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
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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
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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?
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• 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?
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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"
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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
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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

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• 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

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

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

We welcome you to join the vBSEO Affiliate Program.

[iojam]

Hello,

if you have anything defined in Add-ons list, you should remove that.
Your sitemap URL is http://marketersspaceforum.com/sitemap_index.xml.gz and it will be accessible when you will generate sitemap.

[mmurtha]

Hi iojam,

That took care of the problem.

Thanks a bunch!

[apn3a]

is there any way for this script to create a sitemap of my entire website and not only just the forums? i already have vbseo installed in my forum. the rest of my site is another php script for classifieds that has its own SEO and its dynamic. i would like these links to be included in the sitemap of vbseo. im not a php coder to create an addon

[zfrank1]

I?ve the following problem.
Sitemap-generation stops after creating sitemap_index.xml.gz

here the log:

[SECTION START] showthread archived [4,004.9Kb mem used] [1,205s (+3s)]
[create sitemap file] filename: sitemap_231.xml.gz, number of urls: 20000 [4,032.4Kb mem used] [1,208s (+2s)]
[create sitemap in text format] part #232 [4,032.3Kb mem used] [1,208s (+0s)]
[create sitemap file] filename: sitemap_232.xml.gz, number of urls: 20000 [4,032.9Kb mem used] [1,211s (+4s)]
[create sitemap in text format] part #233 [4,032.9Kb mem used] [1,211s (+0s)]
[create sitemap file] filename: sitemap_233.xml.gz, number of urls: 20000 [4,033.1Kb mem used] [1,216s (+4s)]
[create sitemap in text format] part #234 [4,033.1Kb mem used] [1,216s (+0s)]
[create sitemap file] filename: sitemap_234.xml.gz, number of urls: 20000 [4,033.9Kb mem used] [1,219s (+3s)]
[create sitemap in text format] part #235 [4,033.9Kb mem used] [1,219s (+0s)]
[create sitemap file] filename: sitemap_235.xml.gz, number of urls: 20000 [4,034.3Kb mem used] [1,223s (+4s)]
[create sitemap in text format] part #236 [4,034.2Kb mem used] [1,223s (+0s)]
[create sitemap file] filename: sitemap_236.xml.gz, number of urls: 20000 [4,035.4Kb mem used] [1,226s (+3s)]
[create sitemap in text format] part #237 [4,035.4Kb mem used] [1,226s (+0s)]
[create sitemap file] filename: sitemap_237.xml.gz, number of urls: 1163 [4,011.1Kb mem used] [1,227s (+1s)]
[create sitemap in text format] part #238 [4,011.0Kb mem used] [1,227s (+0s)]
[create sitemap index] filename: sitemap_index.xml.gz, number of sitemaps: 237 [4,072.3Kb mem used] [1,227s (+0s)]

if I run again

log

[SECTION START] showthread archived [4,009.6Kb mem used] [1,964s (+737s)]
[create sitemap file] filename: sitemap_238.xml.gz, number of urls: 148 [4,011.9Kb mem used] [1,964s (+0s)]
[create sitemap in text format] part #239 [4,011.9Kb mem used] [1,964s (+0s)]
[create sitemap index] filename: sitemap_index.xml.gz, number of sitemaps: 238 [4,073.8Kb mem used] [1,964s (+0s)]

and again

[SECTION START] showthread archived [4,010.3Kb mem used] [2,013s (+49s)]
[create sitemap file] filename: sitemap_239.xml.gz, number of urls: 148 [4,012.6Kb mem used] [2,013s (+0s)]
[create sitemap in text format] part #240 [4,012.6Kb mem used] [2,013s (+0s)]
[create sitemap index] filename: sitemap_index.xml.gz, number of sitemaps: 239 [4,075.7Kb mem used] [2,013s (+0s)]

where is the problem?

[intospain]

thanks, will buy vbseo soon for my new forum, can't believe how much it has gone up in price in 2 years!

[iojam]

apn3a,

vBSEO Sitemap Generator only includes vBulletin URLs in sitemap + URLs created by add-ons. You can also manually add more links in "extra-urls.txt" file and they will be automatically included in sitemap too.

zfrank1,

Try to remove all files from data/ folder, disable "Text sitemap" option and regenerate sitemap.

intospain,

you are welcome, btw vBSEO price was never changed since the first day of it's official release (more than 3 years ago).

[maleficarum]

Installed and working a treat, thanks :up:

[zfrank1]

@iojam

I disabled "Text sitemap" and now it is working.

thx

[webmaster74]

did not know there was an upgrade to version 2.0......... thank you

[webmaster74]

Originally Posted by hotwheels

I figured out the problem. I have been running the program for several years and my sitemap.gz files were to large to run anymore, therefore it was showing the above error.

What i did to fix this was:

Went to my server, and then to my /forums/vbseo_sitemap/data
I then deleted all of the sitemaps.gz files and the urltext.gz file.
I went back to my admincp and reran the sitemaps, and it worked like a charm.

If anyone needs help on this particular promblem, just pm me or repost here and i will make a much more thorough post about fixing the problem.

doug (hotwheels of insanemustangs.com)

thank you for sharing.