Folder tree url (automatic)

**Ruud** · 03/01/2011, 20:33

I would like my urls to be structured differently then the current structure supported by Contao. I would like it to reflect my page structure, the way Google recommends (though my Dutch source does not refer to the exact Google guideline). I am told Google recommends the following type of structure:

http://www.domain.com/
http://www.domain.com/dresses/
http://www.domain.com/dresses/summer/
http://www.domain.com/dresses/summer/green.html
http://www.domain.com/dresses/summer/red.html
http://www.domain.com/dresses/spring/
and so on.

So end pages have no slashes, pages that do have subpages always end with a slash. But I would not want to manage this by hand like this extension allows: http://www.contao.org/extension-list/vi ... erurl.html
I am looking for a way that Contao handles that automatically.

I trying and add the option to this extension so it fills in the parent structure automatically. That would sort of help even though it is not what I'm looking for exactly. It would still require me to fill in the entire path, and if a parent page changes I am in trouble. Also does it not handle the extension the way I'm describing.

Does anybody know of a way to add the automatic option to the system, or if this approach is indeed a good one (perhaps know the google reference for it). The aim is to partly mimic a static pages system, as it typically doesn't display the index.html in the url.

Similar topics: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1886
Related topic: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1918

**Medianomaly** · 03/02/2011, 01:10

Have you tried this one?
http://www.contao.org/extension-list/vi ... en.en.html

We use the folderurl extension here and manually enter them in. Since we've yet to give any client the ability to create new pages, we don't miss the automation much. All you have to do is go into edit multiple mode and you can configure them very quickly. Plus there are times when you want to hand-optimize a URL so having that ability is nice.

Another thing I've done is use the generateFrontendUrl and getPageIdFromUrl hooks to customize a URL, and then translate it back into a page Contao can find, respectively. You can combine these two to do sort of a mod_rewrite type of thing on your URLs. This is my newest discovery, and yet another thing to love about this CMS.

**Doublespark** · 03/02/2011, 01:28

I would question whether that info on url structure is still current, many SEOs now believe this would be a better structure:

http://www.domain.com/
http://www.domain.com/dresses.html
http://www.domain.com/summer-dresses.html
http://www.domain.com/green-summer-dresses.html

**Ruud** · 03/02/2011, 10:05

Originally Posted by Medianomaly

Have you tried this one?
http://www.contao.org/extension-list/vi ... en.en.html

I did a search on "url" in the repository, minding compatibility but didn't see this one or read over it perhaps? Thanks!

Originally Posted by Doublespark

I would question whether that info on url structure is still current, many SEOs now believe this would be a better structure:

http://www.domain.com/
http://www.domain.com/dresses.html
http://www.domain.com/summer-dresses.html
http://www.domain.com/green-summer-dresses.html

I actually prefer this method. But I had a full day of training and the importance was discussed. It was stated that the structure I showed is preferred and in Googles guidelines. I'll report back as soon as I receive the correct location where Google recommends this. (or tell you if that is false information)

**xchs** · 03/02/2011, 12:35

Hi,

here are some infos:

http://www.google.com/support/webmaster ... swer=76329

The advantage of Contao's flat URL structure is that you can move or rearrange the various pages in your site structure as desired (e.g. website relaunch or whatever) and the URL remains the same. That said, you don't have to worry about 301 URL redirects.

**xchs** · 03/02/2011, 13:12

...cont'd:

This is so odd: it is apparently not possible to place some links in one post without always getting an error 403:

Forbidden
You do not have permission to access this document.

Web Server at typolight-community.org

After that, the page is not reachable for about 10 minutes! What's wrong with this forum software? Always the same **** [sic!]. :shock: :? :x

Sorry, but I've no idea what I'm doing wrong...

**xchs** · 03/02/2011, 14:00

...cont'd:

I've tried to add to my first post the link which by now I have attached in the file "link.zip"

No matter what I do, it just doesn't work.

**Doublespark** · 03/02/2011, 15:13

Thanks xchs, that's useful, I have not seen it before.

**Ruud** · 03/02/2011, 15:18

Xchs, Just before you posted this I received the Dutch version of the file you posted. Both files state that you should use a directory structure instead of a flat structure. (attached because of the same problem)
[attachment=0:1iqat5q7]link-to-pdf-file.zip[/attachment:1iqat5q7]

But what you say is indeed a concern when using a directory structure. So it should be well thought of before setting up and being backed up with 404's that can redirect to the correct page (existing is a Google service for that).

But What about Doublesparks suggestion? Is there a reference that supports that option as well? Can't figure out if either is clearly better...