[Suite] CMS at root, Forum in another directory

[CBB]

How is everyone handling this? Got a reply from tech support that there is currently no option to do this. If one moves the whole site to the root, the backlinks get screwed. So what's everyone doing to get around this problem?

[icarusforde]

People who want it like this are using some custom code that has been written by some people who are far more literate with code than me.

Personally, i've always had my forums in the root directory, so it doesnt phase me in the slightest...

[steven s]

It really depends on your host.
I have my core files in forum.mydomain.tld
and the cms is www.mydomain.tld

Try this
Create a file named content.php in the root directory with

<?php
chdir('/home/username/public_html/forum');
require_once('/home/username/public_html/forum/content.php');
require_once('/home/username/public_html/forum/vb/bootstrap.php'); //not sure if this is needed

View all does not work so I have that set to off.

You will need to add a redirect in your .htaccess file redirecting from index.php to content.php.

[Archaic]

Will that fix ruin anything with SEO though? And would it display to my users in their browser address bars as http://www.domain.extension/content.php, http://forum.domain.extension/content.php or http://www.domain.extension/forum/content.php ?

[janaf]

A lot of people are arguing very activly for a solution of this problem (CMS in the root, or elsewhere not in /forum) in other threads. Vote for them to promote priority and this solved.

[steven s]

Will that fix ruin anything with SEO though? And would it display to my users in their browser address bars as http://www.domain.extension/content.php, http://forum.domain.extension/content.php or http://www.domain.extension/forum/content.php ?

I have no idea. My forum has always been in a subdomain and I want to keep it there. Honestly, I'm not concerned about SEO.

[CrossEyedGamer]

this is the first time I have seen anyone reply with a code or something to try and help fix this. I haven't done it but I am going it. thanks for that!

also, I like your quote in your signature. I was very sad to see that thread get shut down. :-)

[CrossEyedGamer]

Is there a thread that just talks about he pros and cons of having your forum in the root?

If you are starting a fresh new site, what would you do?
Install everything in the root?
Or go with the /forums setup?

this current site is newer for us so we are considering just dumping everything into the root and moving on. Good idea? Bad idea?
If there is a thread like this somewhere please move this post there and let's get that discussion going as beating up VB so much. I am sure they will fix it one way or the other. I am for knowing what the more experience site owners would do or recommend to new site people just starting out.

[steven s]

this is the first time I have seen anyone reply with a code or something to try and help fix this. I haven't done it but I am going it. thanks for that!

also, I like your quote in your signature. I was very sad to see that thread get shut down. :-)

This method has been discussed over and over in the beta section.
I take absolutely no credit for it. I've been told it also depends on your host.

The quote is priceless. That thread is what we needed.

[steven s]

Is there a thread that just talks about he pros and cons of having your forum in the root?

Someone pointed to an article and what I gathered, it's just a personal preference.
I like subdomains to avoid overwriting files my mistake.

[CBB]

The key is not to ruin the SEO work done before. If that wasn't an issue, it would have been no problem to move everything to the root. Is there anyway of moving this all to the root without ruining the SEO work done?

I still think it should be in different directories though, but willing to do a complete move if SEO can be preserved.

[CrossEyedGamer]

It really depends on your host.
I have my core files in forum.mydomain.tld
and the cms is www.mydomain.tld

Try this
Create a file named content.php in the root directory with

<?php
chdir('/home/username/public_html/forum');
require_once('/home/username/public_html/forum/content.php');
require_once('/home/username/public_html/forum/vb/bootstrap.php'); //not sure if this is needed

View all does not work so I have that set to off.

You will need to add a redirect in your .htaccess file redirecting from index.php to content.php.

I was so excited to give this s try. Of course, not having a real clue about all this code stuff I feared my site may end up in cyber hell again but, I gave it a shot.

Dumb question - username needs to be replaced with an actual username or left alone?

Now for the fun part -
I made the file and used my server username and added it to the root. I went to the .htaccess folder to edit the file as mentioned and well, there is no file there. Is a file suppose to be there ?? Seems it is beings I was to edit it. Possible this is the cause of some of my problems to begin with? Can someone tell me or send me a copy of the file or files that should be in this folder?

thanks in advance for your help.

[BiZiMDiYaR]

I posted a ticket for this... hopefully will get a good answer for this problem. I assume if google has indexed everything as /forum and not it is not there, it will give some problems on it Hopefully will someone solve this

[steven s]

I was so excited to give this s try. Of course, not having a real clue about all this code stuff I feared my site may end up in cyber hell again but, I gave it a shot.

Dumb question - username needs to be replaced with an actual username or left alone?

Now for the fun part -
I made the file and used my server username and added it to the root. I went to the .htaccess folder to edit the file as mentioned and well, there is no file there. Is a file suppose to be there ?? Seems it is beings I was to edit it. Possible this is the cause of some of my problems to begin with? Can someone tell me or send me a copy of the file or files that should be in this folder?

thanks in advance for your help.

The username you log into your website control panel, not your vBulletin username.
Just be sure you are not writing over an existing file. There is no undo in this world.

Don't worry about the htaccess file right now.

[Mike Anime]

i wanted to do this without mods, hacks etc but i think i may just leave it the way it is and put the rest of the content for my site in a subdomain like Images.animerealmz.net and video.animerealmz.net then use the CMS widgit system to make redirects to my content.