I dont think Google can read my sitemap...

I'm running vb3.7 with vbseo 3.1 with sitemap generator 2.1 for pnwriders.com and the /vbseo_sitemap/data/ folder is set to 777

I was looking at my Google Webmaster Tools, and it shows an error message saying it does not read a sitemap. It tells me to create and submit a sitemap listing so I click the Add a Sitemap link and it asks me for the sitemap URL.

It wants something that is domain.com/filename.xml

Because when I put in domain.com/vbseo_sitemap/data/ it comes up with this error:

he Sitemap must be located at PNW Riders. To add a Sitemap at http://pnwriders.com/vbseo_sitemap/data/, first add that site to your account and then click the Add a Sitemap link beside it.

How do I fix this? I dont see any XML files in my root directory related to the sitemap generator?

Hello,

you should submit http://www.pnwriders.com/sitemap_index.xml.gz as sitemap URL (it's accessible using .htaccess rewrite rule).

Thanks!

Does vbseo automatically generate that?

Originally Posted by Oleg Ignatiuk

(it's accessible using .htaccess rewrite rule).

Can you please explain this please? Or provide me a link with some more info on this?

vBSEO has a code inside .htaccess to redirect all sitemap file requests to vbseo_sitemap/data folder

Hello,

I have a couple questions concerning something very similar. In the admincp the sitemap generator is set to run every day. I see that it pings all of the search sites. Do I need to add a sitemap to these sites or will the search engine download the sitemap automatically?

Also, I tried to add my site map to google -

www.~~~.com/sitemap_index.xml.gz

and google tells me that it cannot read the file also.

According to the instructions provided with the sitemap generator the .httacess file is uploaded to forum root.

1. Upload the vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap .htaccess file (located in the 'htaccess' folder) to your forum root.

How will this direct google to get the site map?



Uplading the sitemap may be a mute point if the ping alerts google to get the site map.

I have checked the sitemap download log and Yahoo has down loaded it but not google.

Thanks for any advice.

After a few days I see that googlebot has downloaded my sitemap but wemaster tools still says that I have not submitted a site map. Do I need to submit a site map as well as google downloading it?

You should manually submit your sitemap to Google.

Thanks Oleg,

Which site map is the correct one to submit?

sitemap_index.xml.gz

or

sitemap_1.xml.gz

or are they the same?

Once I submit the map do I need to resubmit the map after Google reads it or will Google continue to check it?

Sorry for all the basic questions but I am terribly confused over this issue.

Thank you,

Well, I see that there is now a stickey at the top of the forum that was craeted yesterday that answers all my questions...

Verifying your vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator is Installed Correctly

I now have a better understanding of what I need to do.

Thanks,

Edit:

I have added the url for my VbaLinks instalation in the extraurls.txt file and I see that it is called out in the sitemap file but, the sitemap does not show all the entries as it does for the forums. Is there a way to have the generator add the information for my VbaLinks install as it does for my forums?

Thanks again,

Hello,

only forum URLs are included in sitemap by sitemap generator core. There are add-ons for different products though. You can try this for vBa Links: VBA Links Directory site map