Converting HTML to wordpress - URL suffixes

Discussion in 'Link Development' started by Topfrog007, Nov 19, 2009.

  1. #1
    Hi everyone,

    I've been wanting to convert an old HTML site I have to wordpress for a while now. I think I've gotten everything figured out on how to set it up, I just have one question regarding URL's.

    My current HTML site has some backlinks which I would like to keep. They are in the url structure of: site.com/article.HTML

    The new wordpress site will have the URL structure of: site.com/article
    ... no .HTML.

    What is the best way to keep my backlinks, a permanent redirect to the new structure?

    TIA
     
    Topfrog007, Nov 19, 2009 IP
  2. averyz

    averyz Well-Known Member

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    #2
    301 redirect or you could just name the new pages .html
     
    averyz, Nov 19, 2009 IP
  3. Topfrog007

    Topfrog007 Active Member

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    #3
    Thanks for the tip.

    I just tried renaming an article's permalink to have .html on the end and it automatically takes the "." off. So what you end up with is site.com/articlehtml

    Unless I'm doing it wrong?
     
    Topfrog007, Nov 19, 2009 IP
  4. averyz

    averyz Well-Known Member

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    #4
    Sorry for the bad info.
    I just tried that on one of my sites and it takes off the . and puts a / on the end.

    You can do it on Drupal, but I guess it might not work on WP
     
    averyz, Nov 19, 2009 IP
  5. Topfrog007

    Topfrog007 Active Member

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    #5
    No problem appreciate the attempt. Actually your post led me to find the solution!

    From the wordpress permalinks guide:


    %postname%.html
    Code (markup):
    The above code should go in the settings page/permalinks in the custom structure box. This would give the structure of site.com/article.html

    Note that this does not generate static .html files. It only adds the .html extension, pages are still being dynamically generated. The SEO benefit to this is debatable, but it can be useful should you need to migrate away from WordPress, since the pages can easily be made static and retain their URL structure.

    WordPress versions prior to 2.3 lacked canonical URLs, making .html something very beneficial to add (forcing the URL to be canonical). Now it only provides limited, if any SEO benefits (see External Resources for further analysis
     
    Topfrog007, Nov 20, 2009 IP