New "f" tag for viewtopic?

[menyak]

Well, it's not exactly new, and I've seen it asked in these forums some time ago, but I'm afraid I can't find that thread anymore: does anyone know why the f= tag as been added to all viewtopic URLs? Seems like all the URLs work the same without, and you can even put the wrong forum id and it will still make no difference. Thanks!

[VinDuv]

Is it used for the "Who is online - Users browsing this forum" at the bottom of the page.

[espenhh]

Go to a forum, then click on one of the global annoucements... When you are in that thread, how should the forum be able to display the correct forum you are in without that parameter?

[Dog Cow]

The topics will work without the f argument, though.

[ascensions]

How do you remove the F= from the system?

[VinDuv]

How do you remove the F= from the system?

What ? Why would you do that ?

[Gumfuzi]

how about links to another thread in the same board within a posting when you have converted from 2.0.x to 3.0?

i guess, that will be not fixed as it is only within the older postings an in many months the usage of such links will getting down to nearly zero, right?

[jojobarjo32]

The topics will work without the f argument, though.

[Gumfuzi]

i know. what I mean is, clicking those "converted" links will be not result to be shown in the online-list of a forum? (until this user will click anywhere else then)

[ascensions]

What ? Why would you do that ?

Many pages on the 2.0 system have page rank. Now there is basically duplicate content in Google. The non F= should atleast have a 301 redirect in the header response to eliminate this problem, but it doesn't. Alot of sites are going to have a major problem with their trust & authenticity with search engines due to the f=