Thread

Hello all:

Strange issue here maybe someone recognises. I tried doing searching but nothing came up, which was surprising given how common I’d imagine something like this is.

First up I’m using EE v2.1.0 and primarily the Pages modules, although the same behaviour is happening on normal channel-based paths as well.

If I append any single URL parameter onto any URL in the site, I get a “Status: 404 Page Not Found.”

<a href="http://www.example.com/?x=1">http://www.example.com/?x=1</a>

We are using a few non-EE bits of PHP for external feeds that pass an URL parameter. We also have tracking system where a parameter is appended to URLs. Also google pay-per-click appends a tracking code and I’m worried about this happening in that case. It seems like a fairly innocuous requirement that if the appended parameter doesn’t interfere with CMS variables it shouldn’t cause an issue? (This was always okay on EE 1.x)

One weird fix I’ve found it that appending 2 parameters fixes the problem, and delivers the page with parameters intact!

<a href="http://www.example.com/?x=1&y=2">http://www.example.com/?x=1&y=2</a>

Can anyone shed some light on this and possible solutions?

Update: I just noticed the 2 parameter fix only works on sub-pages. It does not work on the root page of the site.

What version and build of EE are you using? Are you removing index.php from your URLs with mod_rewrite?

I am using ExpressionEngine is v2.1.0 Build 20100810.

Are you removing index.php from your URLs with mod_rewrite?

I am, as it happens. But renaming (thus disabling) my .htaccess file does not change the behaviour. Once I’ve put in the path with index.php, appending a single parameter still returns 404. Is there something else I’d have to do?

Hi, Pierce. I can replicate the problem you’re having, but as you said .htaccess isn’t a factor in this case. I’m going to be posting this to the devs to see if there is something we can do about it. Thanks in advance for your patience.

I am having the same problem. So that when a click thru from google adwords thus

http://onlineone.com.au/index.php/services/implementing-netsuite?gclid=CJDjr_LP1aQCFQRCbgodn

ends up with the 404 page.

Thanks for adding your scenario, mcleand. This should help the devs in figuring out what the issue is. Thanks in advance for your patience.

Thanks Sue. I look forward to hearing back about this.

Just keep us in the loop, please.

We have had a similar problem on our website. We have contacted Google and had this response:

Thanks for your call. Following our conversation, I have now included some
information about auto-tagging, how it is affecting your site and what
action needs to be taken to resolve the issues you are experiencing.

***Auto-tagging***

I understand that after activating Analytics within your AdWords account,
your ads have been directing visitors to an error page. When Analytics is
activated within AdWords, ‘Destination URL auto-tagging’ is automatically
turned on. This feature allows Analytics to track information about clicks
on your AdWords ads by tagging your AdWords keyword Destination URLs with
a ‘gclid=’ parameter. This parameter is displayed in your landing page
URL. Some websites do not allow URL parameters and serve an error page as
a result.

***Your site***

While reviewing your website, I found that a your site does not allow
these tracking parameters and is sending visitors to a 404 error page.

To prevent this occurring I showed you how to turn off auto-tagging in
your account. Your ads are no longer going to error pages as a result.

However, without Auto-tagging turned on Analytics is unable to track
visitors reaching your site through AdWords properly.

I recommend contacting your webmaster to request that they change the
website so that it allows Tracking Parameters. If this isn’t possible you
will not be able to use AdWords and Analytics together.

I hope this information is helpful. Do let me know if you have any further
related queries or concerns and I will be more than happy to address them.

Hope that helps a little.

Thank you, GlobalGraphics. Does that mean you were able to solved it, or do you still require assistance?

We couldn’t solve it. Currently our Auto Tagging is off.

And that’s working for you, I understand? Just let us know if and when you want to revisit the issue. Thanks.

Hi - This is an issue for me as well. Our client is using a marketing company that has proprietary software that appends tracking code to it as well.

Is there a way to do this via a server rewrite or something? Thanks!

Hi, Jack. Did you see the post earlier about turning on force query strings? Did that help?

Hi, I am still experiencing this problem, as described above. It’s continuing to cause issues with integrated codes for tracking, etc. Basically anything I’ve tried to use that automatically appends a single url parameters.

Any updates on whether a fix is being explored?