Administrative and Maintenance Tools - vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator

vBulletin Google Sitemaps by vBSEO v.2.5 - vBulletin 3.7.x
Download vB 3.8.x Compatible Version Here
Download vB 3.6.x Compatible Version Here
Download vB 3.5.x Compatible Version Here
Download vB 3.0.x Compatible Version Here

Note: Version 2.5 replaces all previous versions of the vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator, and now includes support for all the new URL types in vBulletin 3.8.x.

Overview
============================

Providing Google, Yahoo, Ask sitemaps is an essential step towards improving your forums.

The "vBSEO Google Sitemaps" plugin provides a solution that allows your forum to be indexed by the Google (and also Yahoo and Ask) search engines faster, more completely, more effectively, and with less bandwidth consumption.

The ultimate goal is to help you achieve more web traffic for your forum.

Originally Posted by Google's Description of GSM

https://services.google.com/inquiry/publishertools?hl=en_US
Google Sitemaps is an easy way for you to help improve your site?s representation in the Google index. It's a collaborative crawling system that enables you to communicate directly with Google. You get a smarter crawl because you can provide Google with specific information about all your web pages, such as when a page was last modified or how frequently it changes.

Note: This plugin is fully compliant with vBSEO 3.x version. The current version is vBSEO 3.2. However, if you are running vBSEO, please upgrade to vBSEO 3.2 or greater before installing.

Compatibility
============================


Fully compatible with:

• vBulletin 3.0.x, 3.5.x, 3.6.x, 3.7.x and 3.8.x
• vBulletin Blogs 1.0.x and 2.0.x *Optional
• vBSEO 2.x, 3.x *Optional

What does it do?
============================

• Auto-generates a Google XML sitemap for all of your specified forum URL types (including vBulletin Blog URLs).
• Auto-generates a Yahoo text sitemap for all of your specified forum URL types.
• Auto-notifies Google when a new sitemap is generated.
• Automatically sends you a summary of the sitemap generation via email each time it is created.
• Includes only publicly accessible forums and threads.
• Allows Google/Yahoo to find all of your forum URLs without having to spider the forum to find the links.
• Allows Google/Yahoo to find your forum URLs without having to account for query string and/or session ID information.
• Allows Google to give precedence to crawling your higher priority forum pages.
• Allows Google to give precedence to crawling your forum pages that change more frequently.
• Allows you to conserve bandwidth by more efficiently facilitating the crawling processes for GoogleBot and Yahoo Slurp.
• Is 100% compatible with the static CRUs (Content Relevant URLs) used by vBSEO-enabled forums.

How does it work?
============================


Whenever it is scheduled or invoked via the URL, this plugin will generate both the Google XML formatted and the Yahoo text formatted sitemaps. If you selected "Yes" to the Google auto-notification setting, Google will be notified each time the sitemap is generated. The Yahoo sitemap must be manually submitted to http://submit.search.yahoo.com/free/request/.

• Google Sitemap files are gzipped
• Forum and thread pages are listed with pagination (i.e. all pages for each forums/thread are included in the sitemap)
• Maximum Priority is set for Sticky threads.
• Optimization for sitemap generation on large forums.

Automated Reporting Tool
============================

The vBSEO Sitemap includes a report tool, allowing you to track your progress. To access your reports enter the following URL:

http://www.example.com/forums/vbseo_sitemap/

NOTE: Replace "http://www.example.com/forums/" with the full URL to your vB forum root.


You will be required to login by providing your "Sitemap Interface Access Password" from your vBSEO Sitemap settings in:

• vBulletin Admin CP (for 3.5.x/3.6.x/3.7.x/3.8.x users) OR
• vbseo_sitemap.php configuration file (for 3.0.x users) located in the vbseo_sitemap directory in your forum root.

Once you successfully login, you will be provided with a list of 'Useful Links'. Here are the 4 main links:

Show Reports List
The 'Show Reports List' link will display a report of each time your vBSEO Sitemap generator executed, including the (1) date, (2) run time, (3) total URLs included, and (4) and change in # of URLs included from the last generation.

Each vBSEO Sitemap generation record will include a (1) "View details" and (2) "Remove record" link. The "View Details" link shows more detailed information about the sitemap generated. The "Remove record" will permanently delete the record from your reports.

Show Sitemap Downloads Log
The 'Show Sitemap Downloads Log' link will display a report of each time your vBSEO Sitemap was downloaded by either a search engine (GoogleBot or Yahoo) or by another user agent (i.e. Web browser, etc.).

The report includes the (1) date, (2) name of sitemap file downloaded, (3) Bot, (4) IP address of the downloader, and the (5) User-agent.

Each vBSEO Sitemap download record will include a "Remove record" link which will permanently delete the record from your reports.

Run Sitemap Generator
The 'Run Sitemap Generator' link will automatically regenerate your Google and Yahoo sitemaps.

Your Forums Homepage
The 'Your Forums Homepage' link is a quick link back to your forum homepage.

Additional Links
Additional links to various other related SEO resources are also included.


Click "Install"
============================

Please click "Install" to show your support for this script.


Installation & Configuration for vB 3.5.x, 3.6.x, 3.7.x and 3.8.x as a Plugin
============================

Follow the installation/upgrade instructions provided in the docs/readme.html file.


Google Webmaster Accounts
============================

It is NOT required for you to have a Google Webmaster account to run the vBulletin Google Sitemaps plugin. If you decide to setup an account for testing purposes you can do so here:
http://www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/login?sourceid=gsm&subid=us-et-about2


Copyright & Licensing

============================

• vBSEO Google Sitemaps plugin is copyright protected by Crawlability Inc.
• You are free to download and install this plugin on any vBulletin forum for which you hold a valid vB license.
• Unauthorized distribution of any code and/or documentation, whole or in part, included here is strictly prohibited.
• In addition, the following copyright notice must be maintained.

vBSEO(TM) ? 2005-2009 Crawlability, Inc.


Revision History
============================

02/22/2009 - Version 2.5 Released

NEW FEATURE: Blog tags URLs are included.
NEW FEATURE: Social Group Discussion URLs are included.
NEW FEATURE: Smart Priority applied for the following URL types

1. Show Post
2. Member Profiles
3. Forum Display
4. Poll Results
5. Blog Entries
6. Member Profile Albums
7. Social Groups
8. Social Groups Discussions
9. Social Group Pictures
10. Tags
11. Blog Tags

UPDATE: Compatible with vBulletin 3.8.x. Includes the following updated settings:

1. Priority Range - Show Post
2. Priority Range - Member Profiles
3. Priority Range - Forum Display
4. Priority Range - Poll Results
5. Priority Range - Show Thread
6. Priority Range - Blog Entries
7. Priority Range - Member Profile Albums
8. Priority Range - Social Groups
9. Priority Range - Social Group Pictures
10. Priority Range - Tags

Fix: Social Group Discussion database error is fixed.

Upgrade Instructions
============================

(1) Follow the installation/upgrade instructions provided in the docs/readme.html file.

(2) For versions of vBulletin 3.6.x only: Open "Schedule Manager" in the vBulletin Admin Control Panel (admincp); Remove existing scheduled task for Sitemap Generator if you have one.
Note: The new task will be automatically setup when you import the XML product file.

Other vBSEO Plugins

============================

• vBSEO - vBulletin Search Engine Optimization
  
• vBSEO Conditional Signatures for vBulletin

vBSEO Affiliate Program
============================

We welcome you to join the vBSEO Affiliate Program.

[lowlight]

Originally Posted by iojam

Please try to:
- disable text sitemap option
- remove existing *.gz files from data/ folder
- regenerate sitemap

Thanks.

Do you know what the max size per file is for Google? Mine are all around 4MB, but are being rejected by Google.

[cooltechie]

Looking at the report, it shows the google index url pointing to http://www.example.com/forum/sitemap_index.xml.gz but if I look in the same directory using FTP, it's not there. Do I need to change a setting somewhere?

[iojam]

hscorp,

are your subforums open for guest visitors? (otherwise search engines will not be able to view them, and they are automatically excluded from sitemap)

lowlight,

maximum file size if 10Mb. What exactly is the error message you get?

cooltechie,

files are stored in vbseo_sitemap/data/ folder, but you can access them via forums root using rewrite rule entered in .htaccess file.

[hscorp]

are your subforums open for guest visitors? (otherwise search engines will not be able to view them, and they are automatically excluded from sitemap)

I'm using mod that allow search engine to access the forum and prevent the guests

so how can i make the sitemap include the links?

regards

[O'NEAL]

Hi;
When I Run Sitemap I gives me Error;

Database error in vBulletin 3.8.0:

Invalid SQL:

SELECT *
FROM vbthread AS thread
WHERE forumid = 3
AND visible = 1
AND pollid > 0;

MySQL Error : MySQL server has gone away
Error Number : 2006
Request Date : Thursday, January 29th 2009 @ 12:09:58 AM
Error Date : Thursday, January 29th 2009 @ 12:23:50 AM
Script : http://www..com/vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_sitemap.php
Referrer : http://www..com/vbseo_sitemap/
IP Address : 88.231.140.146
Username : Kayıtsız
Classname : vB_Database
MySQL Version :

Please Help.
Thanks...

[cooltechie]

Originally Posted by iojam

cooltechie,

files are stored in vbseo_sitemap/data/ folder, but you can access them via forums root using rewrite rule entered in .htaccess file.

Are these part of the instructions? I'm sure I followed everything but can't figure out why it would point there when in fact the files are stored elsewhere. The bots didn't make one download which was why I looked there. Kindly point me in the right direction.

[joe1989]

In the AdminCP settings for this mod, one of the options is "Max URLs in Sitemap Files." In the description it says "Google allows no more than 50,000 URLs per file." What happens if my site starts getting over 50,000 URL's?? If I leave the default setting at 20,000 what will happen when I get to 20,000? Does it just start making a new sitemap file, or do I lose old links in the sitemap?

I hope that question makes sense...

Thanks!

[iojam]

hscorp,

that is cloaking, that's why those URLs are not included in sitemap.


O'NEAL,

you should increase wait_timeout setting in MySQL configuration.


cooltechie,
> Are these part of the instructions?
yes:

B. Enable rewriting via .htaccess
1. Upload the vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap .htaccess file (located in the 'htaccess' folder) to your forum root.
....

joe1989,

it will just split sitemap on multiple files in this case.

[joe1989]

it will just split sitemap on multiple files in this case.

So all the links will still be found by the crawler bots?

[cooltechie]

Originally Posted by iojam

cooltechie,
> Are these part of the instructions?
yes:

I triple checked and verified that the line is there. Since I had an existing .htaccess, I simply cut and pasted the line you have in the htaccess.txt file. I can access the report details but not the linked gz file.

edit: I renamed my htaccess and uploaded the one you have and it works. My guess is the bad bots list is conflicting with yours.