Hello Google,

We have re-written a URL to a different URL, via .htaccess Rewriterule as follows:

Original URL:
http://yoursite.com/XXXX_Search/SEARCHTERM

Rewrote to:
http://yoursite.com/page/BBBB/SRCHM/SearchOptions/11011111001011/HF/1/AddOptions/3|10|11|15|16|17|18|19|20|21|22|23|24|25|26|27|28|29|30|31|32|33|34|36|37|40|41|42|43|44|45|46|47|48|49|66|68|70|74|75|85|86|87|89|99|100|101|102|103|104|105|106|107|128|129|131|132|148|149|150|151/Search_Search/SEARCHTERM

The above rewrite was achieved using the following Rewriterule in
.htaccess, and all works well:

RewriteRule ^XXXX_Search/(.*)$
/page/BBBB/SRCHM/SearchOptions/11011111001011/HF/1/AddOptions/3|10|11|15|16|17|18|19|20|21|22|23|24|25|26|27|28|29|30|31|32|33|34|36|37|40|41|42|43|44|45|46|47|48|49|66|68|70|74|75|85|86|87|89|99|100|101|102|103|104|105|106|107|128|129|131|132|148|149|150|151/Search_Search/$1
[NC,L]

Now, we're currently trying to round up all the old links on search
engines that use the long clumsy URL and 301 redirect them to the new
smaller URL, but we're having difficulties, we just can't get the new
rewrite to take hold. I have a feeling that the order of the rewrites
in the .htaccess is hindering us also...

Here is our .htaccess:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /

RewriteRule ^(.*)/Search_Search/(.*)$ XXXX_Search/$2 [R=301,NC,L]
#<--- this is our attempt, we can't get to function properly

RewriteRule ^XXXX_Search/(.*)$
/page/BBBB/SRCHM/SearchOptions/11011111001011/HF/1/AddOptions/3|10|11|15|16|17|18|19|20|21|22|23|24|25|26|27|28|29|30|31|32|33|34|36|37|40|41|42|43|44|45|46|47|48|49|66|68|70|74|75|85|86|87|89|99|100|101|102|103|104|105|106|107|128|129|131|132|148|149|150|151/Search_Search/$1
[NC,L]

Any insight you have is appreciated!

---

Clarification of Question by anotherdumbass-ga on 10 Sep 2006 17:02 PDT

Yes, exactly. Our search utility functions with the long URL's in the
background, but we want the short URL's shown to visitors and/or
listed on search engines.

Sorry I waited so long for this feedback, I have been waiting to be
notified by email, which never happened.
 
Let me be more clear... we are trying to show links on our website,
using only the short URL's, in the past we had only the long URL links
listed on our site.

AND

We are also trying to 301 redirect all long clumsy URL's that remain
on search engines to the short URL, to hopefully help our site rank,
as they are duplicate pages.

LINE 1: RewriteRule ^(.*)/Search_Search/(.*)$ XXXX_Search/$2 [R=301,NC,L]
LINE 2: RewriteRule ^XXXX_Search/(.*)$ /page/BB4|9...51/Search_Search/$1 [NC,L]
------------------
there is a problem, when the script get the long clumsy URL request or
301 error, it will be redirect to LINE 2, but when it enter the LINE
2, it will been redirected to the LINE 1 again, so there is a dead
cycle.

do you want to show a short URL to the visitor, but keep the old script structure?

Yes, exactly. Our search utility functions with the long URL's in the
background, but we want the short URL's shown to visitors and/or
listed on search engines.

Sorry I waited so long for this feedback, I have been waiting to be
notified by email, which never happened.

Let me be more clear... we are trying to show links on our website,
using only the short URL's, in the past we had only the long URL links
listed on our site.

AND

We are also trying to 301 redirect all long clumsy URL's that remain
on search engines to the short URL, to hopefully help our site rank,
as they are duplicate pages.

Try this out!

RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} !^XXXX_Search/.*
RewriteRule ^.+/Search_Search/(.*)$ XXXX_Search/$1 [R=301,NC,L]

RewriteRule ^XXXX_Search/(.*)$
/page/BBBB/SRCHM/SearchOptions/11011111001011/HF/1/AddOptions/3|10|11|15|16|17|18|19|20|21|22|23|24|25|26|27|28|29|30|31|32|33|34|36|37|40|41|42|43|44|45|46|47|48|49|66|68|70|74|75|85|86|87|89|99|100|101|102|103|104|105|106|107|128|129|131|132|148|149|150|151/Search_Search/$1
[NC,L,QSA]

http://www.htaccesselite.com/htaccess/rewritecond-vt64.html

When using the R directive you need to use the full URL.

So
change-
RewriteRule ^(.*)/Search_Search/(.*)$ XXXX_Search/$2 [R=301,NC,L]
To-
RewriteRule ^(.*)/Search_Search/(.*)$
http://yoursite.com/XXXX_Search/$2 [R=301,NC,L]

Hope this helps.