#4287 – sh404sef selecting the wrong non SEF URL

We have K2 and the extension 'Filter for K2' installed in our clients Joomla site. The plugin 'Filter for K2' allows for a filtered search of K2 items in a category on the site.

When we perform a filtered search (select preconfigured criteria from a list of options) we get the correct results which span several pages—so far so good.

The problem comes when we use the multi-page navigation: we can click on the forward arrows to go from page 1 to page 2 to page 3 and so on. When we go backwards from page 3 to page 2 everything is ok, but when we navigate back to page 1 using the arrows we get a blank white page. The developer of Filter for K2 has told us that that they fixed the problem—that it is with sh404sef not selecting the correct non SEF URL.

sh404sef does recognize the non SEF URLs and name the individual K2 items properly.

Our problem is with sh404sef not selecting the correct URL for page 1 of the filtered search.

Further, each time we perform an update of sh404sef, we have to fix multiple non SEF URLs. This is very frustrating and time consuming to do this on a large website, so we tend to avoid updating sh404

Comments below:


Our problem is with sh404sef not selecting the correct URL for page 1 of the filtered search.
sh404SEF never "selects" the non-sef URL. The extensions/Joomla put a non-sef URL in their output. Before this output is being displayed, we take the non-sef that the extension has put in their output, and turn it into a SEF.
—Yes and sh404 selects the wrong non-sef URL string.

we tend to avoid updating sh404
If you are not using the latest version of sh404SEF, it's not even worth discussing. This will be a pre-requisite for any support session, including this one.
—We do keep it updated but we end up having to fix things when we do, and means going through the entire website to test. Currently installed: sh404SEF v4.11.0.3643

Further, each time we perform an update of sh404sef, we have to fix multiple non SEF URLs.
You need to be technical and specific: what do you mean by that? with real and full no-sef and SEF URLs. What is that you "fix"?
— When we update sh404 or create a new Joomla article, it sometimes selects the wrong duplicate non-sef URL and we have to go in and change it to the correct non-sef URL so that the article displays. Otherwise we gat a blank white web page.

The developer of Filter for K2 has told us that that they fixed the problem—that it is with sh404sef not selecting the correct non SEF URL.


1 - What are the full and real SEF and non-SEF URLs we are talking about here?

To clarify the process:
• First, the URL for the default landing page is (navigating using Joomla menu): https://www.xxxx.com/brokerage-boats.html
• Once there, filter the results (sailboats/31-35ft) and you get this URL string for the first filtered landing page of 3 pages: https://www.xxxx.com/test-results.html?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&task=filterfork2&mid=279&Itemid=1077&f%5Bg%5D%5B51%5D=2&f%5Bg%5D%5B49%5D=2
• Next, navigate to page 2 and you get this URL (notice the /page-2 in the string): https://www.xxxx.com/test-results/page-2.html?f[g][51]=2&f[g][49]=2
• Then navigate back to page 1 and you get this URL string and a blank white page: https://www.xxxx.com/test-results.html?f[g][51]=2&f[g][49]=2
• The CORRECT URL string should be this: https://www.xxxx.com/test-results/page-1.html?f[g][51]=2&f[g][49]=2
—I cannot identify which SEF URL in sh404 needs to be fixed. I've attached a screen shot of the options in SEF URLs

2 - what is the correct and the "bad" one? if that filter plugin created at some point some "bad" non-sef URLs, have you deleted them from the URL database?

• I've listed the correct and bad URLs above BUT I cannot identify which SEF URL needs to be fixed in sh404. (see attached)

Looking at the SEF URL for test-results.html I find the following non-SEF URLs (the first one listed is the MAIN one selected:

index.php?
option=com_k2&Itemid=1077&lang=en&task=filterfork2%27A%3D0&view=itemlist

index.php?
option=com_k2&Itemid=1077&lang=en&mid=279&task=filterfork2&view=itemlist

index.php?
option=com_k2&Itemid=1077&lang=en&mid=279%27A%3D0&task=filterfork2&view=itemlist

index.php?
option=com_k2&Itemid=1077&lang=en&limit=10&limitstart=0&mid=279&task=filterfork2&view=itemlist

Update—

It SEEMS that switching from the first non-sef URL in test-results.html to the second one fixes the problem:

This one works:

index.php?
option=com_k2&Itemid=1077&lang=en&mid=279&task=filterfork2&view=itemlist


HOWEVER—each time we update sh404 it doesn't keep the correct non-SEF URL. Instead it changes it and we have to go in and fix it each time.

We rarely ever purge URLs.

The only time we have ever done that is if we make a major change to the sites structure such as navigation, changed/added categories, and/or moved articles around. In fact we try not to touch sh404.

In the past 7 years on this site we've done that twice but not in the past 12 months.

In fact if something is wrong with the site, sh404 is the first place we look and 90% of the time (or so it seems) thats where we end up fixing the problem.

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