Recently some days ago i see a blog post about the Parameter Handling feature of Google Webmaster Tools. In the simplest sense, this addition would solve the dilemma created by different URL structures that all point to the same page. It functions by ignoring pre-set parameters that tend to create duplicate issues. Despite certain drawbacks such as this option being exclusive only to Google, the said tool was found to be a more welcome alternative for determining the proper canonicalisation of a certain page. For site owners who have been practising Google-approved SEO methods, this has become a useful addition to their arsenal.
Recently, Google has come out publicly with a new and improved version of this tool. Christened as URL Parameters, it is now give users more control as to how certain parameters affects the content of a page. Just take a look at the screen shot below.
Apart from being able to ignore parameters that ultimately results in duplicate content (e.g. session Ids), URL Parameters now provides you with a number of options for sorting, refining, or translating parameter values. (See next screen shot).
Being a fairly recent addition to Google Webmaster Tools, the expanded URL Parameter options still need familiarisation. After all, you would not want mixing up your sort parameters and end up not having vital pages indexed, would you? Click on this link to learn more: https://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=1235687&hl=en
