Hello

I have recently upgraded to:

Joomla 3.5.1
K2 2.7.0

but cannot line up the k2 urls (used as a blog on our site) with the old site with the identical configuration. The url structure from the old site: www.********.com/parent-cagegory-alias/sub-cagetory-alias/item-alias.

Further info:
1/ the subcategories are all linked to main menu items
2/ I also use sh404sef on the site with all component including k2 configured to 'use default handler'
3/ I have turned on the advanced SEF in K2 and tried numerous combinations, but could not achieved the above outcome.

I would very much appreciate an advice on how the above URL structure could be achieved.

best regards

En Jie

I refer you to these 2 threads.

www.joomlaworks.net/forum/k2-en/37489-category,-subcategory-and-subsubcategory-url
www.joomlaworks.net/forum/k2-en/45578-recommended-url-settings

shoulders

Hello Shoulders

Think you very much for the reply!

I have read the threads recommended with following questions (I think I am missing something):
1/ I have created menu items to be linked to the K2 sub-categories.
2/ With the advanced SEF off (or on), I get item url as *****.com/item/id-item-alias.html (item urls are not picking up category of sub-category title alias)
3/ A basic question, does 'menu mapping' in the threads simply means creating the the menu structure such as parent and child items? or there is function that I need to turn on somewhere?
4/ in the second thread there is a mention of 'new extension for SEF Advance' which appears to achieve the goal, is it a new plug in? or just the advanced SEF under K2 options?

Once again, your advice is highly valued and much appreciated.

best regards

En Jie

1) each category needs to be mapped to an individual menu item
2) each of these menu items needs to match your K2 category structure

This will give you a URL structure that you want but does require a lot of setup if you have a lot of categories.

The SEF/Advanced SEF settings wont really change the URL layout i.e. give you nested category SEF URLs. I found K2 the settings to be a bit pointless for what I wanted.

Menu mapping is basically points (1) and (2) above. (category1/subcategory/subcategory/article)

The SEF Advanced extension apparently allows you to do the menu structure you are after without all of the menu work, however I have NEVER used it and cannot guarantee it will work. It could be an expensive mistake.

I am definitely of the opinion that this sort of URL behavior should be the default in K2 not something you need to summon spirits to get working.

I hope this helps

Hello Shoulders

Thank you so much for your time and advice. I only set up a couple of menus to try out - no wonder why it did not work. More work to do.

" am definitely of the opinion that this sort of URL behavior should be the default in K2 not something you need to summon spirits to get working." -cannot agree with more!

Best regards

En Jie

Hello Shoulders

I am at loss here and would much appreciate your assistance again.

I have now created menu items for all K2 categories and linked to the K2 categories as advised, but still getting item urls as: *****.com/item/id-item-alias.html

Questions:
1/ When you said 'each category needs to be mapped to an individual menu item', did you mean creating a menu item and linked to the category? (I am not entirely clear regarding the concept of 'map')
2/ is there somewhere I need to enable the 'menu mapping' function? (I am currently having k2 advanced SEF OFF)
3/ I have cleared cache, purged urls

Once again, I am at loss right now and would much appreciate the advice/assistance.

Best regards

En Jie

It is quite simple actually,

You either need to enable K2's advanced SEF

or) map each K2 category into a separate menu item (this is what I do).
Additionally you can create an empty K2 categories menu (leave the category selection empty) and call it eg: content. This way all orphan users and tags are rendered through that menu item.

or) Use a 3rd party SEF extension which supports K2.

It is that simple.

it is not simple, it is confusing.

i) You either need to enable K2's advanced SEF

This does not do what En Jie needs

ii) map each K2 category into a separate menu item (this is what I do).
Additionally you can create an empty K2 categories menu (leave the category selection empty) and call it eg: content. This way all orphan users and tags are rendered through that menu item.

This is not a good way of having dynamic content and I have no idea what orphan tags and users are. I just want nested category SEF. But the mapping of individual menu items to categories seems the only way to achieve this.

iii) Use a 3rd party SEF extension which supports K2.

This really is misleading. SEF Extensions can support K" but not give nested category SEF URLs. SH404SEF will not provide nested category SEF URLS, the only one that might is 'SEF Advanced'. I am assuming this because someone on one of the referenced threads says he has.


If anyone actually has a working system of K2 with nested category SEF URLS using a 3rd part SEF Extensions please let me know how you did it., preferably with examples.

Thanks as always

If you map each category into menu items then you can create submenus as well. Recreate the category structure into menu items.
This is the most efficient way.

Orphan tags and users are tags and user pages which are not mapped into any menu items.
Creating a blank menu item will give you nice URLs for these views as well.

Hi Both

Thank you so much for your effort to help.

Here is the site: staging.valleygreentea.com.au

As you can see under the menu 'blog', each category is linked to a menu item. The category/subcategory urls are nicely done, but the item urls are nothing like what is expected. I have cleared the cache and purged the urls many times. Made no difference here.

Looking forward to hear some advice on what is causing this?

best regards

En Jie

can you give me an example URL of a faulty article and tell me why the SEF URL is wrong so i know what i am looking at.

Also, I would not use .html it is old fashioned.

thanks

Jon

Hi Jon

Many thinks!

Category: staging.valleygreentea.com.au/blog/hot-topics.html (blog-top category; hot topic - subcategory; both linked to menu items)
Item: staging.valleygreentea.com.au/item/71-the-recent-surge-of-pu-erh-tea-prices-in-china.html (the url does not have a category nor subcategory, but 'item/id-'.)

regards

En Jie

Make sure that the item's category is not mapped in another menu item.
Generally having URLs start with /item/ instead of the /parent-menu/sub-menu/ indicate a conflict in the menu items.

Eg: mapping the same category in the home menu item and then in another menu item will produce this issue.

Hello Krikor

Once again, thank you for the message.

When I first saw the message, I thought a side bar menu (a module) with a category list might have caused this. I have since unpublished the module, purged the urls and cleared cache - made no difference.

The current menu (main menu) structure is as such:

blog (parent menu item) ---> VGT blog (K2 top category - the parent category of all other subcategories)
category menu items ---> k2 subcategories under the top category (one menu item to one category)
All items are under the subcategories, only one category for each item.

I must be missing something somewhere?

Best regards

En Jie

Apart from the sidebar issue, you do not need to unpublish the module.
If you need a category to appear in two separate menus, you can use the alias menu item.

purged the urls

Are you using any 3rd party SEO/ SEF extensions?

Hi again

Published and unpublished the side bar module did not make any difference to the urls of concern. I do not need these menu items to appear anywhere else apart from the main menu and the side bar if possible (consistent with the joomla layout of the rest of the site), but happy to turn it off to find out what is causing these undesired urls.

Yes, I use sh404sef on the site with K2 component configured to 'use default handler',

regards

En Jie

Hi again

I have attempted to turn sh404sef off and got urls as:

staging.valleygreentea.com.au/blog/hot-topics/2-current-events-and-hot-topics/the-recent-surge-of-pu-erh-tea-prices-in-china.html

where
'/hot-topics' --> menu title
'/2-current-events-and-hot-topics' --> category title

(both listed where there should only be one)

Best regards

En Jie

I have an Easy SEF extension which was submitted on K2 extends page but it's not approved yet. I think Easy SEF maybe help you change your Urls for the easy way. The extension is available for the both free and subscribe version.

You can download it here: Easy SEF

Thank you Vu Mai for the recommendation.

I would still like to deal with the urls without using an extension at this stage as I am trying not to make the site too complicated.

Will consider it if necessary in the future.

best regards

En Jie

'/hot-topics' --> menu title
'/2-current-events-and-hot-topics' --> category title

Is the current-events-and-hot-topics category mapped in the hot-topics menu item?
Does the hot-topics contain only one category?