Putting Category Back into the URL

[kwikstand]

Is there a way to put the category back in to the URL?

I know a product can be in multiple categories, but the canonical link should take care of duplicate issues, shouldn't it?

My SEO guy is asking so he can tune up my SEO.

Also, there are various things you can do that require the category to be in the url. For example, "Get Site Control" allows you to display pop-ups and the like and you can designate the url structure to display, like: http://www.website.com/categroy/* Also, AdRoll let's you display specific remarketing ads according to the categories someone has viewed, but you need the category in the URL.

[Katie]

Hello,

Have you thought about entering a custom URL that includes the category name?

Thanks,
Katie

[kwikstand]

Yes, but it doesn't work. It breaks the page. Also, I would have to do every single product.

[Katie]

I don't think it breaks the page because that is what the custom URL field is meant for. Just look at the example below the field.

e.g. Fiction/Mystery/The-Confession.aspx

Here is a product using the example above -
http://azure.ablecommerce.com/Fiction/M ... ssion.aspx

I would also get familiar with the Data Exchange features. Very powerful. It would make this change super easy. All you have to do is export all your products to a CSV file, make the URL changes as desired, and then re-upload them. Done.

Otherwise, you may be looking at some serious customizations in the source code.

[kwikstand]

When I add a folder to the url, it breaks the page, the page doesn't load and I get a 404 error. For example, if I take a product with a url product.aspx and make it category/product.aspx, the page won't work anymore. It throws the error: 404 - File or directory not found.

[Katie]

What do you have in the Custom URL field of the product editing page?

[kwikstand]

Here is one: work-shirts/flannel-shirt.aspx

I put "work-shirts/" before the normal "flannel-shirt.aspx"

[Katie]

I don't know why it's not working for you. I can put in "work-shirts/flannel-shirt.aspx" and it works fine in my install.

Is there anything in the error log?

Make sure that you don't have any conflicting redirects setup in IIS or within AbleCommerce. This feature is used extensively and no one has reported any issues with it.

[kwikstand]

Well, I am just getting back to this. I tried it again with a different product and it seems to work, as long as I refresh the category page before I click the link. The problem now is, the old url doesn't work, so any links to it don't work. I guess that would have to be done with a redirect.

Also, the images don't work either.

[mazhar]

For old URL you will need to have a redirect configured. Once you have a product configured via custom URL the old one won't work. System needs a redirect to make sure old one points to new URL.