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[andersongray]

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SH404SEF Version: 1.5.6.398
VM Version: 1.1.3 Stable
Joomla Version: 1.5.14
PHP Version: 5.2.9
MySQL Version: 5.0.89
Server: LAMP
Rewrite Mode: with .htaccess file (mod_rewrite)

The URL's are working fine without the SH404SEF enabled
I can't access the page about Configuring .htaccess - it asks me to buy another subscription.

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Issue: Links on my website when clicked sometimes go to the cart page: http://www.whiskersonkittens.com.au/cart/vmchk.html

Sometimes the link works, sometimes it doesn't - very weird.

This is a real pain. My Google Analytics shows that 40% of my website visitors see this page by mistake.

I need some help with this, is there something I can do to get the links to go to the correct pages.

I have tried purging all records, updating the pages, links, menu items. I have even tried using the Non SEF URL in my advertising, but nothing works. I continue to have the problem.

Before trying the link above, try this link (seems to be a bad one): http://www.whiskersonkittens.com.au/baltic-amber-teething.html

Any assistance would be appreciated. Have been using SH404SEF for a while now and this is the 3rd site that I am having the same problem with.

Regards

Adam Wydeman

[andersongray]

SERIOUSLY! I have paid for a Support membership, and I expect to get some help!!!

Please answer my post.

[tonimarie]

We just released a new version of sh404.  Please give that a try and do report back if you still can't get things working right.

(side note, there are not currently any support-included subscriptions, but we absolutely try to keep up with as many questions as possible here on the forums. Never stop asking .)

[shumisha]

Hi andersongray,

Yes, as tonimarie mentioned, we do not sell Support, but only extensions. It does not mean there is no support, just that there is nothing like 24-hrs garanteed response time or something.  Particularly in the case of sh404sef, where most of the issues are not related to sh404sef but rather web server settings, other extensions, templates, etc

As for your issue, simply searching this forum for vmchk would have yielded the detailed answer you were looking after (and googling for sh404sef vmchk give 1500 results+)

The short storo is that you don't have a problem. What you have is a very important sh404sef feature allowing Virtuemart to perform the so-called "cookie-check" it needs, while sh404Sef is shielding you from this requirement of Virtuemart becoming a SEO issue.
See for instance : http://dev.anything-digital.com/Forum/?topic=6113.msg24522#msg24522

Rgds

[andersongray]

24-hrs garanteed response time

Hi Shumisha

I'm not looking for 24 hour response, I am simply looking for a response. period. it has been 6 days. I think I've been pretty patient. Considering I have been using SH404SEF for almost 18 months without payment, there was no reason to purchase a membership. I purchased one from you the moment that you went to a paid component because I wanted to support the project and I liked what you did. Please don't give me comments like 24 hour guaranteed response time, when I've waited 6 days - it simply doesn't make any sense. I'm genuinely asking for help here and I've followed all of your rules. I have also supported your project since going to paid, even though I have every release of the free version since late 2008.

Now. onto the issue.

1.  The problem that I am facing is that links on the website - or posted externally go to the wrong page. I understand that VM does a cookie check, but the cookie check should happen behind the scenes, not send the visitor to an incorrect page on the site.

2. When people hit this incorrect page, they are going back to Google search, as it is not the page they wanted. I am losing visitors.

You say vmchk is legitimate - sure. I agree. This is really important. BUT, it is not important when it makes someone wanting a product page end up on a empty cart page.

Can anyone offer suggestions to assist?

Regards

Adam Wydeman

[shumisha]

Hi

My answer was not inrelation to response time really. It was related to "I have paid for a Support membership". We just don't sell that, that's all.

As for the real problem:

1.  The problem that I am facing is that links on the website - or posted externally go to the wrong page. I understand that VM does a cookie check, but the cookie check should happen behind the scenes, not send the visitor to an incorrect page on the site.

First I'm sure you understand this is a VM issue, not sh404sef. Second, there is technically absolutely no way to do otherwise than oing this redirect. It is not specific to VM, even Google does it. I am pretty sure it can be disabled in VM backend, but I personnally don't thin it is a good idea.
Second, I don't understand twhat you are saying. You click on a link in Google search results -which does not have /vmchk/ in it, thanks to sh404sef - and you get on the correct page, with the correct product showing. The only difference is 5 letters more showing in the address bar!!!

2. When people hit this incorrect page, they are going back to Google search, as it is not the page they wanted. I am losing visitors.

I am not sure people will see they are on an 'incorrect page'. The difference between the 'good' page and the 'bad' one being only 5 letters in the address bar, I'd be surprised if anyone notice. As a matter of fact, I have to say you're the first to report that sort of thing. I'd suggest you discuss that with VM team and see if anyone has reported loosing visitors because of that. I would thought there is actually noway to tell why visitors would bounce back from a page, whether it's because of those 5 letters or for some other reason.

Rgds

[andersongray]

ok, sorry I must be explaining myself badly.

They click on this link: http://www.whiskersonkittens.com.au/baltic-amber-teething.html

And they go to this link: http://www.whiskersonkittens.com.au/cart/vmchk.html

It happens sometimes, not all the time. They  simply end up on the WRONG page.

For instance, they want to go to a page about Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces, but the end up on an empty cart page.

This happens when we try to add a link to facebook, from google, in an email or even when we are just clicking around on the site using the menu items.

I have disabled cookie check for now, and this seems to have fixed the problem. But the problem does exist.

Instead of telling me that it is a VM feature, please read my post above carefully.

I don't care about the URL, that's not what I'm saying. The problem is that it actually ends up on entirely the wrong page.

Regards

Adam Wydeman

[shumisha]

hi

Yes, that's much clearer with this example put like this

They click on this link: http://www.whiskersonkittens.com.au/baltic-amber-teething.html
And they go to this link: http://www.whiskersonkittens.com.au/cart/vmchk.html

From previous talks, i have always thought the issue you had was with going to a page with vmchk at the end (whic is not a problem).
We've been wasting our time on vmchk. This has nothing to do with cookie check or anything, but rather simply and as usual with Joomla, this looks very much like an Itemid issue. The problem is the people are sent to /cart/ instead of whatever they are going. Disabling cookie check  in VM will stop that happening because there is no redirect at all.
What you may want to look at is what are the non-sef urls listed for both SEF urls,a nd see if they are all normal, whether there are duplicates, etc

RGds

[moldy]

HI: I just launched a site and it has this same problem. So should I turn off cookie check in Vmart to correct it?

www.goldsmithcadcam.com

If you go to the site and click Products > Videos > Fundamentals it will likely go to the Cart the first time, then the second time you click the same link it will go through to Fundamentals. This is quite bad since these are the products. So it is OK to turn off cookie check in vmart? What happens when you do that?

How do I go about checking for duplicate URLs? I can see, e.g., by filtering on "fundamentals" in SEF URLs that there are 5 or so links to this, but how do I know good from bad (they could all be coming from different places)?

Thanks for any assistance.

MM

[shumisha]

Hi

I suggest you check the virtuemart people about disabling cookie check. As far as I know, the consequence is that if a visitor comes to your site and she does not allow cookies to be set, she may start adding stuff to her cart, but then later realize this does not work and all her shopping will be lost (because cart does not work w/o cookies, or not as well). So that's up to you

As for why it goes to cart instead of same page, I can only guess that it is related to Itemid. So

What you may want to look at is what are the non-sef urls listed for both SEF urls,a nd see if they are all normal, whether there are duplicates, etc

Rgds