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OpenSEF 2 Review

Thu, 2006-09-28 01:10 — maxx
This component is no longer supported by the original developer. The project may be dead at this point.
The last time I wrote about OpenSEF I was excited about it but it still felt like beta software. It offered up some very impressive URLs (or search engine friendly web addresses) but had some hang-ups as well (mostly unsupported 3rd party software). Well with OpenSEF 2 RC5 much of that has changed.

First

more 3rd part extensions work with OpenSEF RC5. They include but aren’t limited to:

Mosets Tree (commercial directory)
Mosets Hot Property (commercial real estate directory)
iJoomla Magazine (Magazine component for Joomla)
JoomlaBoard (Joomla integrated forum)
JD-WordPress (WordPress component for blogging)
Gallery 2 (image gallery, uses a bridge)
Remository (file directory and download component)

Be sure to check the open-sef forums before installing open-sef to make sure there aren’t any problems with and Joomla extensions you rely on.

Second

There has been a huge performance increase. With OpenSEF RC 5 the number of SQL queries has been reduced. The OpenSEF guys claim that OpenSEF has the lowest server load of any of the Joomla SEF Advanced component.

Third

Marko Schmuck (aka Predator) has really added some very cool features in this release. RC5 adds the following new features:

· Solving the Duplicate Menu Itemid Issues
· Functions sefencode and sefdecode for compatibility with other sef_ext.php files
· Selectable "Order by" Option in the Manage friendly URL List
· Exclude Component Option in the OpenSEF Component Configuration, the Component which is selected will be ignored by OpenSEF
· Importer for the 404 SEF Component
· Importer for SEF Advance Aliases
· Exporter for CSV SQL Dump
· Unique key to avoid duplicate internal URLs
· Google Sitemap creation about of the OpenSEF links
Base on the GSG Component from Robert Grund and Todd Nine of gsg.org and the
· class for OpenSEF from Guillermo Vargas
· Banner now also have long URLs
· Online Upgrader, now real upgrade Online without reinstall or manual copying -
Based on the xtupgrader Class from Oli Merten.
· Google Sitemap Generator based on the GSG Component
· SEO Assistant based on OsCommerce SEO which includes helpful tips for search engine optimization and a very easy way to add metatag information for multiple pages at once.
And of course the features that were there before the RC 5 release:
· Multi-site function allows for multiple domains from one Joomla install. (I like this feature but have varied experience with it)


Some things that aren’t totally new features but nice add-ons include the ability to click one link labeled “Delete All Unpublished”, “Delete All Invalid” or “Delete All” and your SEF friendly urls table is cleaned up. Also the control panel to address everything in the OpenSEF component is very nice. Before it was necessary to have to click the Joomla components menu and navigate to the admin page in need.

I would have to give this component high marks for

Function - it actually produces excellent sef urls and produces great results in google
Usability - the new control panel is great. And every feature/parameter has a clear description of what it does.
Support – Ken McDonald and Marko Schmuck offer the kind of support one would expect from a commercial software package. The forum is active and reponses are quick.
3rd party Support - This a big deal for a component like OpenSEF because no matter how good it is it really doesn't matter unless your favorite extension works with it. This is becoming less of an issue but it still keep some from using it.

While not every 3rd party extension may work with OpenSEF RC5 the list is definitely growing. From reading the forums on open-sef.org it is easy to see why this is the case. Marko Schmuck actively engages users in the forums and is constantly addressing 3rd party issues. Of course there are times when he can only do so much and some things have to be left to the original 3rd party developer. Although it seems many more 3rd party developers have seen how OpenSEF has matured and are now considering supporting it.

Now after I have sung such high praise for OpenSEF RC5 I have to say that it isn’t for everyone. It is NOT the kind of install and forget component that some may be used to. Expect to run in to an issue or two that you may have to do a little legwork to find a solution for. You may also need to make a small edit to a file here and there. This is becoming less and less the case but you should not commit to this component lightly. I would not recommend it for web developers that are preparing a site for a client unless the client is savvy enough to handle it or the web developer plan to offer support.

Here is an update from projects.j-prosolution.com:
Joom Prosolution Projects - OpenSEF Roadmap So what does this mean for the upcoming OpenSEF 2.0.0 RC6 which is planned as the last Version before it is called final. * Currently Richard is working on a Cache System (90% ready) which gave an enormous boost to big sites. The Cache System also reads the Links on the page you view in one go, this means you don't have to click at each link to get it converted. * com_poll and com_contact are now longer created on the Fly, work now the same way as the Joomla! Content. * Google Sitemap Generator is imporoved to created also a Sitemap now on Joomla! Rootfolder, no more double links, also add a pluginsystem to expand the Google Sitemap Generator so 3rd Party Components can also use the Generator. * Improved the Onlinbe Updater (added CURL to avoid allow_furl_open issues) * Supports Joom!Fish 1.0.7 and higher * Archivesection, Archivecategories, Blogsections and Blogcategories now handle in a more flexible way. * Improved the Metatag Generator to handle Static Content and also added a Pluginsystem to allow 3rd Party Component to use the Metatag Generator. * The sliding backendmenu of OpenSEF is renewed to work now with all Browsertypes * Images are optimized to reduce size List will be expand i'm sure i missed something I have also renewed the Documents for OpenSEF with the tutorials of Joe Orr he was so king to give permission for use on this Site. __________________ Predator

Comments

Sun, 2007-11-04 15:53 — webmasterfacile

Sef advance with mosets tree

I'v buyed sef advance , and i user this sef component with mosets tree and are 10+ compabile. are the best choise for 115 eur , you are good site within 10 minutes. this site is : www.webmasterfacile.it I'm searching SITEMAP compatible with SEF ADVANCE , who know possibile choise? Thanks a lot.
Fri, 2007-03-16 21:32 — kenlohwh

Incompatibility With IJoomla

Under the title "First" in the review says that OpenSEF 2 is compatible with iJoomla. However, the thread at http://forum.j-prosolution.com/3pd-components/787-ijoomla-compatibility.html and http://www.ijoomla.com/option,com_forum/Itemid,70/page,viewtopic/t,2121/highlight,opensef/ tells a rather different story. Also, an article in iJoomla's site, http://www.ijoomla.com/Joomla_Magazine/Pre_Sales_Questions/Does_iJoomla_Magazine_Support_SEF?/ , more or less confirms the incompatibility.

I personally am facing some incompatibility problem between OpenSEF and iJoomla that causes CSS styles to dissappear in iJoomla magazine's pages. Merav from iJoomla is helping me out with the problem from her side now. However, I think success in this matter will not be easy without the much needed cooperation and assistance from OpenSEF. Interoperability and interfacing issues such as this, often require cooperations from both or more sides.

Let's hope that OpenSEF would render as much assistance as it can to iJoomla in this compatibility issue for the sake of the OpenSEF fans who use iJoomla too.

Ken
http://simplestrats.com
Mon, 2007-04-09 14:05 — maxx

Sad But True

As stated above there are some problems with OpenSEF RC5. When I first wrote the review for OpenSEF 2 RC5 it was a very promising release candidate. The developer was constantly addressing problems and issues and they were all diminishing with each new release. Well it has been a long long time since the release of OpenSEF 2 RC5 and the new release is constantly being pushed back. The developer, Predator, has sighted issues of time, work that pays, and Internet access problems since his move. While we should all be thankful for the work that has been done and provided to the Joomla community for free by Predator it may be time for us to look for another solution. Even if OpenSEF isn’t dead if there are not continuous updates the project simply will fall behind the other third party components that are constantly changing which may lead to a site “breaking” or worse security holes might open up in our effort not to upgrade so we don’t break our sites.

The good news is that the Joomla Core Team seems to have finally realized that this issue needs to be addressed. They are working at making Search Engine Friendly URLs part of the core of Joomla 1.5. Not the so so Search Engine Friendly URLS of Joomla 1.0. We’re talking nice looking REAL SEF functionality. The bad news is we have to wait for Joomla 1.5 to go stable.

Read more about the details of Joomla 1.5 SEF URLs at the following link:

http://dev.joomla.org/component/option,com_jd-wp/Itemid,33/p,286/