URL Rewriter Plugin for Smartstore
The URL Rewriter plugin in Smartstore gives you precise control over how URLs are handled in your store, helping you manage redirects, improve SEO, and ensure a smooth browsing experience for your customers. It supports a simplified version of Apache’s mod_rewrite syntax and is ideal for setting up clean, structured URLs or redirecting outdated links.
Simple Redirects with Flexible Rules
With the URL Rewriter plugin, you can define URL redirect rules directly in the plugin settings. The format is straightforward—one rule per line—making it easy to configure even without extensive technical knowledge. For example:
/old-url.php /new-url [R=301, NC]This rule permanently redirects traffic from /old-url.php to /new-url, ignoring case sensitivity.
You can also match entire directories or use wildcards:
/deleted-cat/(.*) /new-cat/$1 [R=301, NC]This redirects every request from the old /deleted-cat/ directory to /new-cat/, while keeping the rest of the URL path unchanged.
Multi-store Support
The plugin is multi-store aware. You can set up different rules for each store using the H= switch to match a specific hostname:
/old-url$ /new-url [R=301, NC, H=myshop1.com]/old-url$ /new-url-2 [R=301, NC, H=myshop2.com]This ensures each store can have its own redirect logic, improving the user journey across multiple storefronts.
Available Options
You can fine-tune how redirects work using these switches:
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R: External redirect (e.g., R=301 for permanent redirect)
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NC: Case-insensitive match
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L: Stop processing further rules once this one matches
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F: Return a 403 Forbidden response
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G: Return a 410 Gone response
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P: Proxy the request internally
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H: Match by host (useful in multi-store setups)
Special Characters and Escaping
When matching URLs with special characters like ? or ., you’ll need to escape them properly using backslashes. For example:
/oldurl\.php\?page=1 /new-url [R=301]To make this easier, you can use an online escape tool to format complex URLs correctly.
External Rule Files
If you prefer to manage redirects in external files, the plugin supports that too. Simply place a file named mod_rewrite or rewriterules.config in the /App_Data/Tenants/Default folder. This is useful for bulk rules or when migrating from another system.
Note: Rules set directly in the plugin interface always override external file rules.
The URL Rewriter plugin is a powerful tool for managing how traffic flows through your store. Whether you're restructuring your site, cleaning up outdated links, or optimizing for SEO, it gives you the flexibility and control you need to handle URLs efficiently.
If you have any further questions about the URL Rewriter plugin within Smartstore or would like to make an appointment for a live demo, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can reach us via the contact form, by e-mail at info@smartstore.com or by phone from Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at +49 231 53350.
Contact:
E-mail: info@smartstore.com
Phone: +49 231 53350
SmartStore AG
Kaiserstrasse 63-65
44135 Dortmund