How to ensure that file names and paths are preserved?

[pointyfar]

@NovemberPain

URLs must not change.

Many ways you can manage URLS. The most straightforward would be to just “force” the URL value: URL management | Hugo

@NovemberPain

The *.md files are published alongside the *.html files that they generate.

Instead of copying the md files over, set up md as an output format instead. This should also address :

@NovemberPain

some of the Markdown files are also fetched and processed by (old) third-party tools that are unable to understand or skip the front matter.

@NovemberPain

I cannot override the URLs in the front matter of the Markdown files. In fact, I would like to avoid having to set anything in the front matter, for two reasons: on the one hand, some of these files are edited by people with very little knowledge of computers and who could accidentally make some content unavailable if they copy-paste or edit the front matter without understanding it.

I would suggest you have a look at using a headless CMS for your users instead of having them touch the markdown files directly.

I get the feeling from your post that you just want to hear “Hugo is not for you” so if that’s what you are looking for, then: Hugo is not for you.

If you really do want to actually try it, Here’s a few points:

0. Read Requesting Help
1. It’s easier to ask for help for specific questions.
2. It’s easier to help if you had your code in a repo we can reproduce.
3. You probably need to read the docs a few times.