URL-only title

progre55 · 2011-07-07 13:47:17

I am hoping someone can assit me with my most recent hurdle with a project I am working on. I am transitioning a client from a custom CMS (that uses ASP) to to Textpattern. There are over 1500 articles. So far, I have been succesful in getting all of the relevant data to import into Textpattern. The issues that we have come across so far we have been able to overcome and I feel comfortable where we stand on that front. I have generously used glz_custom_fields to store all the data.

Now the problem. At some point I will need to redirect the old urls to the new articles.

The Custom CMS uses multiple “sub sections” to create the url path to the article (example: http://forum.textpattern.com/design/furniture/women/colors/dark/black.aspx) In the custom CMS everytime a folder was created it acted like a sub section on the url path.

What I planned to do is use the URL-only title field, strip off the .aspx so that the field contained “design/furniture/women/colors/dark/black” Then in the htaccess file I can direct all aspx pages to the php pages.

My problem is that Textpattern does not like “/” in that field. It converts all the “/” to “%2F” — this occurs even though when I look at the mySQL DB it shows me the “/”

I have looked at gbp_permanent_links but I do not beleive that is the solution.

If anyone has attempted such a task or has any suggestions how I may be able to accomplish this even if (cover your ears) I need to modify something in the core so that the slashes are not converted — I am willing to listen —

Thanks.

progre55

jayrope · 2011-07-07 13:53:06

See this forum entry.

Last edited by jayrope (2011-07-07 13:53:18)

progre55 · 2011-07-07 14:00:06

jayrope:

THANK YOU. This seems to be exactly what I am looking for to complete the taask. I will not be able to test for a little bit, but I will definitely be putting this into the structure and I will let you know — thanks again for the response.

progre55

progre55 · 2011-07-07 14:15:17

jayrope:

So I am sure that I am doing this correctly.

1. Create a field called redirect.
2. In the redirect field put the old url which in my example would be http://forum.textpattern.com/design/furniture/women/colors/dark/black
3. Create a form <txp:output_form form="redirect" />
4. Place the below code in the form.

<txp:if_individual_article><txp:if_custom_field name="redirect">
<txp:php>
global $thisarticle;
Header("HTTP/1.1 301 Moved Permanently");
Header('Location: '.$thisarticle['redirect'].'');
</txp:php>
</txp:if_custom_field></txp:if_individual_article>

Then if I understand correctly, when someone tries to hit http://forum.textpattern.com/design/furniture/women/colors/dark/black they would be redirected to http://forum.textpattern.com/black — which would be the new name of the textpattern article.

If I am correct about the above, where does the <txp:output_form form="redirect" /> go — in the body or header section?

progre55

Last edited by progre55 (2011-07-07 15:52:40)

merz1 · 2011-07-07 19:49:38

If I am correct about the above, where does the <txp:output_form form=“redirect” /> go — in the body or header section?

The higher the faster. But you can even put it inside your article form which is useful if you use different article forms.

I am using this powerful 301 redirect in some article bodies.

Last edited by merz1 (2011-07-07 19:57:57)

progre55 · 2011-07-07 19:55:42

merz1

Thanks for the feedback. Question, I am assuming the above method does not require that an actual article with the “old” url be created in Textpattern for this to work. Since I am moving the client from a custom CMS, I only have the “new” articles in Textpattern. But I do have all the old articles in a custom field.

progre55

merz1 · 2011-07-07 20:04:03

Sorry, I was only answering your question … edited my answer to make that clearer.

I am assuming the above method does not require that an actual article with the “old” url be created in Textpattern for this to work.

I didn’t dive too deep … but yes the redirect needs an initial call to the original ‘old’ URL (which pretty much kills that solution (and my answer)).

Sorry, no help for tonight (but I am subscribed) so maybe more ‘helpful’ answers tomorrow.

merz1 · 2011-07-07 20:13:28

Excuse me, I am tired, but maybe this can be a help:

What I planned to do is use the URL-only title field

What is the URL-only title field … Which txp:tag to call it?
You can try to switch off HTML escaping by using escape="" (“html” is default).

progre55 · 2011-07-08 02:02:36

jayrope/merz1:

I was able to get this to work (for anyone who may need such a function):

<txp:if_individual_article>
<txp:if_custom_field name="redirect">
<txp:php>
   txp_status_header('301 Moved Permanently');
   header('Location: '.$thisarticle['redirect'].'');
   exit;
</txp:php>
</txp:if_custom_field>
</txp:if_individual_article>

This script looks at an existing article and redirects it to the url that is in the custom field named ‘redirect.’ Unfortunately, what I have realized is that this will not solve my problem.

What I need is increased flexability so that I can define the exact url of articles. The existing url format is:

http://www.example.com/travel/united_states/texas/hotels_intro.aspx

I need to be able to create Textpattern articles that have the same url structure

http://www.example.com/travel/united_states/texas/hotels_intro (minus the .aspx)

I can then strip off the .aspx using htaccess and get the articles to function properly.

I already have the old path in a custom filed so my ideal solution would be to tell Textpattern to use xyz custom field instead of URL-only title —-

I am willing to try everything. At one point I thought this gbp_permanent_links was my answer. But either I do not know how to use it (which is quite possible) or it cannnot do what I want it to do —-

Again, any help or guidance would be appreciated.

progre55

Last edited by progre55 (2011-07-08 02:04:30)

merz1 · 2011-07-08 12:49:49

I don’t see a way to use a slash separated path in Textpattern.

You have to find a clean .htaccess way to redirect from slash/paths to hyphen-paths and strip the ‘.aspx’.
You have to solve the call to the old URL on the web server and not inside Textpattern.
A solution can be via .htaccess or a PHP wrapper around the Textpattern index.php.

RewriteRule !\.(aspx)$ - [S=n]
# If no .aspx request then skip next n instructions
# Rewrite slashes to hyphens code goes here
# Directory slashes need some special treatment for domain and section calls though.
RewriteRule ^(.*)\.aspx$ $1 [R=301,L]

To get an idea: Rewrite underscores to hyphens
Helpful: Mod_Rewrite Variables Cheatsheet

Last edited by merz1 (2011-07-08 12:51:42)

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#1 2011-07-07 13:47:17

URL-only title

#2 2011-07-07 13:53:06

Re: URL-only title

#3 2011-07-07 14:00:06

Re: URL-only title

#4 2011-07-07 14:15:17

Re: URL-only title

#5 2011-07-07 19:49:38

Re: URL-only title

#6 2011-07-07 19:55:42

Re: URL-only title

#7 2011-07-07 20:04:03

Re: URL-only title

#8 2011-07-07 20:13:28

Re: URL-only title

#9 2011-07-08 02:02:36

Re: URL-only title

#10 2011-07-08 12:49:49

Re: URL-only title

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