Troubleshooting Site Language Configuration Issues in Sitecore SXA

In the world of Sitecore development, issues related to site configurations can often arise, particularly when managing multiple languages for a single site. A recent support case highlights a common problem faced by developers, the process of seeking help from Sitecore support, and how it can be resolved effectively.

Background

As a developer managing an SXA site with multiple site grouping definitions, each corresponding to a different language, I encountered a significant challenge. In this particular case, there were two site groupings:

• Site 1: English Version
• Site 2: Chinese Version

The challenge was that the Chinese URL was unexpectedly displaying English content from Site 1 instead of the intended Chinese content from Site 2.

Seeking Assistance

To resolve this issue, I contacted Sitecore support for expert assistance. The support team promptly reviewed the configuration and identified that the problem was linked to the disableTrailingWildcard setting within Sitecore. This setting affects how the site definitions match incoming requests. By default, when set to false, it allows for more flexible matching of hostnames. However, in this scenario, it was causing the Chinese site to incorrectly resolve to the English site.

Diagnosis and Resolution

Following the guidance from Sitecore support, the following steps were taken:

1. Update Site Definition: I was instructed to open the site definition items for both site groupings and add the property disableTrailingWildcard=true in the Other Properties field.
2. Publish Changes: After updating the site definitions, it was essential to publish the changes to ensure they were reflected in the live environment.
3. Testing: With the updates made, I tested the site again to verify that the Chinese URL was now resolving correctly to the intended language content.

Conclusion

This support case not only illustrates the complexities involved in managing multiple languages in Sitecore SXA but also emphasizes the importance of reaching out for expert help when needed. By properly configuring site definitions and utilizing properties like disableTrailingWildcard, developers can effectively troubleshoot and resolve similar issues.

The experience underlines the value of Sitecore support in navigating challenges within the platform. If you find yourself encountering language resolution problems in your Sitecore projects, consider reaching out to Sitecore support for guidance. Often, the solution lies in the details, and expert insights can lead to quick resolutions.