=== Google XML Sitemaps ===

Contributors: arnee
Donate link: http://www.arnebrachhold.de/redir/sitemap-paypal
Tags: seo, google, sitemaps, google sitemaps, yahoo, msn, ask, live, xml sitemap
, xml
Requires at least: 3.3
Tested up to: 4.2
Stable tag: 4.0.7.1
License: GPLv2
License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
This plugin will generate a special XML sitemap which will help search engines t
o better index your blog.
== Description ==
This plugin will generate a special XML sitemap which will help search engines l
ike Google, Bing, Yahoo and Ask.com to better index your blog. With such a sitem
ap, it's much easier for the crawlers to see the complete structure of your site
and retrieve it more efficiently. The plugin supports all kinds of WordPress ge
nerated pages as well as custom URLs. Additionally it notifies all major search
engines every time you create a post about the new content.
Supported since *over 9 years* and rated as the [best WordPress plugin](http://w
ordpress.org/plugins/browse/top-rated/), it will do exactly what it's supposed t
o do - providing a complete XML sitemap for search engines. It will not break yo
ur site, slow it down or annoy you. Guaranteed!
> If you like the plugin, feel free to rate it (on the right side of this page)
or [donate via PayPal](http://www.arnebrachhold.de/redir/sitemap-paypal/). I'm g
ladly supporting this plugin since over 9 years! Thanks a lot! :)
Related Links:
* <a href="http://www.arnebrachhold.de/projects/wordpress-plugins/google-xml-sit
emaps-generator/" title="Google XML Sitemaps Plugin for WordPress">Plugin Homepa
ge</a>
* <a href="http://www.arnebrachhold.de/projects/wordpress-plugins/google-xml-sit
emaps-generator/changelog/" title="Changelog of the Google XML Sitemaps Plugin f
or WordPress">Changelog</a>
* <a href="http://www.arnebrachhold.de/projects/wordpress-plugins/google-xml-sit
emaps-generator/help/" title="Google Sitemaps FAQ">Plugin help and sitemaps FAQ<
/a>
* <a href="http://wordpress.org/support/topic/read-before-opening-a-new-support-
topic">Support Forum</a>
== Installation ==
1. Install the plugin like you always install plugins, either by uploading it vi
a FTP or by using the "Add Plugin" function of WordPress.
2. Activate the plugin at the plugin administration page
3. If you want: Open the plugin configuration page, which is located under Setti
ngs -> XML-Sitemap and customize settings like priorities and change frequencies
.
4. The plugin will automatically update your sitemap of you publish a post, so t
here is nothing more to do :)
== Frequently Asked Questions ==
= Where can I find the options page of the plugin? =
It is under Settings > XML Sitemap. I know nowadays many plugins add top-level m
enu items, but in most of the cases it is just not necessary. I've seen WP insta
llations which looked like an Internet Explorer ten years ago with 20 toolbars i
nstalled. ;-)
= Do I have to create a sitemap.xml and sitemap.xml.gz by myself? =
Not anymore. Since version 4, these files are dynamically generated. *There must
be no sitemap.xml or sitemap.xml.gz in your blog directory anymore!* The plugin
will try to rename them to sitemap.xml.bak if they still exists.
= Does this plugin use static files or "I can't find the sitemap.xml file!" =
Not anymore. Since version 4, these files are dynamically generated just like an
y other WordPress content.
= There are no comments yet (or I've disabled them) and all my postings have a p
riority of zero! =
Please disable automatic priority calculation and define a static priority for p
osts.
= So many configuration options... Do I need to change them? =
No, only if you want to. Default values are ok for most sites.
= Does this plugin work with all WordPress versions? =
This version works with WordPress 3.3 and better. If you're using an older versi
on, please check the [Google Sitemaps Plugin Homepage](http://www.arnebrachhold.
de/projects/wordpress-plugins/google-xml-sitemaps-generator/ "Google (XML) Sitem
ap Generator Plugin Homepage") for the legacy releases. There is a working relea
se for every WordPress version since 1.5, but you really should consider updatin
g your WordPress installation!
= My question isn't answered here =
Most of the plugin options are described at the [plugin homepage](http://www.arn
ebrachhold.de/projects/wordpress-plugins/google-xml-sitemaps-generator/) as well
as the dedicated [Google Sitemaps FAQ](http://www.arnebrachhold.de/projects/wor
dpress-plugins/google-xml-sitemaps-generator/help/ "List of common questions / p
roblems regarding Google (XML) Sitemaps").
= My question isn't even answered there =
Please post your question at the [WordPress support forum](http://wordpress.org/
support/topic/read-before-opening-a-new-support-topic) and tag your post with "g
oogle-sitemap-generator".
= What's new in the latest version? =
The changelog is maintained [here](http://www.arnebrachhold.de/projects/wordpres
s-plugins/google-xml-sitemaps-generator/changelog/ "Google (XML) Sitemap Generat
or Plugin Changelog")
= Why is the changelog on a separate page and not here? =
The WordPress.org repository is just another place to download this plugin. I do
n't want to maintain too many pages with the same content. Thank you for your un
derstanding!
== Changelog ==
You can always find the changelog on [the plugin website](http://www.arnebrachho
ld.de/projects/wordpress-plugins/google-xml-sitemaps-generator/changelog/ "Googl
e (XML) Sitemap Generator Plugin Changelog"), since I don't like to maintain the
same content on different pages. Thank you for your understanding!
== Screenshots ==
1. Plugin options page
2. Sample XML sitemap (with a stylesheet for making it readable)
3. Sample XML sitemap (without stylesheet)
== License ==
Good news, this plugin is free for everyone! Since it's released under the GPL,
you can use it free of charge on your personal or commercial blog. But if you en
joy this plugin, you can thank me and leave a [small donation](http://www.arnebr
achhold.de/redir/sitemap-paypal "Donate with PayPal") for the time I've spent wr
iting and supporting this plugin. And I really don't want to know how many hours
of my life this plugin has already eaten ;)
== Translations ==
The plugin comes with various translations, please refer to the [WordPress Codex
](http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress_in_Your_Language "Installing W
ordPress in Your Language") for more information about activating the translatio
n. If you want to help to translate the plugin to your language, please have a l
ook at the sitemap.pot file which contains all definitions and may be used with
a [gettext](http://www.gnu.org/software/gettext/) editor like [Poedit](http://ww
w.poedit.net/) (Windows).