Manual:Short URL extension

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  1. Manual:Short URL extension

The Short URL extension provides functionality to create and manage shortened URLs within a MediaWiki wiki. This is particularly useful for tracking clicks on links, creating aesthetically pleasing URLs for sharing, and circumventing character limits on platforms like Twitter or SMS. This article provides a comprehensive guide for beginners on installing, configuring, and using the Short URL extension.

What is a Short URL?

A short URL is a URL that is much shorter than the original URL. Instead of a long, complex address, a short URL utilizes a redirection service to point to the original, longer address. This offers several benefits:

  • Readability & Shareability: Short URLs are easier to remember and share, especially on platforms with character limits.
  • Tracking: The Short URL extension allows you to track the number of clicks on each shortened URL, providing valuable analytics. This is crucial for understanding user engagement with linked content. Consider this alongside Technical Analysis to understand user behavior.
  • Branding: Using a custom domain with your short URL service (covered later) can reinforce your wiki's branding.
  • Aesthetics: Long URLs can be visually cluttered. Short URLs present a cleaner appearance.

Installation

Installing the Short URL extension is similar to installing any other MediaWiki extension. You will need administrator access to your MediaWiki installation.

1. Download: Download the latest version of the Short URL extension from the MediaWiki Extensions repository ([1]). Ensure you download the stable release. 2. Upload: Upload the downloaded archive (typically a `.tar.gz` file) to the `/extensions/` directory of your MediaWiki installation. Using FTP or SSH is common. 3. Configure: Edit your `LocalSettings.php` file (located in the root directory of your MediaWiki installation) and add the following line: 

   ```php
   require_once "$IP/extensions/ShortURL/ShortURL.php";
   ```

   This line instructs MediaWiki to load the extension.  Make sure it’s placed *after* the `require_once "$IP/includes/AutoLoader.php";` line.

4. Database Updates: Run the maintenance script `update.php` to update your MediaWiki database with the necessary tables for the Short URL extension. You can access this script via your web browser by navigating to `https://yourwiki.com/maintenance/update.php` (replace `yourwiki.com` with your wiki's address). Follow the on-screen instructions.

Configuration

The Short URL extension offers several configuration options that can be adjusted in your `LocalSettings.php` file. Here's a breakdown of the most important ones:

  • `$wgShortURLDomain`: This variable defines the domain name that will be used for the shortened URLs. By default, it uses the wiki's domain. For example:
   ```php
   $wgShortURLDomain = 'short.yourwiki.com';
   ```

   Using a subdomain like `short.yourwiki.com` is highly recommended.  You will need to configure your web server to point this subdomain to your MediaWiki installation. This is a critical step for branding and avoiding conflicts. This configuration is analogous to setting up a custom domain for Forex Trading platforms.
  • `$wgShortURLPath`: This variable defines the path that will be used for the shortened URLs. The default is `/s/`. You can customize this to something like `/go/` or `/link/`.
   ```php
   $wgShortURLPath = '/go/';
   ```
  • `$wgShortURLAllowedProtocols`: This variable defines which protocols are allowed in the original URLs. The default is `array('http', 'https')`. You can add other protocols like `ftp` or `mailto` if needed.
   ```php
   $wgShortURLAllowedProtocols = array('http', 'https', 'ftp');
   ```
  • `$wgShortURLTrackClicks`: This variable enables or disables click tracking. Set it to `true` to track clicks and `false` to disable it.
   ```php
   $wgShortURLTrackClicks = true;
   ```
  • `$wgShortURLRedirectPermanent`: This variable controls whether shortened URLs result in a permanent (301) or temporary (302) redirect. Using a permanent redirect is generally recommended for SEO purposes.
   ```php
   $wgShortURLRedirectPermanent = true;
   ```
  • `$wgShortURLAllowEdit`: This setting determines whether users with the 'edit' permission can create and manage short URLs. Set to `true` to allow this, `false` to restrict creation to administrators.
   ```php
   $wgShortURLAllowEdit = false;
   ```
  • `$wgShortURLStatsLimit`: Defines the maximum number of statistics entries to store per short URL. This prevents the database from growing indefinitely. Adjust based on your traffic volume.
   ```php
   $wgShortURLStatsLimit = 1000;
   ```

Usage

There are several ways to create a short URL using the Short URL extension:

1. Special:ShortURL: The easiest way to create a short URL is to use the `Special:ShortURL` page. Navigate to this page in your wiki (usually `https://yourwiki.com/wiki/Special:ShortURL`). Enter the original URL in the text box and click "Shorten URL". The extension will generate a shortened URL for you. This is the primary interface for most users. 2. Magic Word: You can use the magic word `Template:Shorturl:Original URL` within wiki pages. When the page is saved, the magic word will be replaced with the shortened URL. This is useful for embedding short URLs directly into content. This technique is similar to using Indicators in technical analysis to automatically update values. 3. API: The Short URL extension provides an API endpoint for creating short URLs programmatically. This is useful for integrating the extension with other applications. [2] provides detailed documentation. 4. Form Extension Integration: Integrating with the Form extension allows users to automatically shorten URLs submitted through forms. This is useful for collecting user-submitted links.

Managing Short URLs

The Short URL extension provides a `Special:ShortURL/Manage` page for managing existing short URLs. This page allows you to:

  • View Statistics: See the number of clicks on each short URL. This is invaluable for tracking the effectiveness of your links. Analyzing click-through rates is akin to observing Market Trends in financial markets.
  • Edit URLs: Change the original URL that a short URL points to.
  • Delete URLs: Remove short URLs that are no longer needed.
  • Search URLs: Find specific short URLs or original URLs.
  • Export Data: Export click statistics in CSV format for further analysis.

Security Considerations

  • Input Validation: The extension performs basic input validation to prevent malicious URLs from being shortened. However, it is important to be aware of the risks of shortening URLs that point to phishing or malware sites. Regularly review the shortened URLs to ensure they are legitimate. This is similar to Risk Management in trading.
  • Open Redirect: Be careful about allowing users with limited permissions to create short URLs. This could potentially lead to an open redirect vulnerability. Restricting URL creation to administrators is a good practice.
  • Domain Security: Ensure your server and subdomain used for short URLs are secure and protected against attacks.

Customizing the Appearance

You can customize the appearance of the Short URL extension by modifying the CSS styles. The extension adds several CSS classes that you can use to style the short URLs and the management page. You can add custom CSS to your wiki's `MediaWiki:Common.css` page.

Advanced Configuration and Troubleshooting

  • Custom Domain: Setting up a custom domain for your short URLs requires configuring your web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx) to point a subdomain (e.g., `short.yourwiki.com`) to your MediaWiki installation. You will also need to configure your DNS records to point the subdomain to your server's IP address. This is a critical step for branding and trust.
  • Performance: If you are shortening a large number of URLs, you may experience performance issues. Consider optimizing your database and web server configuration. Caching can also help improve performance. Tools like Memcached can be integrated.
  • Error Handling: If you encounter errors, check your MediaWiki error logs for more information. The error logs are typically located in the `/error.log` file in your MediaWiki installation directory.
  • Conflicts: If you encounter conflicts with other extensions, try disabling other extensions one by one to identify the source of the conflict.
  • Database Size: Regularly monitor your database size, particularly the `shorturl` tables. The `$wgShortURLStatsLimit` setting helps, but consider database maintenance tasks like optimization and archiving.

Best Practices

  • Use Descriptive Short URLs: While short URLs are concise, consider using a short URL service that allows for some customization to make them more descriptive.
  • Monitor Click Statistics: Regularly monitor the click statistics to track the effectiveness of your links.
  • Be Careful About Sharing: Be cautious about sharing short URLs from untrusted sources, as they may point to malicious websites.
  • Regularly Review: Periodically review your shortened URLs to ensure they are still valid and pointing to the correct destinations.
  • Consider URL Encoding: If your original URLs contain special characters, ensure they are properly URL encoded before shortening them.

Related Resources

Special:ShortURL Manual:Configuration Manual:API Extension:Form MediaWiki

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