VMSEF router for Virtuemart 1.1
Experiment with correctly setting the options on a staging server first before doing this on a heavily-visited live site (*).
Step 1: Installing the zip
Install the zip file using the Joomla back end installer, via the top menu: Extensions->Install/Uninstall.
Remarks:
- The installation zip is a standard Joomla component installation zip that will copy the embedded SEF router to the front end Virtuemart component directory.
Step 2: Switching on Apache's url rewriting
In the root of your joomla installation, rename the file htaccess.txt to .htaccess.
Remarks:
- You will probably need to use an ftp client, or similar, to do that.
- Ascertain that Apache's mod_rewrite module is active.
- You can either check your server configuration for this (httpd.conf) or else check it with a workaround.
Step 3: Activating the SEF urls
Go to the top menu: Site->Global Configuration->SEO Settings->Search Engine Friendly URLs and choose 'Yes' in order to activate the SEF urls.
Remarks:
- You will see the effect of this extension only by the URLs that Joomla generates for Virtuemart.
- There is no other user interface, nor in the front end, neither in the back end. The extension only produces SEF urls.
Possible Issues during installation
- Some users reported issues when they forgot to rename the htaccess.txt file to .htaccess. We are still investigating this issue.
- If Apache's mod_rewrite module is not active, the .htaccess configuration will not take effect.
Modifications to core Virtuemart
The modifications are now included in the download package. The core VM files will be patched on installation and unpatched and restored to their original situation when uninstalling this extension.
VM Sef Joomfish ContentElement plugin
The SEF Joomfish ContentElement plugin is now included in the download package. It will be installed if Joomfish is present on the system and uninstalled when uninstalling this extension.
VM SEF URLs
By default, Joomla will generate SEF URLs in the following style:
http://domain_name/component/virtuemart
There are extensions that allow to override the default Joomla behaviour. After the Joomla-generated prefix VMSEF will generate the following suffixes:
| Page | Url |
|
General |
|
| Create a new Virtuemart account | /create-an-account |
| Manufacturer | /manufacturer_name |
| Product Category | /category_name/sub_category_name/unlimited_number_of_subcategories |
| Feed Link | /feed/category_name/sub_category_name/unlimited_number_of_subcategories |
| List All Products | /view-all-products-in-shop |
| View Cart | /view-your-cart-contents |
| Shop Front End Admin | /shop-administration |
|
My Account |
|
| Account Maintenance | /view-your-account-details |
| View Order Details | /order-details/order_id |
| Edit Billing Address | /billing-information/check-out |
| Edit Shipping Address | /shipping-information/check-out |
| Edit existing Shipping Address | /shipping-information/check-out/user_info_id |
|
Checkout |
|
| checkout page | /check-out |
| Edit Billing Address | billing-information/check-out |
| Edit Shipping Address | /shipping-information/check-out |
| Edit existing Shipping Address | /virtuemart/shipping-information/check-out/user_info_id |
|
Product Details / Fly page |
|
| Product details page | /manufacturer_name/category_name/product_name |
| Ask question about this product | /ask-question-about-this-product/category_name/sub_category_name/unlimited_number_of_subcategories/product_name |
| Recommend Product to Friend | /recommend/sub_category_name/unlimited_number_of_subcategories/product_name |
| Notify Link in case product is out of stock (shop.waiting_list) | /notify/sub_category_name/unlimited_number_of_subcategories/product_name |
(*) Credit: With thanks to Georgios Kolomvos who did extensive testing, contributed patches, and wrote a long report with detailed recommendations for further improving the source code and removing a host of small paper cut issues.