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Data import from sh404SEF into 4SEF

4SEF is mostly backward-compatible with sh404SEF and will create the same SEF URLs as sh404SEF would have, under the same configuration.

When switching a website from sh404SEF to 4SEF, for instance in preparation to moving to Joomla 4+, data from sh404SEF can be imported using a simple wizard, in order to achieve the smoothest possible transition.

Importing into 4SEF from sh404SEF is supported from the latest sh404SEF version only. It may - and will usuallly - work from older versions but we cannot support that option.

4SEF feature scope

sh404SEF is an integrated extension that not only manages SEF URLs but also several SEO aspects of running a website.

4SEF only handles SEF URLs. All still-relevant SEO features present in sh404SEF have already been taken over by 4SEO, our all-in-one SEO extension, which also adds many SEO features that were not available in sh404SEF.

4SEF is not sh404SEF

The 4SEF import wizard imports configuration and data that is relevant to SEF URLs. Other data types such as custom meta-data or custom redirects can only be processed by 4SEO.

An import wizard has been added to 4SEO from version 2.0 and up that import metadata and redirects. Documentation for this 4SEO import wizard is on this page of 4SEO documentation.

Support for dedicated sh404SEF plugins

4SEF does not know how to use SEF URLs plugin that may have been written for sh404SEF in order to build SEF URLs for specific extensions. These will have to be rewritten in accordance to 4SEF new plugin format.

Community Builder and Kunena plugins

sh404SEF add built-in support for Community Builder and Kunena. Considering the low use, these plugins have not been added to 4SEF. CB and Kunena URL can be imported just like any others, but new URLs created for these 2 extensions after switching to 4SEF will use the normal Joomla SEF URLs structure.

Metadata and redirects

4SEF does not import custom metadata or redirects that were created with sh404SEF. This is not an omission, simply, 4SEF does not manage metadata or redirects.

An importer for sh404SEF metadata and redirects has been added to 4SEO since version 2.0.

Prerequisites

Upgrading from sh404SEF

The sh404SEF import wizard can only work if sh404SEF is installed on the site. Therefore, you need to switch to 4SEF BEFORE removing sh404SEF from your site. sh404SEF can be disabled but it has to be installed so that 4SEO can read its configuration.

What if I already uninstalled sh404SEF?

Install it back. If you already uninstalled sh404SEF, and 4SEF does not offer to import data from it, sh404SEF data and configuration is usually still there.

You can usually install back sh404SEF, without enabling it and 4SEF will again be able to detect it and import from it.

What if I already upgraded to Joomla 4+?

In that case, SEF URLs can still be imported from the database, but not sh404SEF configuration. You will have to manually configure 4SEF to match the previous sh404SEF configuration, in order for it to build the same SEF URLs.

Starting an import

All data import from sh404SEF into 4SEF is done through an import wizard. This wizard is displayed if sh404SEF is detected on the website:

  • right after you install 4SEF for the first time

sh404SEF import wizard displayed at 4SEF startup

  • at any later time, by using the Import from sh404SEF button on the SEF URLs page toolbar.

sh404SEF import wizard toolbar button on the SEF URLs page