Administrative and Maintenance Tools - vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator

vBSEO Search Engine XML Sitemap 3.0
We are extremely pleased to inform the vBulletin.org community that a fully revamped version of the vBSEO Search Engine XML Sitemap (previously "vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator") v.3.0, is being released to all licensed vBulletin users effective immediately!

Note: The NEW vBSEO Search Engine XML Sitemap 3.0 replaces all previous versions of the "vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator", and includes support for all the new URL types in vBulletin 4.x.

New in the vBSEO Search Engine XML Sitemap v.3.0
The new sitemap alters the way data is structured in fundamental ways. Sitemap 3.0 segments different content areas into separate files, so you end up with a unique set of files per content type: forums, blogs, cms, groups, albums, members, tags, etc. In addition, the new sitemap has an extended priority feature that utilizes the built in 'weight' tool of the vBulletin XML sitemap generator for individual forums, CMS sections and articles to act as a multiplier.

We believe these changes are responsible for delivering increased returns for a number of forums from customers and testers we've been tracking. Please track your own progress via your Google Webmaster tools account, Google Analytics or Gravity Insights.

A Clean and Beautiful Interface
The new sitemap also features a clean and beautiful interface, built from the ground up. We believe it reflects the quality, precision and attention to detail placed into each aspect of this release. We are passionate about building software, and great software is beautiful inside, and out.

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

The "vBSEO Search Engine XML Sitemap" plugin provides an easy to use solution that allows your forum to be indexed by all major search engines, including Google, Yahoo, Bing, and Ask, 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 3.5.x versions. The current version is vBSEO 3.5.2. If you are running vBSEO, please upgrade to vBSEO 3.5.2 (or greater) before installing for optimal results.

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

Fully compatible with:

• vBulletin 3.8.x, 4.0.x, 4.1.x
• vBulletin Blogs *Optional
• vBulletin CMS *Optional
• vBSEO 3.5.2 + higher *Optional

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

• Auto-generates an XML sitemap for all of your specified forum URL types (including vBulletin Blog & CMS URLs).
• NEW! Groups forum areas into individual sitemaps grouped by section type for greater flexibility, for example:
  • sitemap_forum_X.xml.gz
  • sitemap_tags_X.xml.gz
  • sitemap_cms_X.xml.gz
• Auto-notifies Search Engines when a new sitemap is generated (optional)
• Automatically sends you a summary of the sitemap generation via email each time it is created (optional)
• Includes only publicly accessible forums and threads and includes the option of not including any specific public forums
• Allows Search Engines to find all of your forum URLs without having to spider the forum to find the links. Great for Deep Page linking!
• Allows Search Engines to find your forum URLs without having to account for query string and/or session ID information.
• Allows Search Engines to give precedence to crawling your higher priority forum pages.
• Allows Search Engines 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, Yahoo Slurp, Ask's Teoma, Bing's msnbot, and other search engine bots.
• Is 100% compatible with the static CRUs (Content Relevant URLs) used by vBSEO-enabled forums.
• Is 100% compatible with the 'Friendly URLs' offered default with vb4.x.

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

Whenever it is scheduled or invoked via the URL, this plugin will generate an XML formatted that search engines are able to read and parse. If you selected "Yes" to the Auto-notification setting, The 4 major search engines will be notified each time the sitemap is generated.

• Google Sitemap files are gzipped for space savings
• 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 -> vBSEO -> vBSEO Sitemap Settings
  

Once you successfully login, you will see a number of tabs. Here are the 4 main links:

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.

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 (Identified by the Bot's name) 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.

Search Engine Bots Activity Log
Use it to track Search engine activity on your sitemaps. This area displays how often, and what volume of pages search engines visit your site on a daily basis.

Run Generator
The 'Run Sitemap Generator' link will automatically regenerate your vBSEO Search Engine XML Site sitemaps.

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

Click "Install"
============================
Please click "Mark as Installed" to show your support for this script.

Installation, Upgrade, & Configuration
============================
Follow the installation/upgrade instructions provided in the docs/readme.html file.

Webmaster Accounts
============================
It is NOT required for you to have a Webmaster account on the search engines' websites to run the plugin, however, we recommend everyone set one up for tracking purposes.

• Google Webmaster Central. Get data about crawling, indexing and search traffic. Increase traffic to your site.
• Bing Toolbox
• https://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/

Copyright & Licensing
============================

• vBSEO Search Engine XML Sitemap 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) ? 2010 Crawlability, Inc.

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

11/11/2010 - Version 3.0 Released
Compatible with vB3.7.x+ and vB4.x+
NEW FEATURE: All CMS URLs are supported
NEW FEATURE: Sitemap Groups by content type
NEW FEATURE: Enhanced layout and design of the Sitemap Generator Control Panel
NEW FEATURE: XSL Style sheet of the xml files for easier human reading
NEW FEATURE: Extended Priority. Utilizes the built in 'weight' tool of the vBulletin XML generator for all content areas (Forums, Blogs, CMS, Albums, etc.) to act as a multiplier. (vb4 Suite only)

Other vBSEO Plugins
============================

• vBSEO - vBulletin Search Engine Optimization

vBSEO Affiliate Program
============================
We welcome you to join the vBSEO Affiliate Program.

[TosaInu]

Originally Posted by djbaxter

How can it be both the "default values" and an "edited line"?

In any case, try what I've suggested so far. I don't understand a lot of what you're posting here, not the least of which is the statement that Webmaster Central is trying to download the sitemap, apparently not finding it, and yet not showing any errors. Either I'm missing something or you are - I don't see how that's possible.

If my suggestions don't work, you may need to wait for one of the vBSEO people to log in.

Hello djbaxter,

Sorry for the confusion. By default values I mean what I set in Vbulletins ACP/VBSEO settings.

The edited line applies to the .ht I already had before I even knew about VBSEO. As far as I know searchbots only look in the root of a domain or subdomain for a sitemap. So, it has to be told there that it's somewhere else.

According to the VBSEO control panel, the sitemaps are created (and they are) and google is notified. Google then manages to download the files (according to the same VBSEO control panel). But when I go to googles Webmaster Central for my site, nothing is there.

[Brathamike]

hello what are the these files for in the htaccess file

isapi_rewrite, lighttpd_rewrite, zeus_rewrite

do i keep them in the htaccess folder and put the whole folder in the root directory
or
do i take those files out of the htaccess folder and put them in the root directory

Also it says that this file is in my root directory sitemap_index.xml.gz but its not. when i generate
a site map i dont see this in my root directory when i click on the link to see my site map it says
page not found? any thoughts on this

thanks

please answer..

going to buy gold soon as i get the ansawer

[Budweiser]

Hello. I use VBSEO and installed the sitemap v2.5
I want to add a line to robots.txt (EG: "sitemap: http://www.example.com/sitemap.xml")

What file is the sitemap? I see "sitemap_1.xml.gz" and "sitemap_index.xml.gz" and few others... I assume one of these is the file I need to point to?

Thnx, Kev

[djbaxter]

Originally Posted by TosaInu

The edited line applies to the .ht I already had before I even knew about VBSEO. As far as I know searchbots only look in the root of a domain or subdomain for a sitemap. So, it has to be told there that it's somewhere else.

Yes. That's what the mod_rewrite line and vbseo_getsitemap.php does. The bots will look in the root (usually); the mod_rewrite and vbseo_getsitemap.php redirect it to where the files are actually physically located. If you try to do the work of those two functions, you'll end up confusing the bots, yourself, and everyone else. Think simple. Let the add-on do the complicated work.

Originally Posted by Brathamike

hello what are the these files for in the htaccess file

isapi_rewrite, lighttpd_rewrite, zeus_rewrite

do i keep them in the htaccess folder and put the whole folder in the root directory or do i take those files out of the htaccess folder and put them in the root directory

If you are using an Apache server with mod_rewrite enabled, ignore those files. They are for alternate server operating systems or configurations.

Originally Posted by Brathamike

Also it says that this file is in my root directory sitemap_index.xml.gz but its not. when i generate a site map i dont see this in my root directory when i click on the link to see my site map it says page not found? any thoughts on this

See my reply to TosaInu above.

Originally Posted by Budweiser

Hello. I use VBSEO and installed the sitemap v2.5
I want to add a line to robots.txt (EG: "sitemap: http://www.example.com/sitemap.xml")

What file is the sitemap? I see "sitemap_1.xml.gz" and "sitemap_index.xml.gz" and few others... I assume one of these is the file I need to point to?

Thnx, Kev

No. Just point to sitemap.xml -- mod_rewrite and vbseo_getsitemap.php take care of the rest.

[Budweiser]

Hello. I use VBSEO and installed the sitemap v2.5
I want to add a line to robots.txt (EG: "sitemap: http://www.example.com/sitemap.xml")

What file is the sitemap? I see "sitemap_1.xml.gz" and "sitemap_index.xml.gz" and few others... I assume one of these is the file I need to point to?

Thnx, Kev

Originally Posted by djbaxter

No. Just point to sitemap.xml -- mod_rewrite and vbseo_getsitemap.php take care of the rest.

Yes but... there is no sitemap.xml file to point to.. I am supposed to point to a file that is not there??

[djbaxter]

Originally Posted by Budweiser

Yes but... there is no sitemap.xml file to point to.. I am supposed to point to a file that is not there??

Yes. That's what those mod_rewrite lines do. They intercept any attempts to retirve sitemap.xml and redirect them to the appropriate file name and location.

[Brathamike]

Originally Posted by Budweiser
Yes but... there is no sitemap.xml file to point to.. I am supposed to point to a file that is not there??
Yes. That's what those mod_rewrite lines do. They intercept any attempts to retirve sitemap.xml and redirect them to the appropriate file name and location.

I don't have mod rewrite and I still don't
see the site map and I still get a page that's not there
when I try to viewy site map

I still don't get it

[djbaxter]

Originally Posted by Brathamike

I don't have mod rewrite and I still don't
see the site map and I still get a page that's not there
when I try to viewy site map

I still don't get it

If you don't have mod_rewrite enabled on your server, the standard solution contained in the installation instructions for the vbseo_sitemap add-on will not work.

In that case, try the following...

Add the following line to the robots.txt file in the root directory of your site or create a plain text file (ASCII/ANSI format) containing the line and upload it to the root of your site:

Sitemap: http://www.yoursite.com/forum/vbseo_sitemap/data/sitemap_index.xml.gz

This assumes your forum is installed in a subfolder called "forum". If the subfolder name is something else, change the line to reflect both your actual domain and the actual subfolder name.

If your forum is installed in the root directory, the line would look like this:

Sitemap: http://www.yoursite.com/vbseo_sitemap/data/sitemap_index.xml.gz

If your forum is installed in the root of a subdomain, it would look something like this:

Sitemap: http://forum.yoursite.com/vbseo_sitemap/data/sitemap_index.xml.gz

1. Note that in all cases you are pointing the spiders to the real location of the sitemaps index file, which tells the spider how many sitemap files to look for and their filenames. This index file is created automatically by the vbseo_sitemap cron job.
   
2. Note that what I'm suggesting in this post is to be used instead of the standard mod_rewrite solution indicated in the vbseo_sitemap installation insturctions.

[Brathamike]

Originally Posted by djbaxter

If you don't have mod_rewrite enabled on your server, the standard solution contained in the installation instructions for the vbseo_sitemap add-on will not work.

In that case, try the following...

Add the following line to the robots.txt file in the root directory of your site or create a plain text file (ASCII/ANSI format) containing the line and upload it to the root of your site:

Sitemap: http://www.yoursite.com/forum/vbseo_sitemap/data/sitemap_index.xml.gz

This assumes your forum is installed in a subfolder called "forum". If the subfolder name is something else, change the line to reflect both your actual domain and the actual subfolder name.

If your forum is installed in the root directory, the line would look like this:

Sitemap: http://www.yoursite.com/vbseo_sitemap/data/sitemap_index.xml.gz

If your forum is installed in the root of a subdomain, it would look something like this:

Sitemap: http://forum.yoursite.com/vbseo_sitemap/data/sitemap_index.xml.gz

1. Note that in all cases you are pointing the spiders to the real location of the sitemaps index file, which tells the spider how many sitemap files to look for and their filenames. This index file is created automatically by the vbseo_sitemap cron job.
   
2. Note that what I'm suggesting in this post is to be used instead of the standard mod_rewrite solution indicated in the vbseo_sitemap installation insturctions.

Hello i check the server and i do have it
mod_rewrite is enabled :
LoadModule rewrite_module libexec/mod_rewrite.so

so what should i do now since i do have mod_rewrite

thanks

[djbaxter]

Originally Posted by Brathamike

Hello i check the server and i do have it
mod_rewrite is enabled :
LoadModule rewrite_module libexec/mod_rewrite.so

so what should i do now since i do have mod_rewrite

thanks

Follow the installation instructions for the add-on and add the lines to your .htaccess file.