Redirect Product Page Manufacturer Link To Custom Multi-Level Category

[FidelGonzales]

I want to redirect the default manufacturer link upon product pages to a custom multi-level category. The default manufacturer category is not search engine friendly and lacks the functionality of standard categories, including SEO features, description, and sub-categories (that allow intuitive categorization for large product database). Is this something that is possible via simple admin configuration? Or is this available through template modifications and the use of custom fields that features a custom URL? Any advice is appreciated.

CATEGORY PAGE - I want to place manufacturer link within product listings that links to custom manufacturer category, which features multi-level sub-categories.
http://dirtarmory.com/parts/11/powersports

PRODUCT PAGE - Redirect default manufacturer link upon product page to custom manufacturer category, which features multi-level sub-categories.
http://dirtarmory.com/parts/18/smittybilt-xrc-rock-crawler-winch-bumper-grill-guard-d-ring-mounts-wrangler-tj-rubicon-unlimited-1997-2006-product

CUSTOM MANUFACTURER CATEGORY - I want to remove reference to default manufacturer category link and redirect to a custom multi-level category, which would enable customization that is not featured on the default linked manufacturer category, including custom SEO title, description, and sub-categories.
http://dirtarmory.com/parts/13/manufacturers

Thank you.

P.S. Ideally, I would like to redirect the manufacturer link to direct a reviews directory listing upon K2 and have a second link that directs to manufacturer parts.

JOOMLA VERSION: Joomla! 2.5.14 VIRTUEMART VERSION: 2.0.26A

[PRO]

how many manufacturers do you have?


http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=99225.msg327903#msg327903

there are many ways to do this

[FidelGonzales]

There will be over 100 and as many as 200.

Thanks.

[PRO]

There will be over 100 and as many as 200.

Thanks.

why not do the custom field with link?


do you have a custom component for the manufactuers??

[FidelGonzales]

There is no specific component that I am aware of.

Though, I am using K2 as a reviews directory, where manufacturers would be included. Each relevant product page manufacturer link would be directed there, where a link to manufacturer subcategories would be listed as well as latest, featured, and random manufacturer product module feeds. A K2 news module feed would also list manufacturer news via tags. It would serve as a centralized hub for the manufacturer.

There would be a second "manufacturer products" link, which would direct to the custom Virtuemart manufacturer category.

I have been looking into VM2's custom fields and figured it could be used to create such a feature. Do you have any hints at achieving such capabilities?

Thank you for your assistance.

[FidelGonzales]

For redirecting to the custom manufacturer category, I found that under the custom fields tab of the product edit page, the first row for "Relate Categories" may (or is commonly) used for this purpose. Through this auto search field, you may select the appropriate category created for the manufacturer. Upon the product page default template, it references the linked category as "Related Categories" in between the description and reviews.

As per the attached screenshot, you may find the linked category in the bottom left corner. I will consider auto-including the custom manufacturer category description along with the link and image. Aside from it being useful (user/SEO), I'm not sure if the description  parameter is easily generated, though.

[attachment cleanup by admin]