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Per extension SEF URL configuration

URL structure can be configured separately for each extension:

Extension to configure selector

There are 2 types of options for each extension

Actual available options only appear after you select an extension in the selector

Shared configuration options

The following options exist for all extension used on your site:

Options shared amongst all extensions

  • Normal: Created URLs are stored in the database. 4SEF uses its built-in or 3-rd party provided plugins to build URLs. If no plugin is found, it fallbacks on using the SEF URL Joomla would have built for that page
  • Joomla SEF: Created URLs are stored in the database. 4SEF does not use its built-in plugins but always uses the SEF URL Joomla would have built for that page. This will be the most backward-compatible operation mode if your site has already been indexed by search engines but some of 4SEF benefits are lost, such as having URLs independent of menu structure
  • Bypass: 4SEF uses the Joomla-generated URLs and does not store them to the database. This reduces the number of URL stored in the database but brings back so sub-optimal Joomla behavior, whereby URLs that should trigger a 404 won't anymore, and URLs may change if you change your menu structure.
  • Leave as non-sef: URLs will be left in their original, internal Joomla form, similar to index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=123. This can only be useful in very specific circumstances, rarely found on modern setups.

Specific configuration options

These options are different for each extension, and there actually may not be any for some of them. Each option is accompanied by a small help text describing its purpose and usage, which you should consult directly.

Purge URLs after changing URL options

You must Purge or delete URLs after changing configuration

As 4SEF-generated URLs are permanent, any change to the URLs construction options requires you to delete existing URLs (found on the SEF URLs list) so that new ones can be re-created - automatically, taking into account the new settings.

You can either delete only some URLs, or use the Purge button on the SEF URLs list page toolbar to delete ALL URLs in one go.

Purging all URLs is frequent when developing a website, when configuration changes are frequent but should normally not happen after the site has been open to the public - and to search engines.