.htaccess newby
-
Sorry to ask a really dumb question. I want to sort out a load of old 404 errors. I've exported the list of URL and I'm more than happy to go through that and work out what needs to go where.
After that my only option at the moment is to use the re-direct function in my WordPress install and do all the work manually. There are loads to do so I want to be able to upload all the re-directs.
I know I need to create a htaccess file and upload it. I know where to upload it.
This is where I get nervous. I need to get this file right. Is there a really obvious idiots file which I can use and then save as the correct file type? I've got all the URLs in a CSV at the moment.
Sorry for being a bit thick. Hope you can help.
-
Tested and all working!
-
Thanks for that.
All done now, fingers crossed!
Richard
-
Yeah, that looks to be the right file. So, in this case, I'd put the new redirects right after the current redirect.
redirect permanent /index.html http://www.global-lingo.com/index.php
PUT NEW REDIRECTS HERE
BEGIN WordPress
Let me know if that works!
-
Got one.
This is the content - not certain that's what I need?
redirect permanent /index.html http://www.global-lingo.com/index.php
BEGIN WordPress
<ifmodule mod_rewrite.c="">RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]</ifmodule>END WordPress
-
Ah, I see what you are saying. You want to download the one from the site root for redirects. Typically, that is going to be something like a /public_html or /httpdocs folder. Do you have an htaccess file there?
-
That's what I want to do. But I can't be sure I have the right file. There are .htaccess files in a few folders
Thanks for bearing with me Matthew
-
Hey -
Glad you got everything in the right format!
Can you download your current .htaccess file via FTP? I'd download that and then add the new redirects at the bottom of the file and then upload the file. Be sure to save a backup of the htaccess file before you make changes.
Let me know if that works? Thanks,
Matthew -
Ok now I'm stuck again!
I have the list, in the right format, thanks to Matthew.
I can see where to upload the file, but now I'm worried that it will replace all my existing redirects. From the WordPress site I can't see where I can export all the existing redirects so that I could at least add my new ones to the existing ones and upload a new file.
Any ideas guys?
-
Brilliant, thanks Matthew
-
Hey Richard,
You are really close! In column A, do a find for "http://www.global-lingo.com" and replace with nothing. That way you are left with:
A = /news/2009/12/news-internet-translations/
B = http://www.global-lingo.com/blog/
C = redirect 301 /news/2009/12/news-internet-translations/ http://www.global-lingo.com/blog/
Thanks,
Matthew -
Hi Matthew,
Sorry, pretty nervous now!
Here's what I have in the columns
A = http://www.global-lingo.com/news/2009/12/news-internet-translations/
B = http://www.global-lingo.com/blog/
C = redirect 301 http://www.global-lingo.com/news/2009/12/news-internet-translations/ http://www.global-lingo.com/blog/
I think I got a little lost with the full URL in column A. What should I remove? Or have a got it correct? Sorry to use the real URL I just want to make sure I get this correct.
Thanks
Richard
-
Hi Matthew,
That is the perfect answer, thank you so much. Just creating the file was where I was getting stuck and knowing what to put in the columns.
what I have at the moment is:
Column A = 404 url
Column B = URL I want
That solution is perfect, I'm more than happy using that!
-
Hi Richard,
Updating htaccess files can be tricky, especially with that risk of wrecking your site if you do something wrong. So, not a dumb question at all.
WordPress is a great way to add redirects, but if you are dealing with hundreds that can equal a lot of time.
So, if you are looking for a way to quickly build the htaccess file vs. doing everything manually in WordPress, my trick is use to a concatenation function in Excel. That way I can write hundreds of redirects at once and then copy the resulting text into the htaccess file.
The general idea is you have your old URL path in col A, the new URL (full URL) in column B, and then in column C, you'd have a formula that looks something like this (obviously line numbers might change):
="redirect 301 " & A2 & " " & B2
You could then copy column C and add that to your .htaccess file. Of course, back up the htacecss file first. The only word of caution would be to make sure you have valid paths in column A (no special characters, no full URLs, etc.).
Hope that helps.
-
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the quick response. That's why I'm being very careful. I have used the re-direction tool but as there are quite a lot to do I was looking for some way to create one big file and then upload rather than copy and paste nearly 300 entries
-
Hey Richard
This isn't a thick question at all - you're very wise to take care with this. A faulty .htaccess file can cause chaos!
Just wanted to make a suggestion - if you're running WordPress have you tried the Redirection plugin? It does all of the rewriting for you - just pop in the old URL and the new URL and you're on your way. Comes with a few other features too and has had tons of downloads over the years.
If you want to go down the route of self-education, check out the SEOMoz redirection guide and also this blog post on some useful .htaccess snippets.
I'd recommend using the redirection plugin for 2-3 urls, check it works then look at the generated .htaccess file in your website's backend. From there, you can see the correct format and filetype etc. If the tool works, just continue to use it.
Hope this helps!
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
301 Redirects for Multiple Language Sites in htaccess File
Hi everyone, I have a site on a subdomain that has multiple languages set up at the domain level: https://mysite.site.com, https://mysite.site.fr , https://mysite.site.es , https://mysite.site.de , etc. We are migrating to a new subdomain and I am trying to create 301 redirects within the htaccess file, but I am a bit lost on how to do this as it seems you have to go from a relative url to an absolute - which would be fine if I was only doing this for the english site, but I'm not. It doesn't seem like I can go from absolute url to an absolute url - but I could be wrong. I am new to editing the htaccess file - so I could definitely use some advice here. Thanks.
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | amberprata0 -
How to redirect an url in .htaccess when "redirect 301" doesnt work
I have an odd page url, generated by a link from an external website, it has: %5Cu0026size=27.4KB%5Cu0026p=dell%20printers%20uk%5Cu0026oid=333302b6be58eaa914fbc7de45b23926%5Cu0026ni=21%5Cu0026no=24%5Cu0026tab=organic%5Cu0026sigi=11p3eqh65%5Cu0026tt=Dell%205210n%20A4%20Mono%20Laser%20Printer%20from%20Printer%20Experts%5Cu0026u=fb ,after a .jpg image url, and I can't get it redirect using the redirect 301 in .htaccess to the properly image url as I use to do with the rest of not found urls eg: /15985.jpg%5Cu0026size=27.4KB%5Cu0026p=dell%20printers%20uk%5Cu0026oid=333302b6be58eaa914fbc7de45b23926%5Cu0026ni=21%5Cu0026no=24%5Cu0026tab=organic%5Cu0026sigi=11p3eqh65%5Cu0026tt=Dell%205210n%20A4%20Mono%20Laser%20Printer%20from%20Printer%20Experts%5Cu0026u=fb to just: /15985.jpg
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | Status0 -
Can some brilliant mozzer out there teach a moron/newbie like me how to 301 redirect several URL's I have?
Okay - I am a supermodel. I look pretty. My legs are amazing. My cheekbones are high. But when it comes to 301 redirects I am the ugliest supermodel on the block. Crap, here is the truth: I am not even a supermodel. I am just a middle-aged, goofy looking dude who is a newbie to fixing websites. I have inherited several sites from a friend and I have been helping by creating solid contextual links internally and externally for a while. But, when Roger the wondrous SEOMoz robot talks to me, he says, "oops, it looks like your foolish freak self has a site that has both a www. and a non-www, which can create competition for yourself." What do I do when he says that? I just whisper a "thank-you" but gently press the skip this step button and go on with my life because I do not know how to make my non-www.'s redirect into the www. sites... Now, I have sort of asked this question on the site before, but I was answered by someone who does not understand my level of ignorance. any use of the word canonical or just put this lfwjkshj.htp/php inside the left ear of your mom, does not tell me anything so, is there any willing and kind soul who can walk me through redirecting several of my sites to their proper home - kind of like Carl Chubbs Weathers did for Happy Gilmore in that Academy Award winning classic? Thanks for the help in advance best, dumbhead
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | creativeguy0 -
301 Redirect using rewrite rule in .htaccess
Hi guys, I have these types of URLs with the format below that are seen as duplicate contents http://www.mysite.com/index.php?a=11&b=15&d=3&c=1 I wanted to permanently redirect them to my homepage. I am thinking if this is possible in .htaccess using rewrite conditions? Thanks in advance...
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | Trigun0 -
What are the best strategies to organize a htaccess full of 301 re-directs
I have a client with a htaccess file that is a total mess! What are the best practices to organize all the re-directs, and make it more manageable in the future. Any resources would be appreciated.
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | anchorwave0 -
Google Product Feed Newbie Question
Hi, I don't know much of anything about Google Pruduct Feeds. Here is my starting point on thia: 1. Is this really free? We'd be doing it without Google checkout, just landing on our own pages with our own checkout. 2. Where do you upload the file? 3. What determines if you come up or not as a result? Any strategy or tactics involved? 4. We're the manufacturer of a product and late to the product feed game. The description that Google has used for our products is not ours or great. How do we change that product description that Google has for our products? Thanks!
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | 945010 -
I need help with htaccess redirect
Hi guys, we have the domain cheats.co.uk, it has always displayed as cheats.co.uk without the www. However it is now showing 2 version of the site, both the www. and the non www. version. I know how to add to the htaccess folder to get the non www. version going to the www. version but i am worried about doing this because the non www. version has always been the one indexed in Google and has a page rank of 3. Should i in fact be redirecting the www.version to the non www. version to keep page rank etc? or will page rank be passed over etc if i redirect to the www. version I hope thats clear Thanks guys Jon
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | imrubbish0 -
Htaccess funny characters
Hi Panda update,tickled, slapped and then punched us. I'm now weeding through crawl errors, one of them is http://www.flasharcadegamessite.com/26226-paper-airplane-flight.html">paper airplane flight I tried 301 this to it's proper page using Redirect 301 /26226-paper-airplane-flight.html">paper airplane flight http://www.flasharcadegamessite.com/26226-paper-airplane-flight.html but the server starts spitting out 500 errors. How does one add that rule into htaccess ? thanks
Intermediate & Advanced SEO | | Flapjack0