## **🔍 Overview**

When creating a topical map in Search Atlas, you may run into two common issues: a **URL validation error** that greys out the input field, or **OTTO only returning results for one page** even though your site has many more. Both issues are usually caused by incorrect URL formatting or misconfigured crawl settings. This article walks you through how to fix each problem.

## **⚠️ Issue 1: URL Field Shows a Validation Error and Is Greyed Out**

This error appears when the URL entered does not match the expected format. The field becomes uneditable until the issue is resolved.

**Common causes:**

- Missing or incorrect protocol (e.g., typing **www.example.com** instead of **https://www.example.com**)
- A trailing space before or after the URL
- Special characters or unsupported symbols in the URL
- Entering a URL path instead of the root domain (e.g., **https://example.com/blog** instead of **https://example.com**)

**How to fix it:**

1. Go to **Left sidebar → Content → Topical Maps**.
2. Click to create a new topical map.
3. Clear the URL field completely.
4. Re-enter your URL in the correct format: **https://www.yourdomain.com** — include the protocol and avoid any trailing slashes or spaces.
5. Wait for the validation indicator to confirm the URL is accepted before proceeding.

## **📄 Issue 2: OTTO Only Shows Results for One Page**

If OTTO is crawling your site but only returning data for a single page, your **Pages to Crawl** limit or project URL is likely limiting the number of pages analysed.

**Common causes:**

- **Pages to Crawl** is set to **1** (or a very low number), meaning only the root URL is crawled
- The project was set up on the wrong URL (a single page or subdirectory instead of the root domain)
- The sitemap has not been submitted or is not accessible
- The website blocks crawlers via **robots.txt** rules (only relevant if **Crawl Criteria** is set to **Respect robots.txt** in your crawl settings)

**How to fix it:**

1. Navigate to **Left sidebar → OTTO SEO → SEO Automation** (URL: **/seo-automation-v3**).
2. Open your project and click the **Autopilot / Smart Crawl** card to open the **OTTO SEO Settings** modal.
3. Increase **Pages to Crawl** so it covers the number of pages your site contains (adding a small buffer).
4. Ensure the **crawl scope** is set to your full root domain, not a specific subfolder or page.
5. If you have a sitemap, confirm the URL is entered correctly in the sitemap field (e.g., **https://www.yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml**).
6. Save your settings and re-run the crawl.

Once the crawl completes, return to **Left sidebar → Content → Topical Maps** and generate or refresh your topical map. You should now see data across all crawled pages.

## **✅ Best Practices for Topical Map Setup**

- Always use the full root domain with **https://** when entering your URL.
- Set **Pages to Crawl** high enough to cover your full site (with a small buffer).
- Submit an XML sitemap to help OTTO discover all pages faster.
- Check your **robots.txt** file if **Crawl Criteria** is set to **Respect robots.txt** — otherwise OTTO ignores it.
- Re-run the crawl after any major site changes before generating a new topical map.

## **💬 Still Need Help?**

If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type **human teammate** to be connected with a member of our team.