Using Frames and Robot File

[Stephen Horrillo]

I was told that the reason you never use frames in a website is that seach
engines don't like them. Is this true? If so, is there a way to instruct the
robots to index the site properly? If so, how is it done? And what about
inline frames, do they cause a problem as well?

--
Warmest regards,

Stephen Horrillo, Realtor / C.Ht.
For MLS & Computer Training: http://www.BrokerAgentTraining.com
Realtors Earn Over 100% at EXIT: http://www.over100percent.com

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

1. The robots.txt file is a exclusion file only - telling robots that actually honor it, to not
index certain content within the site.

2. If the search engines index a page that belongs in a Frame or IFrame, then users of the search
engine will come directly to the page outside of the frame. With a frameset you can use JavaScript
to dynamically generate the frameset with the requested page loaded.

3. Search engine see the frameset page as just another page, as long as you have a no frame section,
however this doesn't apply to IFrames.

4. Frames make it harder for site visitors to bookmark or print content or to be able provide a URL
reference to content on a site, since the URL in the address bar is to the frameset page. It is more
import that your site is useable for visitors, then for the search engines to be able to index it.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WebMaster Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
If you feel your current issue is a results of installing
a Service Pack or security update, please contact
Microsoft Product Support Services:
http://support.microsoft.com
If the problem can be shown to have been caused by a
security update, then there is usually no charge for the call.
==============================================

 

[Trevor L.]

Thomas,
I am still using frames, and I have overcome problem 2. with your help

I am now wondering about problem 4. Is it possible to change the URL in the
address bar when viewing a frame, perhaps with Javascript. (Although with
problem 2 solved perhaps it isn't so important).

Thomas, I seem to recall that you don't use much JS, so perhaps someone else
can answer

--
Cheers,
Trevor L.
Website: http://tandcl.homemail.com.au

1. The robots.txt file is a exclusion file only - telling robots that
actually honor it, to not index certain content within the site.

2. If the search engines index a page that belongs in a Frame or IFrame,
then users of the search engine will come directly to the page outside of
the frame. With a frameset you can use JavaScript to dynamically generate
the frameset with the requested page loaded.

3. Search engine see the frameset page as just another page, as long as
you have a no frame section, however this doesn't apply to IFrames.

4. Frames make it harder for site visitors to bookmark or print content or
to be able provide a URL reference to content on a site, since the URL in
the address bar is to the frameset page. It is more import that your site
is useable for visitors, then for the search engines to be able to index
it.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WebMaster Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
If you feel your current issue is a results of installing
a Service Pack or security update, please contact
Microsoft Product Support Services:
http://support.microsoft.com
If the problem can be shown to have been caused by a
security update, then there is usually no charge for the call.
==============================================

I choose Polesoft Lockspam to fight spam, and you?
http://www.polesoft.com/refer.html

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

Trevor,

Your recall is correct, I do try to avoid using JavaScript.

When using a frameset, the pages that load within the frameset have their URLs basically hidden.

But I have to ask... Why would you want to do this?

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WebMaster Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
If you feel your current issue is a results of installing
a Service Pack or security update, please contact
Microsoft Product Support Services:
http://support.microsoft.com
If the problem can be shown to have been caused by a
security update, then there is usually no charge for the call.
==============================================

 

[Trevor L.]

Thomas, I am sure you are right

There probably isn't a good reason to show the URL, now that I am linking
the frame pages back to the frameset page so that the frame isn't seen
alone.

I have also set up a print buuton that refers to the frame page (no matter
what is loaded into it) so once again, I guess it doesn't matter.

Thanks for making me think.

As they say: if it ain't broke...

 

[Stephen Horrillo]

Your recall is correct, I do try to avoid using JavaScript.

When using a frameset, the pages that load within the frameset have their
URLs basically hidden.

But I have to ask... Why would you want to do this?

--

I would like to (with permission) display other websiteswithin my website.
Is there any way to do this other than with frames?

BTW, How do inline frames differ from regular frames?

--
Warmest regards,

Stephen Horrillo, Realtor / C.Ht.
For MLS & Computer Training: http://www.BrokerAgentTraining.com
Realtors Earn Over 100% at EXIT: http://www.over100percent.com

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

Load then in a new window.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WebMaster Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================
If you feel your current issue is a results of installing
a Service Pack or security update, please contact
Microsoft Product Support Services:
http://support.microsoft.com
If the problem can be shown to have been caused by a
security update, then there is usually no charge for the call.
==============================================

 

[Murray]

Is there any way to do this other than with frames?

No.

BTW, How do inline frames differ from regular frames?

Only in the way that you use them - otherwise they have all the unpleasant
aspects of normal frames.

 

[Tom Pepper Willett]

....plus, inline frames don't work in all browsers.
--
===
Tom "Pepper" Willett
Microsoft MVP - FrontPage
---
About FrontPage 2003:
http://office.microsoft.com/home/office.aspx?assetid=FX01085802
FrontPage 2003 Product Information:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/frontpage/prodinfo/default.mspx
Understanding FrontPage:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/office/understanding/frontpage/
FrontPage 2002 Server Extensions Support Center:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-us;fp10se
===
|> Is there any way to do this other than with frames?
|
| No.
|
| > BTW, How do inline frames differ from regular frames?
|
| Only in the way that you use them - otherwise they have all the unpleasant
| aspects of normal frames.
|
| --
| Murray
| ============
|
| | >
| >
| >> Your recall is correct, I do try to avoid using JavaScript.
| >>
| >> When using a frameset, the pages that load within the frameset have
their
| >> URLs basically hidden.
| >>
| >> But I have to ask... Why would you want to do this?
| >>
| >> --
| >
| > I would like to (with permission) display other websiteswithin my
| > website.
| > Is there any way to do this other than with frames?
| >
| > BTW, How do inline frames differ from regular frames?
| >
| > --
| > Warmest regards,
| >
| > Stephen Horrillo, Realtor / C.Ht.
| > For MLS & Computer Training: http://www.BrokerAgentTraining.com
| > Realtors Earn Over 100% at EXIT: http://www.over100percent.com
|
|