VCU Keywords & Short URLs
At the November Web Users Group meeting, we introduced a new feature we were planning for the VCU Keywords application.
The new feature we originally envisioned would enable temporary,
randomized URLs that would expire after 60 days of non-use. After our
discussion at the Web Users Group meeting, we’ve decided to change the
feature somewhat to allow these URLs to remain permanent. Here is how we envision the new URL shortening system working. Please read through and let us know what you think in the comments. (Comments will be automatically approved if you Sign In using your VCU eID and password.)
- When requesting a
new keyword, the default name would be a short randomized set of
characters beginning with an underscore, for example _wU9
(henceforth known as a random keyword). You will also have the option
to specify a titled keyword at the time of creation instead. - Random keywords that point to a VCU.edu domain will be
immediately approved. Random keywords that point outside of the VCU.edu
domain will require approval first (to prevent spam abuse). All titled
keywords will require approval (to ensure that titles are granted to
the proper group or person). - Random keywords will persist until they have been inactive for 60
days, at which point an email will be sent to the keyword requester
asking whether they want the keyword to become permanent. If the
requester answers no or does not respond, the keyword will be deleted
after 75 days of inactivity. (Inactivity means that the
go.vcu.edu/_random_keyword URL has not been visited.) - There
will be an option in the initial request form (and in the update form)
to request that a random keyword be permanent. (It will be unchecked by
default.) - You will be able to edit the URL that random keywords
point to. If the URL changes to a non-VCU.edu domain, the change will
require approval. If the URL was already an approved non-VCU.edu domain
and the location is changing within the same domain, the change will be
automatically approved.