Dynamic XML Sitemap for Google ModuleExtension Specific Addon

This is a dynamic sitemap module with template that creates an XML list (in the Google sitemap format) of all content on your site with options to show or hide categories & sections and restricted content. Allows for manually entered links so you can include pages that are not generated by the module. For example: links from installed components are not included yet in the sitemap, but you can include these links by editing the module parameters. Just separate all URLs with a space and they will be added to the sitemap.


Work in Progress:
1. Add Kunena Forum links


2010-03-20: Improved on VirtueMart links and added option to append product name and category name to the URL.

2010-03-20: Added product links for VirtueMart to the PLAIN.PHP file only, they won't show if you're using the SEF feature. Also added the option to "turn off" lastmod tags (date) for those of you who don't have created or modified dates for your articles for whatever reason. Just turn this off and Google will accept your sitemap.

2010-03-11: Fixed a bug in the "plain" view and corrected a db prefix in the helper file. If you're getting an error using the non-SEF links or if your database doesn't use jos_ as the table prefix, try installing this update.

2010-02-05: Added option for SEF links.

2009/11/03: Corrected "Catchable fatal error" problem.

2009/11/02: Corrected empty tag that was printing at the bottom of the sitemap & creating a 404 error in google. It appeared only if you didn't enter any manual URLs.

2009/09/28: Now allows for manually entered links (i.e. links that don't show up on the dynamically generated list can be entered in the module parameters so they are included).



Please see the README file for installation and troubleshooting steps.

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bydejuredefacto on March 8, 2010
Big thanks for this module.

It will be more cool if it can add virtuemart links to xml map. In topic we see that the work in progress, at which date you are going to realize this?
Owner's reply

Well, I have a LOT going on right now but I know people are asking for this feature so I will get it done as soon as I can. It is definitely a priority. Thanks!

byStudio52 on February 27, 2010
The Google XML Sitemap works great and while still under development with Kunena and Virtuemart, we discovered that it didn't pick up on K2 either. This would be fantastic once the project covers these but in the meantime, we'll have to use it for just basic sites :(
Owner's reply

I don't know what K2 is...if you can email me a link to the extension I can add it to my list.

byRenovarIT on February 25, 2010
Very good, does exactly what it says!

Note if you're having problems: it does not include "uncategorised" pages, so you'll have to create a category for them to include them.
bymulia24 on January 5, 2010
thank you so much for making simple but powerful module like this, i've used 3 extensions for sitemap and all of them result in my website ruined because of installing addon, too much configuring and other. your extension is much simpler. keep the good job up. pardon for bad english ^.^
bypeteru6 on December 13, 2009
First the good news...

Installation went without a hitch thanks to clear, precise instructions. Had a dump of my sitemap in less than 5 minutes after installing the module and template.

Unfortunately...

I have been looking high and low for a tool to create a sitemap for my VirtueMart installation and this does not appear to do it. There is a place where links can be added manually. I will play with this but I don't think it will get me there. In all fairness, VirtueMart compatibility was not promised.

Also, I was surprised to see that the sitemap did not report SEF URLs. I am using sh404SEF to avoid all the php code throughout the website, but it was the php links that were reported.

I will update this review if I am able to make this work for my needs.
Owner's reply

You are the second person to request SEF so I will definitely move that to the top of my list. I will also look into adding VirtueMart links. All component links are really by request only because there are too many out there to support them all...I'm not quite knowledgeable enough about Joomla! and PHP to make that an automatic thing yet.

I will start working on the SEF immediately and VirtueMart will be next...assuming it's a free component I can add to my test site...? Email me if you have any other requests for features. I'm happy to give it shot!

Thanks!

byLochMan on December 11, 2009
This is just what I was looking for: a neat and simple solution to generating a Google sitemap. I tried Xmap first but kept getting permission errors on the installation and no help at all from the Xmap forum. The module functions rather differently to the normal components with which I am more familiar but is just perfect for what I want. I think this is worth a big "Thank you!" to the developer for seeing the need and providing an excellent solution.
Instructions for installation were accurate, and setup was easy to do, basically set the module position as recommended (although I would think one could use any new module position name, not just the one recommended).

The sitemap generated isn't in XML format, so I'm not sure why it's called that, except perhaps to relate to Google's naming.

The generated output is just a list of site links. For my site, they all started as "index.php/xxxx", so I had to add my site URL in the setup, as recommended.

Also, the output does not have CRLF codes. In fact, it appears as if each link is just separated by a single space. At least, that's how it looks when I copy/paste the output into a notepad browser.

I'd like to see each line ended with CRLF (for Windows), or perhaps just LF (for Linux), or an option.

An option to actually generate XML (for data manipulation) might be nice, but if Google accepts as is, then it's not important to me.

Lastly, visiting the author's web site and viewing their site map, they don't appear to use this component. Perhaps they are using a wordpress installation, etc. But, this also wasn't important to me.
Owner's reply

Hi tabletguy,

The sitemap is in XML format. If it isn't showing up that way on your site, then I can certainly take a look at it for you. That's the whole purpose of it, so if you don't see JUST the XML when you view it, then it isn't set up properly.

The module position HAS to be "dynamicxmls" otherwise the template won't be able to pull it up and the template is where the XML tags start. If you don't use the template to pull up the module, then it won't generate the proper XML format and Google won't accept it.

This isn't a sitemap to list on your site. It's an XML sitemap that you submit to Google for indexing. I am not using a wordpress installation. I am using Joomla!...and this module...you can see it when you click on "Demo" above.

If you send me an email at the above address I can help you fix any problems you are having.

Thanks for the review!

Easy to install and does just what it says it will do. Makes it easy to have an "always up-to-date" sitemap for Google without adding extra work. Developer is responsive and helpful.
byrgtr on November 3, 2009
Hi all, well submitting pages to google with restricted content needs addressing - and i just installed this tool.

The word "publish" in the instructions foxed me at first.

What she means is (after installation) is to go to the module manager and
1) enable it - select and use enable button
2) set the properties by double clicking it - especially to set the position - which is actually the template name

that was all a doddle.

what i am not sure of is having submitted my site to google - how the sitemap xml is generated, or whether in fact it actually is . . .

richard
Owner's reply

lol thanks Richard for your review. Hopefully we'll get it working for you soon. I did mean "enable" instead of "publish"...thank's for pointing that out. I will fix the README and the info above tonight.