once I figure out how to omit the ID without any problems, I will certainly add this as a feature (2.0).

Hope this is a good enough comprimise...

Sounds good,as long as you can get rid of the trailing slash after the extension,and that is exactly what im looking for if that can be done

[Immortal]

Originally Posted by xStylezx

Sounds good,as long as you can get rid of the trailing slash after the extension

Not possible

[Immortal]

Originally Posted by Bhuwan

Until tyler can update the zip file ....

Here is how to fix the problem..
edit XML file DIRECTLY _OR_ edit the hook titled global_start

Search for:

FROM post AS " . TABLE_PREFIX . "post JOIN " . TABLE_PREFIX . "thread AS t ON(t.threadid=post.threadid) JOIN " . TABLE_PREFIX . "forum as f ON(f.forumid=t.forumid)

Replace it with

FROM " . TABLE_PREFIX . "post AS post JOIN " . TABLE_PREFIX . "thread AS t ON(t.threadid=post.threadid) JOIN " . TABLE_PREFIX . "forum as f ON(f.forumid=t.forumid)

Updated ZIP to reflect those changes.

[Bhuwan]

Originally Posted by Immortal

Not possible

Tyler is right, i forgot to add the trailing slash in my exammple...sorry...it has to stay, go back a few pots to see why ( I posted my reasoning)

[moftary]

Originally Posted by Bhuwan

So i n short, your looking for the option of having different extensions for each option (showthread, member, forumdispaly, printthread, showpost) as opposed to having a universal option that covers everything?

Exactly. I would also appreciate a .htaccess update from DC-SEO to vRewrite.
I have some ideas for the authors about adding more SEO power to the mod..

1) Generates structured archives based on date/forum; i.e, forum -> years 1,2,.. -> months 1,2,3,..,12 -> days 1,2,3,...,30-31.

2) Place a link on each forum pointing to its archive (automatical link from /forum_name/ to /archives/archived_forum.html)

3) Place a link back from each archive thread posting to the original thread (/forum_name/thread.html).

[xStylezx]

Hmmmm,ok.So if i use this hack now and then you rewrite this later on to where what i want is possible(more customization),will you also redirect any of the changed urls so there wont be any penalties?I still want to use the hack,but later when it became possible id like to change the urls to what im describing and wouldnt want to be penalized or anything.

[Bhuwan]

Originally Posted by derekivey

Thanks Tyler & Bhuwan! I think I'm going to install this on my live site now.

Derek

How is it working out?