XML Sitemap
The XML Sitemap gives search engines a clean machine-readable list of important public store URLs. It helps discovery; it does not force ranking.
- 1Choose the correct store and review which catalog URL groups should be included.
- 2Copy its public sitemap URL from the component; open it in a browser.
- 3Confirm XML is displayed, test a few product/category URLs and submit the sitemap URL to Search Console.
The sitemap responds successfully with real public URLs for the correct store. Submission does not guarantee indexing.
Remember: A sitemap must use the correct domain and should not publish disabled/private URLs. Frontend verification guide →
Recommended setup
- Keep XML Sitemap enabled.
- Use the selected store's sitemap_index.xml URL.
- Keep caching enabled/default unless you have a specific freshness requirement.
- Include normal active products, categories, manufacturers and public information/CMS content.
- Add Custom URLs only for real public pages not already covered.
Why is the Store selector needed?
Each OpenCart store can have a different domain, assigned products and language setup. The sitemap must therefore be generated for the selected store. Moving the selector to the panel heading is only a UI change; its store scope is important.
Which URL should I submit?
Submit the store's sitemap index, normally:
https://your-store.example/sitemap_index.xmlThe index points to the smaller child sitemaps HuntBee creates for languages/content types/pages. This scales better than putting a very large catalog into one XML file.
Clean sitemap URLs and .htaccess
OpenCart's default Apache rules can send unknown .xml paths to the wrong place unless a rewrite exists. HuntBee installs a small managed sitemap block so clean public paths work, including the sitemap index and child sitemap patterns.
Before the first managed modification, HuntBee creates a backup of the existing .htaccess.
What do Purge Cache and Rebuild do?
| Purge Cache | Deletes generated sitemap cache files so the next request/build uses fresh data. |
| Rebuild | Regenerates the sitemap output immediately. |
Use these after large catalog/URL changes when you want an immediate refresh. Routine catalog changes can normally rely on the component's cache/invalidation behaviour.
Custom URLs
Use Add URL only for a public page that search engines should discover and that is not already represented by a normal OpenCart entity.
| Good custom URL | Do not add |
|---|---|
| A public custom landing page created by another extension and not included automatically. | Admin URLs, account pages, login, cart or checkout. |
| A useful public editorial page outside the standard entity types. | Search result URLs, sort/filter variants or duplicate tracking URLs. |
Recommended settings
| Area | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Enabled | Provides a stable discovery source. |
| Cache | Enabled/default lifetime | Prevents expensive regeneration on every crawler request. |
| Active products/categories | Include | Core public catalog content. |
| Images | Include where supported/useful | Helps search engines associate product images with product pages. |
| Custom URLs | Only genuine additional public pages | A sitemap should be a clean list, not every URL the site can produce. |
Sitemap vs Indexing Manager
The sitemap should contain URLs you want discovered/indexed. If a route is intentionally noindexed, it generally should not be added to the sitemap. Keep Indexing Manager and sitemap intent consistent.
Sitemap vs IndexNow
- XML Sitemap = complete discovery map of existing important URLs.
- IndexNow = fast notification that selected URLs changed.
They complement each other; one does not replace the other.
Troubleshooting
sitemap_index.xmldoes not open: run Update/Repair, then check the managed Apache rewrite/routing setup.- Store switch sends you to login: use a current build; admin URLs should retain a valid user token.
- Add URL does nothing: current builds use AJAX and standard OpenCart alerts; check the top alert area for validation/error text.
- Old URLs remain after changes: Purge Cache and Rebuild.
- Sitemap contains the wrong domain: check the selected store's OpenCart URL configuration.