First time ssl on Genesis child theme

[asbilly92]

Ok I have a customer's site that has had an ssl installed for quite some time (it works correctly just doesn't 'show' the lock) and I think I know what to do but I guess I'm a little afraid of what will happen to the pages, links, javascript etc after doing it 🙁 so worried that the site will render errors or crash or something!

Here's what I think I'm supposed to do:

Go to the site's General Settings and change / update my site URL in the WordPress Address (URL) to be https://www.mydomain.com AND also change the Site Address (URL) to https://www.mydomain.com

I'm looking to redirect the whole site, just fyi.

Then: I need to do the SSL redirect from HTTP to HTTPS; by adding the following code to my .htacess file:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} 80
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.mydomain.com/$1 [R,L]
</IfModule>

Is that correct? And if so, my remaining questions are: 'WHERE' in the .htaccess file do I add that...beginning, or end..? I already have User 301 redirects in there and then off course the # Begin WordPress line...where does this code GO in the .htadcess?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

Will this cause my site any troubles, like will all of the images and everything get redirected?

[Christoph]

Hi,

do the changes at an off time so when something goes wrong, nobody sees it 😉

1) Yes on changing the URLs for WordPress Address and Site Address
2) .htaccess code looks good. Some servers need a bit of different code. If you are concerned about it, I'd ask the hosting provider.
Add it above all rewrite rules.

There is no automatic redirection of hard coded link/image URLs. If an image is using http://sitename.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/sample.jpg you will get a mixed content warning. If you added a link/image in a sidebar that includes http:// you will get a mixed content warning.

There are plugins like https://wordpress.org/plugins/really-simple-ssl/
that try to help with this but the cleanest solution would be to change those URLs in the database.

Also be aware that you have to change Google Analytics and Google Search Console to take the new website URL into account.

Here is a quite good overview of the things to keep in mind: http://searchengineland.com/http-https-seos-guide-securing-website-246940

---

https://www.christophherr.com | Genesis Customizations | Buy me a coffee

[asbilly92]

Ok wow thank you!

So did you mean that in the .htaccess I add that code before all the 301 redirects that I already have in there? Is that what you meant?

And on this part:

There is no automatic redirection of hard coded link/image URLs. If an image is using http://sitename.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/sample.jpg you will get a mixed content warning. If you added a link/image in a sidebar that includes http:// you will get a mixed content warning.

Do you mean that 'from now on - after the ssl is all completely done' if I add a link/image that includes the http? I wouldn't be doing that after, wouldn't all of the images from here on out automatically get the https?? I'm not sure I understand you explanation on that part...

Also concerning image thing: I thought the code I was putting in the .htaccess file would also force the images to be https too? Am I wrong about that? What does it have to do with a sidebar? Or did you mean anywhere lol??

Fortunately I was aware about the google updates to analytics etc that I need to do.

I appreciate the help and would be glad to buy you a coffee lol! I think I am still so worried about messing this up, but there's not a blog yet on his site and he wants to start one so nows the time do this...!

[asbilly92]

Ok so here's a really good question lol: Can I do all of this; 1. change the url's in the WP dashboard and 2. add the code and then if something doesn't work right can I switch it right back?? ...change the URL's back to original and remove the code will it go 'back to normal lol' ??

[Christoph]

Hi,

you are welcome.

1) Yes, add it at the top of the rewrite rules. It´s the first rewrite you want to happen.

2) No, the code you are adding does not magically change the urls of the website.
It makes sure that all traffic coming to the website is using https.
(If visitors type in http:// or use an old http:// link to the website, they will get redirected to the https version)

Existing hard coded (or absolute path) urls on the website are not automatically changed.
You can use the plugin I mentioned to help with that.
(The plugin does not really change the urls. It just removes the absolute path (i.e the http://sitename.com/wp-content/uploads/...) and uses a relative path without specifying the mode (e.g. /wp-content/uploads/...) instead)

A few examples:
If you look at the footer of my homepage, you see four images.
Those images are placed in text widgets. I had to change the "absolute/hard coded" path to the image files from http to https

For a sidebar example, there is a Getresponse banner on the sidebar of my website (e.g. christophherr.com/articles)
The link to show that image was called with http, so I had to change it to https

For an example in page content, I have a Studiopress banner on christophherr/recommendations.
That image was called with http, so I had to change it to https.

3) Yes, you can revert 1 + 2 back to http.

---

https://www.christophherr.com | Genesis Customizations | Buy me a coffee

[asbilly92]

Oh yep sorry for the confusion I do understand that it's actually a redirect... I mean with the .htaccess code and I do understand that it all will be and should to https.

So ... I can basically 'test' it out by switching the URL'S in the WP dashboard and add the code where you said and if there's issues I can switch the URL'S right back, remove the code, and it will revert right back lol?? Am I understanding it right?

I would like to do it all without plugins, unless I can delete the plugin after it 'does it's thing' although this plugin seems like it has to 'stay put' another plugin to keep updated aggggg I would rather learn to do it the right / hard way...

PS I bought you a coffee 😉 , not a giant one but a normal one lol

[Christoph]

Thank you. I appreciate it. 🙂

Yes, you can revert it all back.
You can use a search and replace plugin or query the database directly to find all instances of http:// and replace them with https://

Or, the harder way is to go through the widgets to change all http:// references to https:// and go through every page/post and see if the green lock appears or if there is a mixed content warning.

---

https://www.christophherr.com | Genesis Customizations | Buy me a coffee

[MandyG]

Christoph, I'm using Genesis with Agency Pro theme. I've installed SSL and it's made mess of my site.
See here:
http://virtualfitnesstrainer.com/
vs
https://virtualfitnesstrainer.com/

So at this point I'm not pointing my site to SSL.

When it comes to a redirection plugin within the WP installation, will they need to be manually changed as well?
Is there anything else I need to keep eye an out for?

And are there any Genesis Child Themes that DON'T use the absolute url and use a relative url instead?

Kind regards
Mandy

[Christoph]

Hi Mandy,

you have to add rewrite rules to .htaccess.
The idea is that http automatically redirects to https
(i.e. you won't be able to access an http version any longer)

I´m not sure what redirection plugin you are referring to.

Absolute / relative URLs has nothing to do with Genesis but the way WordPress or you add links.

---

https://www.christophherr.com | Genesis Customizations | Buy me a coffee

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