"?task= " string following item alias in URL, also create sitemap

 First, posted ticket#40 and resolved issue by updating Joomla version. Now Joomla 3.6.5.

1) In K2 plugin using Item Url pattern = {categoryAlias}/{itemAlias}. When using text hyperlinks contained in content, URL for those items displays "?task=" after item alias followed again by item alias except first and second word in alias separated by ":" instead of "-".
Like this: https://canadianlodges.com/manitoba-fishing-lodges/north-haven-resort?task=north:haven-resort
Should be: https://canadianlodges.com/manitoba-fishing-lodges/north-haven-resort

{category/Alias} token seems to be causing this because without that token, item alias displays properly in URL without category
Like this: https://canadianlodges.com/north-haven-resort.
In Global Config I have both 'Search Engine Friendly URLs' and 'Use URL Rewriting' ticked to YES. Is this correct?

2) Need instruction on how to create sitemap. I choose 'Sitemaps' from component menu then fill-in 'Title' and click save. When I open the sitemap. all I see are 4 URL's like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
-<sitemapindex xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
-<sitemap>
<loc>https://canadianlodges.com/component/route66/sitemap/2/k2?format=xml</loc>
</sitemap>
-<sitemap>
<loc>https://canadianlodges.com/component/route66/sitemap/2/k2?format=xml&start=500</loc>
</sitemap>
-<sitemap>
<loc>https://canadianlodges.com/component/route66/sitemap/2/k2?format=xml&start=1000</loc>
</sitemap>
-<sitemap>
<loc>https://canadianlodges.com/component/route66/sitemap/2/menus?format=xml</loc>
</sitemap>
</sitemapindex>

Thank you for your prompt response.

1. Links are created in K2 items in JCE editor in normal way - highlight text, use link icon, link appropriate K2 item to selected text. Does this answer your question? Go to: https://canadianlodges.com/ontario-1 click any lodge name in the list and check URL. I included credentials in a previous ticket if you need them. Private ticket #40.

2. I apologize for my lack of knowledge as a beginner, but I am used to seeing sitemaps in a distinct file format (sitemap.xml). I know how to view and upload such a file to Google. I am not familiar with sitemap index. Thus I do not know how to view the individual sitemaps for review or how to access the sitemap index as a file that I can upload. Is there a tutorial or documentation on this subject you could direct me to so I would not have to trouble you to explain?

Also in Route 66 documentation there is no explanation of the 'Route 66-menus plugin'. I do not know its proper use or function.

Thank you for your help and patience.

Installed latest JCE and JCE K2 plugin as you suggested. Same issue persists. Did not update K2 version - still K2 v2.6.8. I get nervous when installing updates because so many people have stated update problems when I visit various forums. I could try updating K2 if you think that might help. Also are there any params in K2, JCE editor, or JCE K2 plugin that might be set incorrectly? For example in JCE Global have option for Doctype HTML4 or HTML5. Tried both and still same issue. Reverted back to HTML4 since that was the default setting on download. If you can access my credentials from Private ticket #40, feel free to check my site. Joomla 3.6.5

Thanks again.

I checked "yes" for 'Enable advanced SEF for K2 URLs' in K2 Global Config. This solved the problem, but there is a warning in the documentation of that param that states "Enabling this option will add a significant performance hit for websites with more than a few hundred K2 items in them. Use with caution". I have 1000 K2 items. Is this a concern? Would caching take care of any performance problems? Is there a better way to solve the issue I am having so not to suffer performance?

Thank you Lefteris,


I truly appreciate all of your help. Your support is excellent! Great extension!