Need help with forum URL's

[Arapahoe]

What's up guys? I have a quick question to ask.

My forum has many subforums, and in some instances, the same sub forum names. The problem I am having is if I have a sub forum named (test subforum) in one category 1 and another sub forum named (test subforum) in category 2... the link will take me to the forum in category 1 which means I can't get to the other sub forum.

I'm sorry if this sounds confusing.

I am wondering if there is a way around this to where I can have the same sub forum names and the links take me to the correct place.

[Andrés Durán Hewitt]

Hello,

There are three ways to fix this:

1. Rename one of them
2. Include [forum_id] variable on your URL rewrite settings
3. Use vBSEO Slugs (recommended): http://www.vbseo.com/f34/how-use-vbs...um-urls-33313/

[Arapahoe]

What is being used on this site? I see vbseo.com/f2/thread-title

[Arapahoe]

And why is vBSEO Slugs recommended over option 2?

[Mert Gökçeimam]

None of the options are recommended over anyone. If any option is recommended , including forum id to your rewrite rules is always recommended.

[Arapahoe]

Sorry but I've been away and haven't done this yet. I just want to be completely sure of what I am doing and to be sure I don't mess anything up.

Is this all I need to do?

URL Rewrite settings > Forum URLs > Advanced Settings > Define Forum Path Title Bits and choose the first option which is (forum_id). Right now it's on (forum_title).

Is this all I need to do in order to resolve my question in the first post?

and

Is this option reversible? Can I change this setting easily and with no harm later on?

[Arapahoe]

bump

[Mert Gökçeimam]

Please keep in mind that we don't advise and suggest url structure changes on boards that have vBSEO installed for some time. If you have vBSEO for some time , your best bet is to rename same named forums.

[Arapahoe]

Sorry, but renaming the forums are out of the question as the names are relevant for different forums.

Not to sound like a smart guy, but instead of saying that "we don't suggest url structure change on boards that have had SEO for some time," why don't you explain to me why that's the case instead of leaving that answer very open to interpretation -- as I clearly don't know.

Again, in order to solve my issue in the first post (and I assume to get the same url structure that's used here: (http:// www .vbseo.com/f2/what-ever-title-#)

Is this all I need to do?

URL Rewrite settings > Forum URLs > Advanced Settings > Define Forum Path Title Bits and choose the first option which is (forum_id). Right now it's on (forum_title).

Is this all I need to do in order to resolve my question in the first post?

and

Is this option reversible? Can I change this setting easily and with no harm later on?



By changing to the (forum_id) option is it going to break my seo?

[Andrés Durán Hewitt]

Hello,

Did you try vBSEO Slugs feature, as I suggested above? This vBSEO feature allows you to 'virtually' rename a sub-forum URL; that being said, a custom URL for forums with the same name is the ideal setup in your case.

[Arapahoe]

I have not tried vbslugs yet... is that only for sub-forums or is it also for regular forums as well?

Again, why can't I just change the (forum_title) to (forum_id) in the URL rewrite settings? Seems a lot more easier and especially quicker.

[Andrés Durán Hewitt]

I have not tried vbslugs yet... is that only for sub-forums or is it also for regular forums as well?

It will work with both regular forums and also sub-forums.

Again, why can't I just change the (forum_title) to (forum_id) in the URL rewrite settings? Seems a lot more easier and especially quicker.

Because if you do that, all of your indexed URLs will become unavailable and it'll cause more damage than benefits. You are free to proceed that way, however keep in mind that you must apply Custom Redirects in order to redirect all of the incoming traffic from those old broken URLs to their new version.

[Arapahoe]

Thank you that was what I was looking for in regards to the switch between (forum_title) to (forum_id).

If I did the slugs option... is that safely reversible if I want to undo that in the future?

[Andrés Durán Hewitt]

Yes, it is as easy as deleting the corresponding slug and creating a Custom Redirect.

[Arapahoe]

Thank you.