Exact Syntax for Canonical to PDFs for Windows Server

[Midleton]

Hi There,

I have got in my web several PDFs with the same content of the HTML version. Thus I need to set up a canonical for each of them in order to avoid duplicate content.

In particular, I need to know how to write the exact syntax for the windows server (web.config) in order to implement the canonical to PDF. I surfed the web but it seems I cannot find this piece of info anywhere

Thanks a lot!!

[DeanAndrews]

Hi, I believe your question is answered here via .htaccess file rather than web.config. Moz blog: How To: Advanced rel="canonical" HTTP Headers

[AlanMosley]

He's on a windows server and there is no .htaccess, you use web.config.

[AlanMosley]

I don't think this can be done in web.config. I don't think it can be done at all.

while you can add a canonical header, to a folder using IIS, you cant add if to a file.

[DeanAndrews]

My mistake

[CleverPhD]

Not according to this doc:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753812(v=ws.10).aspx

"Levels

The procedures for configuring HTTP headers can be performed at the following levels in IIS:

• Web Server

• Site

• Application

• Physical and virtual directories

• File (URL)"

[AlanMosley]

Thanks for finding that, I see it says url, but I cant see how that is actually done. All it does it create a web.config in the folder you choose, I found no way of doing it ofr the indervidual file, unless you have only one file per forder

here is the web.config, how to test it works?

<configuration><system.webserver><httpprotocol><customheaders><add name="CononicalUrl" value="Link: http:/domain.com/my.pdf; rel=canonical"></add></customheaders></httpprotocol></system.webserver></configuration>

[ThompsonPaul]

To implement a canonical tag for an individual page/file in IIS, you need to insert a custom response header via an outbound rule in the IIS Rewrite module, not through the web.config.

Sorry I don't have a specific example handy (haven't had to wrassle with IIS in some time). I'll see if I can dig one up.

Meanwhile, here's a link to the relevant section of the general Rewrite Module info in case maybe Alan can suggest the specifics.

Paul

[AlanMosley]

Thanks Paul

I had a look at the page, but as I can see it uses headers to identify the response, but the actions are rewrite or redirect. There is a custom response you can use,

for a definitive answer I would ask on iis.net http://forums.iis.net/

Or you could place each pdf in its own folder and place the header on the folder