vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator for vBulletin 3.6.x, 3.5.x & 3.0.x

vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator - vBulletin 3.5.x
Download vB 3.8.x Compatible Version Here
Download vB 3.7.x Compatible Version Here
Download vB 3.6.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.

[iojam]

forum_maniac,

yes, this is just the question of time in most cases.
The installation of Sitemap Generator should help with this as well.

[D|ver]

hello,
i submitted the root sitemap (mysite.com/sitemap_index.xml.gz) to google and i get an error at google sitemaps because the index file is linking to the sitemap files in the subfolders and not the root adress

content of my index sitemap file (mysite.com/sitemap_index.xml.gz):

<sitemapindex>
-
<sitemap>
<loc>http://www.mysite.com/forums/sitemap_1.xml.gz</loc>
<lastmod>2006-05-10T02:00:53+00:00</lastmod>
</sitemap>
-
<sitemap>
<loc>http://www.mysite.com/forums/sitemap_2.xml.gz</loc>
<lastmod>2006-05-10T02:00:53+00:00</lastmod>
</sitemap>
</sitemapindex>

how can i thange the links by default to:
http://mysite.com/sitemap_1.xml.gz
and
http://mysite.com/sitemap_2.xml.gz
?

can somebody help me?

[iojam]

D|ver,

you can just manually submit these sitemap URLs to Google (instead of index file):
http://www.mysite.com/sitemap_1.xml.gz
http://www.mysite.com/sitemap_2.xml.gz

[ShackMaster]

I've been trying to upload my sitemap_index.xml.gz on Google but looking at your instructions via the last few posts, my sitemap_index.xml.gz is not located in those folders. The sitemap_index.xml.gz that was generated is located in the public_html/forums/vBSEO_sitemap/data folder.

Is it supposed to be generating into another folder beside data?

[ShackMaster]

I feel pretty dumb right now.... only had our forum up for a month and I'm learning so please don't laugh at me, but I may as well ask a couple more questions.

I have a robot.txt file uploaded but I'm not sure I need it with this (your) product or not... can you tell me if this is going to interfere with it?

Contents of robot.txt:

# For domain: http://www.hometheatershack.com

# All robots will spider the domain
User-agent: *
Disallow:

# Disallow directory /images/
User-agent: *
Disallow: /admincp/
Disallow: /ajax.php
Disallow: /attachments/
Disallow: /clientscript/
Disallow: /cpstyles/
Disallow: /images/
Disallow: /includes/
Disallow: /install/
Disallow: /modcp/
Disallow: /subscriptions/
Disallow: /customavatars/
Disallow: /customprofilepics/
Disallow: /announcement.php
Disallow: /attachment.php
Disallow: /calendar.php
Disallow: /cron.php
Disallow: /editpost.php
Disallow: /external.php
Disallow: /faq.php
Disallow: /frm_attach
Disallow: /image.php
#Disallow: /index.php
Disallow: /inlinemod.php
Disallow: /joinrequests.php
Disallow: /login.php
Disallow: /member.php?
Disallow: /memberlist.php
Disallow: /misc.php
Disallow: /moderator.php
Disallow: /newattachment.php
Disallow: /newreply.php
Disallow: /newthread.php
Disallow: /online.php
Disallow: /payment_gateway.php
Disallow: /payments.php
Disallow: /poll.php
Disallow: /postings.php
Disallow: /printthread.php
Disallow: /private.php
Disallow: /profile.php
Disallow: /register.php
Disallow: /report.php
Disallow: /reputation.php
Disallow: /search.php
Disallow: /sendmessage.php
Disallow: /showgroups.php
Disallow: /showpost.php
Disallow: /subscription.php
Disallow: /usercp.php
Disallow: /threadrate.php
Disallow: /usercp.php
Disallow: /usernote.php

Next question... I do not have a .htaccess file on my server. Do I really need one if I use hotlink protection via my control panel? If I do need it can I simply upload the one you provided in this package and if so where do I need to upload it too?

My forum is located at http://www.mysite.com/forums

I don't know if it's appropriate to post a link to my site or not. vBSEO looks interesting too but I'm sure if I even need it or not.

I apologize for the ignorant questions and will really appreciate any help.

[stinger2]

i have installed this hack few months ago.......for some odd reason....i have only 5 pages indexed in google...
i have more than 7000 pages indexed both in yahoo and 1300 in msn ....but nothing in google....only 5

All the Web: 7,810
Google/AOL/HotBot: 5
MSN: 1,343
Yahoo!/AltaVista/Fast: 7,840


at the google site map webpage it says it has downloaded ..no errors.....and nothing seems wrong there....i see msn and yahoo spider regularly but googlse sppider comes and checks the index and in few minutes its gone.....

any idea about this??

[Jim O]

I apologize in advance if this has been covered. I just installed the mod and when I look at my Google sitemaps page I see errors in the sitemap as follows:

URL not allowed (Line 7771) in Sitemap http://propertymanagementweb.com/forum/sitemap_1.xml.gz with URL http://propertymanagementweb.com/htt....php?page=home

Somehow the domain is appearing twice. I have vBAdvanced installed and added the "vbseo_sm_vba.php" in the configuration box for "Addon Generator Modules".

The line in that script to "uncomment the following line" is uncommented (by default it seems).

Please advise as to what I am doing wrong.

[treasureman]

Okay I know that we manually submit to Yahoo at:
http://submit.search.yahoo.com/free/request/

What URL do put "enter the URL for your page" space? My forum is in my domain root.

Do we submit the gzipped text file or do we have to unzip it first?

Thanks!

[iojam]

ShackMaster
although physicall sitemap files are store din vbseo_sitemap/data/ folder, you should submit http://yourforumsroot/sitemap_index.xml.gz.
It works using the rewrite rule entered in .htaccess (if you have hot-link protection .htaccess file already, you can add the rewrite rules for vBSEO Sitemap generator at the end of file).

Jim O,

please add the following below this line:

PHP Code:

$vba_url = ''; 


treasureman,

you can submit gzipped sitemap file to Yahoo:
http://yourforumsroot/sitemap.txt.gz

[bruss]

I see this.. I recently moved servers and this is broken

http://kansassoftball.net/sitemap_index.xml.gz

Notice: Undefined offset: 1 in /var/www/vhosts/xxxxxxxxxxxxx/httpdocs/vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_getsitemap.php on line 37

Notice: Undefined offset: 1 in /var/www/vhosts/xxxxxxxxxxxxxx/httpdocs/vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_getsitemap.php on line 56
‹M?A‚0E?’x?+??TB ?<
?M… ?????+v3?{???<??+^?[SN?„?Զ?M[?ku‰RRŠ}?c?? ??4j?c? ?sc??4M????Š?v`XwžD? hš?M„w???X??4(??ݥ??(?Woœ?K?????/žD7?FħŽ?+γ?œAr?<?"???6?RA|
s????


I see this when i log in to direct run

Notice: Undefined index: HTTP_REFERER in /var/www/vhosts/xxxxxxxxxxxx/httpdocs/includes/class_core.php on line 1573

If this is already posted i am sorry...