Broken Link to Download File

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I manage a concrete5 site for a small organization.
We have a publications page that we use to publish PDF's. We do this with download link blocks.

Recently a user sent a PDF file for me to update.
From the file manager I deleted the old version of the file and then uploaded the new version. Then I changed the link on the publications page to point to the new version.

Problem is that now all the search engines point to the old file. Worse I can't even figure out where the old file use to live because it has been deleted and web search engine links point to folders and not actual file locations.

Here is the broken URL
http://symcdc.com/index.php/download_file/74/122/...

Here is the URL that works
http://symcdc.com/index.php/download_file/76/122/...

The actual file lives here...
http://symcdc.com/files/3115/2227/0321/Order_out_of_Tidal_Force_Com...

I have made many attempts to add a permanent redirect in .htaccess with nothing working so far. Could anyone help me figure out a way to get the old link to point to the new file so that the search engines redirect. Main reason is this paper had achieved some visibility and now all search links point to a "invalid file" not found even though its still on the site.

I am using concrete5 version 5.5.2.1
thanks for any help,
Eric

 
cristi78 replied on at Permalink Reply
Hello.

I think a better way to replace a file and keep the original path (download link) is to go to file manager in Dashboard, right click the file you wish to update, select Replace and then upload the new file (with the same name as original) from your computer.

Hope this will help.

PS: It seems that there is 2 parameters attached to a file - URL to File and Tracked URL.
Now, I don't really know which one is used by Google to index content. Judging by the name, I'll say Tracked URL is used but...

Using my method the Tracked URL remains the same while URL to FIle is changed.

PS1: And now I see that you use an older version of C5 and I tested it on the latest version...
ednspace replied on at Permalink Reply
Thank You!
Wish I had known about that before I first deleted the file.
Doesn't fix problem now however for all future replacements I will certainly use your method.

Thanks for your help,
Eric