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    4. Exact Syntax for Canonical to PDFs for Windows Server

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    Exact Syntax for Canonical to PDFs for Windows Server

    Intermediate & Advanced SEO
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    • Midleton
      Midleton last edited by

      Hi There,

      I have got in my web several PDFs with the same content of the HTML version. Thus I need to set up a canonical for each of them in order to avoid duplicate content.

      In particular, I need to know how to write the exact syntax for the windows server (web.config) in order to implement the canonical to PDF. I surfed the web but it seems I cannot find this piece of info anywhere

      Thanks a lot!!

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • AlanMosley
        AlanMosley last edited by

        Thanks Paul

        I had a look at the page, but as I can see it uses headers to identify the response, but the actions are rewrite or redirect. There is a custom response you can use,

        for a definitive answer I would ask on iis.net http://forums.iis.net/

        Or you could place each pdf in its own folder and place the header on the folder

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • ThompsonPaul
          ThompsonPaul last edited by

          To implement a canonical tag for an individual page/file in IIS, you need to insert a custom response header via an outbound rule in the IIS Rewrite module, not through the web.config.

          Sorry I don't have a specific example handy (haven't had to wrassle with IIS in some time). I'll see if I can dig one up.

          Meanwhile, here's a link to the relevant section of the general Rewrite Module info in case maybe Alan can suggest the specifics.

          Paul

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • AlanMosley
            AlanMosley @CleverPhD last edited by

            Thanks for finding that, I see it says url, but I cant see how that is actually done. All it does it create a web.config in the folder you choose, I found no way of doing it ofr the indervidual file, unless you have only one file per forder

            here is the web.config, how to test it works?

            <configuration><system.webserver><httpprotocol><customheaders><add name="CononicalUrl" value="Link: http:/domain.com/my.pdf; rel=canonical"></add></customheaders></httpprotocol></system.webserver></configuration>

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • CleverPhD
              CleverPhD @AlanMosley last edited by

              Not according to this doc:

              http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753812(v=ws.10).aspx

              "Levels

              The procedures for configuring HTTP headers can be performed at the following levels in IIS:

              • Web Server

              • Site

              • Application

              • Physical and virtual directories

              • File (URL)"

              AlanMosley 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • DeanAndrews
                DeanAndrews @AlanMosley last edited by

                My mistake

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • AlanMosley
                  AlanMosley last edited by

                  I don't think this can be done in web.config. I don't think it can be done at all.

                  while you can add a canonical header, to a folder using IIS, you cant add if to a file.

                  CleverPhD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • AlanMosley
                    AlanMosley @DeanAndrews last edited by

                    He's on a windows server and there is no .htaccess, you use web.config.

                    DeanAndrews 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • DeanAndrews
                      DeanAndrews last edited by

                      Hi, I believe your question is answered here via .htaccess file rather than web.config. Moz blog: How To: Advanced rel="canonical" HTTP Headers

                      AlanMosley 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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