For me (J4.2.2), sorting products based on the choice of the manufacturer's name works terrible and random.
I've tried to solve this with other SEF components, but it often fails with 404 error. Router
in sorting the manufacturer's name it generates an absurd link structure for me.
When I'm on a category page (category name "kolczyki"), its link (no sef) looks like this:
URL with no SEF: /index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=category&virtuemart_category_id=16&
virtuemart_manufacturer_id=0&Itemid=162
URL with joomla SEF: /category-name
One of the links in sorting the manufacturer's name looks like this:
URL with no SEF: /index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=category&virtuemart_category_id=16&
virtuemart_manufacturer_id=5&Itemid=162
URL with joomla SEF: /
category-name/producent/manufacturer-name/
category-name (

)
See how it looks in the attachment in the photo.
According to SEO rules, the structure should look like this:
/category-name/producent/manufacturer-name
or
/category-name/manufacturer-name
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PS. How to disable SEF links in this variable?
$orderByList['manufacturer']