Implementing redirect url feature in the ItemResolver pipeline

Question

I'm working on a redirect url feature and have added a pipeline processor after the ItemResolver.

However the value of HttpContext.Current.Request.Url.LocalPath equals "/layouts/system/VisitorIdentificationCSS.aspx" rather than the value typed in the address bar. If I patch before the ItemResolver it works.

If I disable @Html.Sitecore().VisitorIdentification() from my view the pipeline is never hit for as long as it's after ItemResolver.

Any idea what this relates to? I'm not sure if it relates to the license not including xDB

public override void Process(HttpRequestArgs args) 
{ 
    if (args.Context.Request.Url.OriginalString.ToLower().Contains(‌​"/sitecore")) 
        return; 

    if (Sitecore.Context.Item == null) 
        var path = HttpContext.Current.Request.Url.LocalPath;

}

Answer 1

Problem is with:

if (Sitecore.Context.Item == null)

in your code.

After ItemResolver is executed, that will be never null for Sitecore items.

That's why you only see this hit for VisitorIdentification.

If you want your code to be executed when Sitecore "page" is loaded, change your code to

if (Sitecore.Context.Item != null)
{
    ...
}