If I want to redirect a URL I will usually try and do it on the server side, as this seems like the best fit solution to a redirect. It can be done server side, or in code, examples of both are below.

Whether it is an entire site redirect or a page move necessitating a URL redirect there are some small, but key differences in how to do it.

Differences in 301 or 302 redirects

The 302 redirect is a temporary redirect that indicates to browsers and search engines that it is not a permanent change. This is all well and good, but some engines will overlook this due to knowing that it is a temporary change. Google for instance will not index redirects of this type, effectively leaving your users pointed at the wrong URL.

The 301 redirect is a permanent redirect. It is much more search engine friendly, as they will not skip over it. They read it and cache the destination template as the end point, rather than using the redirect url, so saving your users that extra jump.

Implementing the redirect

In IIS:

• In internet services manager, right click on the file or folder you wish to redirect
• Select the radio titled "a redirection to a URL".
• Enter the redirection page
• Check "The exact url entered above" and the "A permanent redirection for this resource" (This makes it a 301 redirect)
• Click on 'Apply'

In code:

I recently changed my mobile to the HTC Magic. Its Vodafone's first Android powered mobile, full touch screen etc... You can read a full spec here.

I do not usually use Gmail, but the phone was directing me towards them on initialisation, so I thought I'd give it a shot.

Transferring the contacts from my N95 to the HTC Magic isn't possible through the Blu tooth connection, as the HTC's Blu tooth protocol does not support data transfer.

So first thing is to get the Nokia Software.

http://www.nokia.co.uk/get-support-and-software/product-support/nokia-n95/software

Install this and run the backup option. After you have backed up you can select an email client to interface with. I'm Windows through and through, so I sync'd my contacts with Microsoft Outlook.

Once in outlook select 'File' – 'Import and Export'. Depending on your version you may get different options here, but in 2007 its 'Export to a file'. Click next, then select 'Comma separated values (Windows). Next select your contacts (or more if you want) and press next. Your data will be exported as a CSV.

Once in outlook select 'File' – 'Import and Export'. Depending on your version you may get different options here, but in 2007 its 'Export to a file'. Click next, then select 'Comma separated values (Windows). Next select your contacts (or more if you want) and press next. Your data will be exported as a CSV.

So a bit long winded, but it works!

I recently came across an issue where an online application was crossing several domains during the customer experience, and the Google Analytics tracking was losing the referrer when they left the originating domain.

The usual Google Analytics tracking code is:

With the addition of two extra lines:

We can force each link to carry the cookie data over to the next domain, maintaining the user data throughout.

There is one other small change. Any href that transitions from one domain to the next has to include an onclick event that tells it to use a tracker method.

We need to do something similar to form submissions:

In this way the user cookie is maintained across multiple domains.