I was going through my Google Search Console correcting problems that Google had uncovered when I came across this. Google is reporting that I have pages with multiple <title></title> entries. They all seem to be in the Forum.
HTML
powertrain swap? | Tons 'o Fun | The Stovebolt Forums
/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1100518
/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1102060
2
cummins 350 help | Big Bolts | The Stovebolt Forums
/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=448899&page=all
/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=449169&page=2
/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=449186&page=1
/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=449197
/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=449828&page=2
5
1958 GMC Parking lights | General Truck Talk | The Stovebolt Forums
/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1101107
/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=630311
/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=630335
3
'68 250 engine swap | The Engine Shop | The Stovebolt Forums
/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1079785
/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1080786
(This is just a sample. There's quite a few more.)
Looks like a loop type problem to me, but what do I know?
Server Information UBB.threads Version 7.7.5 Release 20201027 Server OS Linux Server Load 0.16 Web Server Apache/2.4.6 PHP Version 7.4.33 MYSQL Version 5.7.43 Database Size 1.85 GB
If you're having indexing issues you should first enable search engine friendly URLs with the fake html extension in the Control Panel (CP -> Master Settings -> Primary SEttings -> General Tab -> Advanced Options -> "Enable Spider-Friendly URLs" and "Enable HTML Extention")
Without Spider Friendly URLs Google sees all urls as "/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php" with qualifiers; at times it will drop the qualifiers on some URLs, resulting in some crawling errors.
Now would probably also be a good time to install this modification so that you're already setup for the v7.6.0 URL scheme; I even have support built for the v7.6.0 in the UBB.Sitemaps modification.
If you're having indexing issues you should first enable search engine friendly URLs with the fake html extension in the Control Panel (CP -> Master Settings -> Primary SEttings -> General Tab -> Advanced Options -> "Enable Spider-Friendly URLs" and "Enable HTML Extention")
Without Spider Friendly URLs Google sees all urls as "/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php" with qualifiers; at times it will drop the qualifiers on some URLs, resulting in some crawling errors.
Now would probably also be a good time to install this modification so that you're already setup for the v7.6.0 URL scheme; I even have support built for the v7.6.0 in the UBB.Sitemaps modification.
Gizmo, thanks, man. I didn't even know UBBThreads had Spider Friendly URLs available. I implemented it immediately. I'll take a look at the mod too.
Server Information UBB.threads Version 7.7.5 Release 20201027 Server OS Linux Server Load 0.16 Web Server Apache/2.4.6 PHP Version 7.4.33 MYSQL Version 5.7.43 Database Size 1.85 GB
Then visit here - https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/crawl-url-parameters?hl=en&siteUrl=https://www.YOURWEBSITE.com/
Add these items to your list - .html Cat PHPSESSID sb view words Limit
Set their qualifiers on GWT to "Let Googlebot decide"
These settings have been helpful for me since coming from 5.x, 6.x and 7.x versions before the SF-URLs were available.
BUT ULTIMATELY, if you want the spiders to get through your pages with less issues, turn on "Spider Friendly URLs" as Gizmo pointed out.
Thanks id242. When you add these parameters you have to select from two options: they do or do not affect or change the content. The answer is no to each of them, correct?
Server Information UBB.threads Version 7.7.5 Release 20201027 Server OS Linux Server Load 0.16 Web Server Apache/2.4.6 PHP Version 7.4.33 MYSQL Version 5.7.43 Database Size 1.85 GB
Those qualifiers mostly just change how the stuff on the screen is displayed, but the information is the generally same as far as what a search engine will munch on, or what it even has access to.
If you're moving to Spider-Friendly URLs, those items will mostly be unseen by spiders. But its good to have them since your site has been around for quite a long time and I'm sure many people have posted your links all over without the Spider-Friendly URLs style.
OK, I tried the mod, but it blew up my board. I did this:
PHP Code
// There should be no '&' or '&amp;' in the url, strip those JIC
$url = str_replace('&', '&', $url);
// Testing the new dash rather than underscore capability
/* $title = ubbchars($title);
$title = str_replace(' ', '_', trim($title));
$title = str_replace( '%', '_', $title );
$title = substr($title, 0, 30); */
//SEO-friendly URL String Converter
//ex) this is an example -> this-is-an-example
$title = str_replace(array("&"," "), " ", $title); //replace space and ampersand markup
$title = str_replace(array(""","'"), "", $title); //replace quote markup
$title = mb_convert_case($title, MB_CASE_LOWER, "UTF-8"); //convert to lowercase
$title = preg_replace("#[^A-Za-z0-9]+#", "-", $title); //replace everything non-alphameric with dashes
$title = preg_replace("#(-){2,}#", "$1", $title); //replace multiple dashes with one
$title = trim($title, "-"); //trim dashes from beginning and end of string if any
$title = substr($title, 0, 70);
and got an undefined function error. What did I do wrong?
Server Information UBB.threads Version 7.7.5 Release 20201027 Server OS Linux Server Load 0.16 Web Server Apache/2.4.6 PHP Version 7.4.33 MYSQL Version 5.7.43 Database Size 1.85 GB
Server Information UBB.threads Version 7.7.5 Release 20201027 Server OS Linux Server Load 0.16 Web Server Apache/2.4.6 PHP Version 7.4.33 MYSQL Version 5.7.43 Database Size 1.85 GB
I'm having the same issue. I have friendly URLs enabled and have all the parameters added to webmaster tools. Clearly, the issue is the number following the word 'topics'.
Do you think there is anything that can be done about this?
I can only assume that you implemented the code changes as well as friendly urls and now Google is re-indexing your site. So that can take quite some time. In the meantime you will have a lot of duplication till it settles down. It could take a very very long time.(Weeks,Months) Unless possibly you resubmit a sitemap(Giz hack)
Probably something Giz and Id242 should have mentioned.
Blue Man Group There is no such thing as stupid questions. Just stupid answers
I can only assume that you implemented the code changes as well as friendly urls and now Google is re-indexing your site. So that can take quite some time. In the meantime you will have a lot of duplication till it settles down. It could take a very very long time.(Weeks,Months) Unless possibly you resubmit a sitemap(Giz hack)
Probably something Giz and Id242 should have mentioned.
Was there something Giz or myself should have mentioned that did not get mentioned?
Driv's screenshot does not look like he has the "Better URL Sanitization for SEO" installed. He looks to be running stock code. If Driv does choose to manually install this fix/solution, a complete write-up can be found @ https://www.ubbcentral.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/255500
Not sure where your screen shot is from DRIV but this is my HTML improvements, omg. . . If you can direct me to where you got the duplicate info i can check mine.
I did spot a crawler issue with Mobile devices. Click Me
Last edited by Mark S; 09/04/20151:03 PM.
BOOM !! Version v7.6.1.1 People who inspire me IsaacME Gizmo
So if its "Topics" Webmaster tools is reporting back that's more than 50% duplicates. If its posts its only a small fraction, im not really sure which it is.
At the time of sharing the screen shots im using 7.5.8 and not using the Better URL Sanitization for SEO. I have just implemented the Better URL Sanitization for SEO. So lets see where we go.
IGNORE THIS IMAGE its for another topic, but i cant upload there.
Last edited by Mark S; 09/06/20157:09 AM.
BOOM !! Version v7.6.1.1 People who inspire me IsaacME Gizmo