Why does the SiteMap upload both the non-gzip and the gzip when you ftp?
Do I need to have both?
I have referenced the sitemap.xml.gz in my robots.txt file
I would obviously prefer that Google or any other search engine did not pick up the non-gzip file.
PS - I have successfully referenced the gzip sitemap with Google webmaster
If you use the built-in FTP functionality in A1 Sitemap Generator, it uploads them both (for just) incase the user wants it. To avoid possible unnecessary confusion with people who can not find their sitemap files etc. I guess it could have been made an option, but there are already quite a few options ;)
Since you submit your .gz version in Google Webmaster Tools, that will be the one used by Google.
Many thanks
Hello and excuse me for stepping into your thread.
About submitting non compressed sitemaps:
If you have strong competition in your niche I strongly suggest not uploading things like "sitemap.xml" since it is making your competence life easier for reverse engineering, use custom names instead or, much better use only compressed sitemaps with custom file name.
Let them use software and time if they want to analyse your site...
Good luck!
I see where you are coming from but is it worth it given that someone who is serious about reviewing the structure of your website will use more than just the sitemap.
Hi will,
It is a general advise, we are both using a tool that allows reviewing site estructure, for starters...
Do not limit your view to rev engineering, count on site scrapping, massive link building spammers and other things you may think you can do from a URL list. What if you are using cross-domain URLs you don't want to disclose so easily? You may not signal to (not so techy) competitors you're providing alternate languages for your URLs in case you implement that in your sitemaps. Etc, probably...
Think about this as a Wordpress installation: if you change a few best practice settings you can get rid from 95% of WP attacks, isn't it worth the effort?
After all, what effort? You know how easy is to change the filename and publish sitemaps and you know it only matters Google/Bing where to find them (ergo filename).
Last but not least, references in Robots.txt make all my good intentions trying to camouflage a sitemap useless :)