Why is the output file always...

User 2101310 Photo

Registered User
13 posts

When I click the 'Create Map' button I am allowed to select a file name for the HTML output.

Why doesn't the program also change the name of the XML output to the name I entered?

For example, I choose the file name products.html, but the XML output is still put into sitemap.xml.
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User 103173 Photo

VP of Software Development
0 posts

That is because the search engines dictate that the file name always be called sitemap.xml
User 562592 Photo

Registered User
2,038 posts

Jim, when you submit your sitemap to google, it has to be in the xml format.

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User 38401 Photo

Senior Advisor
10,951 posts

I don't think it's the "xml" part he's questioning Eric, I think it's the name of the file itself being "sitemap" instead of products.xml which he named the html file to. Either way, what Scott answered pretty much nails it, the sitemap.xml file is created "for" the search engines rather than for our use because the search engines require an xml file, and because they require it to be named sitemap.xml

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