Search Engine Friendly URL search string

[CHRD]

How can I make a search string into a SEF url using .htaccess
so I can make this:
http:// mysite com/searchresults.php?searchtext=golf&type=16&minprice =&maxprice=&opt9=&opt10=&opt5=&opt4=&opt12=&opt16= &opt17=&Submit=Search

into:
http:// mysite com/golfing_holidays_spain.html

also how would I change the word "listing" to "owners" in the viewlisting url

Thanks for any help

[Eric Barnes]

I would recommend taking a look at the seo modules "mod_user.php" file and also the .htaccess file.

The mod_user file handles changes the links and the .htaccess file handles where to send it.

So for the golfing_holidays_spain.html you would add this to the .htaccess file:

RewriteRule ^golfing_holidays_spain\.html$ searchresults.php?searchtext=golf&type=16 [NC]

[CHRD]

I knew that one, just needed confirm on code.
I just added it to .htaccess and it works fine.

Other matter, I have golf as an extra field selection but when I search my properties under cat, then golf, I only get 2 results when they are 19 that should show in that cat.

[Lhotch]

Originally Posted by CHRD

I knew that one, just needed confirm on code.
I just added it to .htaccess and it works fine.

Other matter, I have golf as an extra field selection but when I search my properties under cat, then golf, I only get 2 results when they are 19 that should show in that cat.

Was the extra field golf added after the other 17 results that dont show up, if so then try opening the other 17 ads in admin to modify them and make sure the field appears and fill it out as needed and save changes.

[CHRD]

The golf option comes under an extra field called Holiday type, I have check boxes to best describe what type of holiday rental it is..
the field has been there from the start, but it doesn't seem to work,
when I use Advance search and only search in one category and only select golf, nothing comes up.
When I type in golf on the text search box and don't select the golf option only a few come up.
When I put golf in the text search box and select the golf option nothing comes up.

also the holiday type displays as drop down menu not check boxes like in listing process

[bgordon]

Without pasting the code from the mod_user.php here... I don't quite understand how it re-writes the urls... it has /\\1/\\2 etc...

Where are these numbers used elsewhere to make the new url?

I wanted to replace the underscore that is put in place of the spaces with a dash and can't see how to do that in the mod_user.php

As an alternative, could the seo mod simply change the url to www.mysite.com/listing/344.html

That would simplify the issue that I have with people's ads have 'bad' characters in the title (which becomes the seo friendly url at present) causing me grief with rss feeds etc...

Thanks

Originally Posted by suzkaw

I would recommend taking a look at the seo modules "mod_user.php" file and also the .htaccess file.

The mod_user file handles changes the links and the .htaccess file handles where to send it.

So for the golfing_holidays_spain.html you would add this to the .htaccess file:

RewriteRule ^golfing_holidays_spain\.html$ searchresults.php?searchtext=golf&type=16 [NC]

[gregbatch]

Use dashes, not underscores. Very important!

[bgordon]

I agree and am trying to change this... any idea how to? The SEO mod would have to be changed to generate the dash instead of the underscore but I don't see anyplace to do that in the mod's php...


The .htacess would then need to be changed to rewrite the dash-url instead of the underscored url..

[gregbatch]

I think they just covered this. See if this helps:

SEO _ to - From The "Experts"

Personally, I don't worry too much about SEO on the url anymore. At one time the engines had a big problem with it, now it's not a big deal, and so many people are stuffing-their-urls-that-I-think-the-engines-are-paying-less-attention-to-them-again. I got the biggest SEO boost when I changed the listing link from "View Listing" to the listing title, which the engines love.