URL Structure changed after updating to Joomla 3.8.4

[petmug]

Steps to reproduce the issue

I recently updated to joomla 3.8.4 from 3.8.3.

This affected the urls that were linked recently from around six months ago. The old urls same way generated are still okay..

Expected result

http://www.researchtopichelp.net/2-topic-help/18-dba-new-research-ideas

Actual result

http://www.researchtopichelp.net/component/content/article/2-topic-help/18-dba-new-research-ideas

System information (as much as possible)

joomla 3.8.4 updated yesterday

Additional comments

the addition of "/component/content/article" is the issue.

Please any help urgently before i get lots of 404 pages

Thanks

[OctavianC]

Please see #19497 (it's a long read) and could you test if #19498 solves your issue?

[petmug]

I did that and i get a url with

"menu-alias" instead of the "/component/content/article"

That still creates a new link that is not resolving my issue... then

1. why is it that the old article urls not affected?/
2. If I have to have all new URls then my old URLs that are indexed will be lost and that will hurt my SEO
3. Is there a way I can retain my old urlS AS THEY WERE?
   Thanks

[csthomas]

You can create (instead "menu-alias") menu item "Category Blog" or "Category List" for your category "topic help" with alias "2-topic-help".

[petmug]

Hi, thanks.. that resolves the articles in the category topic help, how about the articles in the other categories, or i repeat the same procedure and use the respective category alias as well..
Last question, will the old urls at some point start getting affected?
Thanks for your help.

[csthomas]

Usual folks do not create a menu item for category with alias like "2-topic-help" but only "topic-help".
But for you this is probably not a solution.

If you have more top categories without any menu item then the simplest way is to repeat the procedure.

[petmug]

let me deal, if i face any issues I will contact... I just dread future updates that would mess all this.. I just want to retain my urls TO AVOID hurting SEO..

Thanks alot..

[joomla-cms-bot]

Set to "closed" on behalf of @franz-wohlkoenig by The JTracker Application at issues.joomla.org/joomla-cms/19505

[ghost]

closed as Issue solved; it can always reopened if needed.

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[petmug]

Hello, the trick is working for articles under categories but not those under subcategories.
Am stuck

[petmug]

Is there no remedy for this issue or it means we just have to get new structured urls...

[joomla-cms-bot]

Set to "open" on behalf of @franz-wohlkoenig by The JTracker Application at issues.joomla.org/joomla-cms/19505

[ghost]

reopened as stated above.

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[csthomas]

You can use component redirect in joomla or you can add a redirect command in .htaccess file.

Is there no remedy for this issue or it means we just have to get new structured urls...

In 3.8.4 there is a "new structured urls", which is correct, but they are different that links from 3.8.3.

In the next version 3.8.5 this changes will be (in 99%) reverted
and IMO Joomla will have to live longer with incorrect (from the technical point of view) generated links (as before 3.8.3).

[petmug]

I kindly need your help with the kind of redirect command that I can add in .htaccess file.
As I wait for 3.8.5 release.

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[petmug]

and the redirect command that can handle all urls and remove the ""/component/content/article" part in the new redirected URLs..

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[joomdonation]

@csthomas Is the PR #19512 solve this issue, too? If Yes, I think @petmug can apply that PR using com_patchtester instead of waiting for 3.8.5

[csthomas]

Is the PR #19512 solve this issue, too?

Yes, it may be the simplest way.

[csthomas]

General advice:

For each article in the category tree, where neither (category) has its own menu item, and the article
does not have its own menu item, there may always be a problem with positioning and duplicate URLs.

[petmug]

I totally agree on your advice above; Infact I started seeing the effect months ago and bought some extensions.. what is then the long term best suggestion.. for consideration.

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[brianteeman]

Closed as the routing changes have been reverted for 3.8.5 with #19512

[petmug]

Hello, I am, back again with some observation. I created menu items for my categories (category list) under which my articles are grouped. (meaning each article has a menu item id of the category.
I used the modern routing option in articles integration option..

This is my challenge, any link I anchor or link up now is showing okay e.g
Link a) https://www.petrianeditingservice.co.uk/capstone-correction/review-assistants

but those links that were existing never are showing a new structure UNLESS i un-link and link them again...

they look like
Link b) https://www.petrianeditingservice.co.uk/?view=article&id=46:review-assistants

Link a and b are same article, one is showing in some pages and the other in others...

What should I do to correct this?
Any automatic way to update the urls rather that manual un-linking and re-linking?

Peter

[petmug]

with further research

old url are
index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48:editing-helpers&catid=17**:research-proposal&Itemid=101**

New ones are like...
index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48:editing-helpers&catid=17

Is there a way I can automatically update and remove the :research-proposal&Itemid=101 which is the homepage item it + alias on all the older links..

Peter

[ghost]

@petmug please ask help on the forums. This repository concerns in first Place Joomla-Core coding, thanks.