TOPIC: Homepage url simplified

I have hotspots set as my homepage, and for some reason the URL looks like "mysite.com/#!/catid=2;3;4;5;6;1;8;7"

I can't say that I've ever seen that happen from a component. Usually the homepage url is always "mysite.com" or "mysite.com/index.php"
Is there anyway to clean up the URL?
I've tried a redirect but that does nothing. Maybe something could be added to the htaccess?

You most probably using the old version of the component - version 3.6
There is nothing wrong with the url. The # isn't picked by search engines. Well, it is, but it doesn't change anything to the url. Your home page is still interpreted by them as mysite.com. With the latest version the url will stay mysite.com untill the user moves around. Then we are adding those parameters to the url.
Regards,
Daniel

Hello,
Thank you for your quick response!

Yes, I am using an older version of Hotspots, and upgrading at this moment isn't in my best interest as I have many customizations that I can't translate over right now.

The "#" sign isn't really concerning me, it is the lengthy "catid=2:3:4:etc"
I am aware that there is nothing "wrong" with it, I would just like it removed/masked. When someone saves the site in their favorites, they get a long string of numbers that has nothing to do with the site name. It is simply unattractive and unwanted.

If I read you correctly, the newer version will maintain the "simple" homepage url, until someone interacts with the map? Even if I have those parameters selected in the menu item?

-Thanks again.

Yes, that is correct. The url will stay as it is untill someone interacts with the extension. This is necessary in order to create links that point to the information the user is currently viewing.

Regards,
Daniel

Hello,
Thanks again for the speedy response. I have updated a testing version and I now see the simplified URL. One thing that is different from the previous version is the "Search" box is now integrated into the side panel is there anyway to have it outside of the side panel? What is the "Search Plugin". I checked the documentation (link below) but it is very vague. Is it a admin plugin or frontend? How do we display the plugin?
-Thanks


compojoom.com/support/documentation/hotspots/ch05s02

Also, I just noticed that the new "search" in the side panel doesn't actually search, it simply narrows the results in your current view. (i.e. "No hotspots to display in the current view with the applied filters.") Is there a real "search" anywhere for the frontend or has it been removed?

Hey Casey,
The search form has been merged in the menu and is only available there now. You are correct - it's currently only searching in the current view. That was the case with the old version of Hotspots, then I updated it to search outside of the current view when there is nothing found. I'll add this behavior to the current version as well in one of the next updates. (it's on the todo list for 5.1)

The search plugin is just a standard joomla search plugin. You can create a search menu on your page that points to the search component and if this plugin is turned on, the search will also look at the hotsptos as well.

Regards,
Daniel