Title: Permalink Structure Requirements
Last modified: January 11, 2023

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# Permalink Structure Requirements

 *  Resolved [Lupe](https://wordpress.org/support/users/erskine4730/)
 * (@erskine4730)
 * [3 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalink-structure-requirements/)
 * Have a nearly 8 year old blog with hundreds of posts and pages that all use the
   plain permalink structure (WP default). Will W3 Total Cache plugin work with 
   plain permalinks? I understand that changing the permalink structure is not recommended
   on an existing site, so I’m having hard time finding a good caching plugin that
   will work.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  Plugin Contributor [Marko Vasiljevic](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vmarko/)
 * (@vmarko)
 * [3 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalink-structure-requirements/#post-16365992)
 * Hello [@erskine4730](https://wordpress.org/support/users/erskine4730/)
 * Thank you for reaching out and I am happy to assist you with this.
   With the Plain
   permalink structure, it’s adding the query string to the URL ?p=123By default,
   if using Page Caching feature in the W3 Total Cache with Disk: Enhaced caching
   method, it will not work as W3TC does not cache query string with Disk: Enhanced.
 * In this case, you can try using Disk: Basic or some memory-based caching like
   Redis or Memcached.
   Ther should not be any issues if you change the Permalink
   structure to Post name for example, and you can then use the rewrite for Page
   Caching.I hope this helps!Thanks!
 *  Thread Starter [Lupe](https://wordpress.org/support/users/erskine4730/)
 * (@erskine4730)
 * [3 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalink-structure-requirements/#post-16371378)
 * Hi, Marko Vasiljevic
 * Thank you for the response. If understand correctly, Disk: Enhanced and Disk:
   Basic are two different settings that can be chosen from in the W3 Total Cache
   Plugin, and that only the Basic setting might work with my rotten plain permalink
   structure. Have I got that right?
 * Thanks for the suggestion on memory-based caching like Redis or Memcached. Sounds
   like I’m going to have to do a little more investigation before leaping into 
   anything.
 *  Plugin Contributor [Marko Vasiljevic](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vmarko/)
 * (@vmarko)
 * [3 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalink-structure-requirements/#post-16378808)
 * Hello [@erskine4730](https://wordpress.org/support/users/erskine4730/) 
   Yes, 
   you understood correctly.There is no need to panic, you can try switching to 
   the Post name permalink structure (most common) save it, and check your website
   and check if the Disk: Enhanced is working (There should be a red notification
   if the rewrite is not working correctly.)
 * Thanks!
 *  Thread Starter [Lupe](https://wordpress.org/support/users/erskine4730/)
 * (@erskine4730)
 * [3 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalink-structure-requirements/#post-16382011)
 * Thank you for the clarification, Marko.
 * I have no doubt that the W3 Total Cache plugin would work on Disk: Enhanced, 
   if I change the permalink structure from “plain” to “post name” as you suggest.
   That’s very easy to do. A couple of clicks.
 * However, if I do that, it will break every one of the many hundreds of existing
   links to my site. Since I don’t know how to efficiently redirect those external
   links to the new post name permalink structure, I can’t change the permalink 
   structure without incurring all that damage.
 * So, I seem to be stuck with the “ugly” WP default plain permalink structure, 
   which is why I’m having trouble finding a caching plugin that will work with 
   my site without creating other significant issues.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘Permalink Structure Requirements’ is closed to new replies.

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 * 4 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Lupe](https://wordpress.org/support/users/erskine4730/)
 * Last activity: [3 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/permalink-structure-requirements/#post-16382011)
 * Status: resolved