I have been working with Joomla for a little over a year and I use the commercial version of Joom SEF 3.3.0. If you want total control over your urls this is a must have component. There is a free version for you to try (no support)and it is not encoded.:)



The product works great. However, before you run off and install it make sure your Joomla native SEF is working as it should. Also, learn how the component works to avoid the fustration that self inflicted mistakes cause. If you have an issue with it believe me its probably you.



I would give this component 9.5 out of 10. Actually make it 10 out of 10.

We are web development company and we have chosen JoomSEF over the standard Joomla! SEF because it can be customized and there is already alot of extensions that support it. On a small site we have found that JoomSEF does the job really well, but when you have multiple pages, the loading time is slower. We didn't have much trouble with it as other users reported, but it's fair to say that we don't use many extensions (we try to keep a minimum). The only reason we rate this Good instead of Excellent is because it still needs work, it has areas that could easily be improved (such as database optimization and duplicate link generating).

I installed the free version of this component. Afterward, I had issues with the creation of SEF url's for Docman Component child categories. I posted on their forum just over two weeks ago for support, and was given basic instruction after three days of waiting which included:



"Make sure the JoomSEF metabot is active and ordered first among system metabots. If you need any additional help, we might do a check directly at your site, if you purchase paid support."



The JoomSEF metabot cause my site to lock me out. So I posted a reply about this issue after I had to disable the metabot through phpmyadmin. Then like a fool I bought the paid version of JoomSEF hoping to get more support by them taking a look at my site configuration.



After over two weeks of waiting, and even offering to pay them again if they'd take a look, the only reply I have gotten was to ask if I was running in legacy mode. I replied within an hour of that question, and have heard nothing since.



I'm fairly frustrated by the vendors which charge you for a component. Even more frustrating was being told to purchase it in order to get support (That part I understand) only to get basically no support after money had changed hands.



I have since asked for a refund. We'll see if I get it.



Right now I'm very disappointed. Having seen how slow the responses were in the forum for others, I should have known better than to pay for the 'unbranded' version.



$35.00 USD out the door, and lesson learned.

sh404SEF Is way better than ARTIO JoomSEF.sh404SEF has more options,it works both with or without htaccess,its free,its easy to install and has more extensions.Why anybody would use ARTIO JoomSEF?

Hi all

i just wanted to share my experience with artio.

i am dealing with joomla for awhile, never had problems with codes or extentions.

artio is purly delet bad review and keep only the good once.

i have paid them the full amount, and artio gave me major problems, and didnt work as expected, though they didnt help, they want you to pay another 100e or so for help, wich my friend did, and still didnt get any suport.

Its just amazing how this brings all components together and creates perfect url for all of them



hats off to you all.

I am using JoomSEF since Joomla 1.0.x.

I thought it is time honor this with a review, because this extension is a must have for building SEF sites.

The most i like is the kind to set custom SEF URL's. This is what i miss in other extensions.

Keep on the good work.

I found the following problem with the latest version of ARTIO JoomSEF.



1. Any extra parameter cannot be handled in JoomSEF. If there is extra parameter then the whole site will become blank(a pure white screen).



2. In Joomla 1.5 we have a option to Filter "Archived Articles" in frontend, This is not working after installing JoomSEF



There are some more issue still which i dont want to mention here, may be all of these are because of a single problem.



I personally feel that this component is not worth buying.



Thanks,

Valentine.

Let's be clear about one thing. The rewriting components are very very strong. If you're under the impression that setting these things up is straightforwad bear in mind that 7 years ago a handful of people were able to do what this script makes possible via your "install component screen". NEVER EVER install these components on anything other than a test site. Equally, installing a rewriting script does not guarantee IN ANY WAY higher search engine rankings any more.



I do not like this component.



It works badly with Joomfish and creates lots and lots of aliases to the same page. I would recommend sh303SEF over this component every time.

I've used Artio off and on, as well as arch-competitor sh404, without delving much into the success or failure of the many extensions that each offers in support of other major components. So, I am no expert.



I just write this review as a service to those new to using these SEO components. By now most probably realize that the setup can be tricky.



ON that point I wish to note that recently I installed the latest sh404 native for 1.5.x. An impressive-looking component, one I am anxious to dip my toe into, cautiously. Upon installing and attempting configuration, I was greeted with instructions on .htaccess configuration which are clearly describing and earlier-generation .htaccess file. So, the instructions regarding commenting-out and commenting-in no longer apply. The new 1.5.x .htaccess file looks like it has improved on this SEO compatibility with 3rd party extensions. I'm just guessing, as I've found no documentation from anyone regarding how to set (or ignore) the .htaccess for the newest version. As I said, the instructions--although very clear and helpful, for their day--pertain to an earlier version.



A link to the 'Wiki Documentation' which is flagged as 'NEW' is no help either, as it simply links to more old info at the Author's site.



All of this pertains to sh404.



Now, let's look at competitor ARtio...



First, the developer's download link to the newest version actually links to an earlier one. I've not received an answer on this yet (but it is Easter weekend as I write, so I'll be patient.)



Second -- and the main reason why I'm writing this review -- anyone who wants to try ARtio, whatever version, should be forewarned regarding complete incompatibility with sh404 previous installations, even if you THOUGHT you had uninstalled.



I will let this Forum post speak for itself:



Hello,



a lot of questions in these forums are related to:

After installing JoomSEF, there are SQL queries visible over my page, why is that?

or other problems, that have however the same cause - previous installation of sh404sef.



Please make sure that if you had sh404sef installed previously in your Joomla site, that after uninstalling it, also all its DB tables were removed successfully, especially the jos_redirection table.



These components - JoomSEF and sh404sef use the table with the same name, however, there are not fully compatible, so JoomSEF cannot write to jos_redirection table created by sh404sef and that leads to many error, often hiddeous ones.



Also note that sh404sef does NOT clean its table on uninstall by default, so you will most probably to do this manually.



The process to follow is:



Uninstall JoomSEF (if already installed)



Check your database using a DB tool such as phpMyAdmin and check if table jos_redirection exists. Please, note that other table prefix than jos_ may be used, this depends on your DB + Joomla configuration. If it exists, delete it. If other sh404sef tables also exist, you may delete them as well, but the other tables are not conflicting with JoomSEF, so it does not matter if thet stay in your DB.



Reinstall JoomSEF

[end]



The word 'hiddeous' [sic] pretty well says it all.



Just a word to the wise... don't assume that the components can co-exist or that they fully uninstall. These are points that should be made more prominent.