joomla and google sitemaps

[cmendla]

I want to verify a Joomla based site with google sitemaps. I saw some extensions to do this.

However, I would prefer not to be too dependant on extensions. I am not adverse to working with the php code . I already did that with the template for the analytics code.

I was just wondering if anyone else put the verification in the code directly

thankx

[ergophobe]

So you mean you just need the verification code for Google Webmaster Tools?

Assuming I'm not misunderstanding entirely.... Frankly, I've always just used the html file option rather than having to go in and add a meta tag just for the one "client" that will access it.

[google.com...]

[T_Miller]

HTML file verification is the way to go. One file uploaded FTP and you're done. And you didn't hack/mod/tweak any other site files for just one purpose.

[cmendla]

The problem I was having with HTML verification had something to do with the way google was receiving 404 pages. The details of the issue are about 3/4 of the way down on

[google.com...]

The problem is that I had custom 404 pages and somehow that returns a 200(found) in the header and the verification process doesn't like that.

I've moved all of my sites to one host so I can look into changing the server settings to provide a 404 return for custom 404 pages.

I have gotten a little more familiar with the Joomla templates so I believe I could go the meta tag route if I need to.

thanks

cg

[ergophobe]

>>custom 404 pages and somehow that returns a 200(found)

Arr! This is usually the CMS fault, but it sounds like it was your host?

It's one of those things that aggravates my inner geek. For a while one app (I think it was Gallery) would return "404 OK" - the 404 is the only part that matters accd to the HTTP spec, but still!

Anyway, it's always good to check a new install with LiveHTTPHeaders. It's shocking how many CMS mess this up with their internal 404 handling. Of all the things *not* to get wrong, it seems like compliance with the HTTP spec would be just about tops (more than HTML validation, for example).

So anyway do you have the 404 problem sorted out now?

[cmendla]

Update - I finally got the template the way I want so I just added the meta tags. No big deal. If I need to change the template, google and yahoo will gripe about verification so I can just add them again.

As far as the 404 issue, I need to get myself a little smarter on that issue (among a million plus others :))

[ergophobe]

I guess you do *need* to get smarter about 404s, but you shouldn't *have* to! This should be handled automatically by a properly configured server running a correctly coded CMS. It used to drive me crazy that Gallery, Drupal and WP got this wrong, but they fixed it and I thought every CMS had nailed this by now.

It's one of those things like coding for IE4 that just shouldn't be your concern anymore.