external javascript links

[boyfromoz]

I've built a couple of sites using the sothink dhtml menu, and also using the similar fireworks drop down menu system.

Both use external javascript files to record links.

Can search engines crawl these?

 

[Wullie]

Hi mate,

Search engines will not crawl js links.

Hope this helps Wullie

http://www.freshlookdesign.co.uk

http://www.freshlookdesign.com

http://www.mailtosanta.co.uk

The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change.
The leader adjusts the sails. - John Maxwell

 

[RISTMO]

What about links that are in <select> boxes? You know what I mean--drop down lists powered with JS. Those are also excluded? So the alternative would be to use the <select> box (or in nippi's case the menu) followed by a <noscript>?:
<noscript>
<a href=&quot;1.html&quot;>1</a>
<a href=&quot;2.html&quot;>2</a>
<a href=&quot;3.html&quot;>3</a>
<a href=&quot;4.html&quot;>4</a>
<a href=&quot;5.html&quot;>5</a>
</noscript>

I thought that whenever a search engine saw a &quot;

http://&quot;

it followed that text like it was a link. I guess I was wrong?

Rick -----------------------------------------------------------

http://www.ristmo.com/

RISTMO Designs

http://www.arabchurch.com/

Arab Church

 

[mThomas]

While search engines, as Wullie points out, will not read a .js file, .js files do have an up side. They do reduce the number of lines of code that a search engine has to parse and ignore before it gets to your content. Do a search on &quot;.js search engines&quot; in any of the major search sites and you will get ample examples of what I'm talking about.

mike

 

[mThomas]

Hi RISTMO,

>>I thought that whenever a search engine saw a &quot;

http://&quot;;

it &quot;followed that text like it was a link. I guess I was wrong?<<

I don't think you are wrong, though I'm interested in what others like Wullie have to say.

mike

 

[RISTMO]

Ok. I guess I misunderstood. The search engine will follow an internal javascript link (or any

http://.....),

it just won't follow one in a .js file. It won't even see the <noscript> if it's put in the .js file. The search engine will never see the .js file, so my recommendation would be to add a <noscript> at the end of the webpage containing all of the links. That way, the search engine sees the content first, but it still follows the links.

Rick -----------------------------------------------------------

http://www.ristmo.com/

RISTMO Designs

http://www.arabchurch.com/

Arab Church

 

[boyfromoz]

The two sites I have recently added this fature to, have both dropped of Google totally. I really have no idea why.

http://www.uncle.org.au

http://www.pinnaclebusiness.com.au

ANyone?

 

[RISTMO]

Changing that should not result in your sites getting unlisted. Your ranking will be lower if you have fewer links to your pages, but you will still be listed. Also, you have 3 links where there is no drop-down. Those pages would still be listed. My opinion is that Google somehow missed your site in its most recent scan.

The way to fix the links so they still get followed is to add this to the bottom of your webpages:
<noscript>
<a href=&quot;link1.html&quot;>link1</a>
<a href=&quot;link2.html&quot;>link2</a>
<a href=&quot;link3.html&quot;>link3</a>
<a href=&quot;link4.html&quot;>link4</a>
etc.
</noscript>

Rick -----------------------------------------------------------

http://www.ristmo.com/

RISTMO Designs

http://www.arabchurch.com/

Arab Church