Are Javascript Menus Spiderable? Options

[bassplayer]

Can the links in the following JS code be spidered and will the link text be helpfull?

function init()
{
menus[0] = new menu(130, "vertical", 10, 10, -2, -2, "#CACAFF", "#0000A0", "Verdana,Helvetica", 9,
  "bold", "bold", "black", "white", 1, "gray", 2, "rollover:images/tri-right1.gif:images/tri-right2.gif", false, true, true, true, 12, true, 4, 4, "black");
menus[0].addItem("http://www.dynamicdrive.com", "", 22, "left", "Home", 0);
menus[0].addItem("#", "", 22, "left", "Web Building", 1);
menus[0].addItem("#", "", 22, "left", "News", 2);
menus[0].addItem("#", "", 22, "left", "Search", 4);

//Sub Menu for 2nd Main Menu Item ("web building"):
menus[1] = new menu(135, "vertical", 0, 0, -5, -5, "#CACAFF", "#0000A0", "Verdana,Helvetica", 9, "bold",
  "bold", "black", "white", 1, "gray", 2, 62, false, true, false, true, 6, true, 4, 4, "black");
menus[1].addItem("http://www.dynamicdrive.com", "", 22, "left", "Dynamic Drive", 0);
menus[1].addItem("http://www.javascriptkit.com", "", 22, "left", "JavaScript Kit", 0);
menus[1].addItem("http://www.codingforums.com", "", 22, "left", "Coding Forums", 0);
menus[1].addItem("http://www.builder.com", "NEWWIN", 22, "left", "Builder.com", 0);

//Sub Menu for 3rd Main Menu Item ("News"):
menus[2] = new menu(130, "vertical", 0, 0, 0, 0, "#CACAFF", "#0000A0", "Verdana,Helvetica", 9, "bold",
  "bold", "black", "white", 1, "gray", 2, "rollover:images/tri-right1.gif:images/tri-right2.gif", false, true, false, false, 0, true, 4, 4, "black");
menus[2].addItem("http://www.cnn.com", "", 22, "left", "CNN", 0);
menus[2].addItem("http://www.msnbc.com", "", 22, "left", "MSNBC", 0);
menus[2].addItem("http://news.bbc.co.uk", "", 22, "left", "BBC News", 0);
menus[2].addItem("http://www.cbsnews.com", "", 22, "left", "Sports News", 3);

//Sub Menu for Sub Menu "Sports News":
menus[3] = new menu(135, "vertical", 0, 0, 0, 0, "#E1E1E1", "black", "Verdana,Helvetica", 9, "bold", "bold", "black", "white", 1, "gray", 2, 62, false, true, false, false, 0, true, 4, 4, "black");
menus[3].addItem("http://www.espn.com", "", 22, "left", "ESPN Sports", 0);
menus[3].addItem("http://www.nba.com", "", 22, "left", "NBA", 0);

//Sub Menu for 4th Main Menu Item ("Search"):
menus[4] = new menu(130, "vertical", 0, 0, 0, 0, "#CACAFF", "#0000A0", "Verdana,Helvetica", 9, "bold", "bold", "black", "white", 1, "gray", 2, ">>", false, true, false, false, 0, true, 4, 4, "black");
menus[4].addItem("http://www.google.com", "", 22, "left", "Google", 0);
menus[4].addItem("http://www.yahoo.com", "", 22, "left", "Yahoo", 0);
menus[4].addItem("http://www.altavista.com", "", 22, "left", "AlltheWeb", 0);
menus[4].addItem("http://www.teoma.com", "", 22, "left", "Teoma", 0);

} //OUTER CLOSING BRACKET. EVERYTHING ADDED MUST BE ABOVE THIS LINE.

[qwerty]

I doubt a spider would read it, and if they did, I doubt they'd follow the links. I'd recommend adding a <noscript> right after this, containing text links with the same URLs.

[SearchRank]

In my experience, search engines do not index JS menus. Qwerty's advice is good and you should also make sure you have a set of text footer links and a site map with text links.

[0utrage]

I am led to believe JavaScript links can be followed if the JavaScript is embedded in the page. Linked JavaScript is not parsed so if that's the case then no.
Also you must include the full url in the link (I note you already have done).

I would err on the side of caution though and follow the aforementioned advice.

This post has been edited by 0utrage: Sep 13 2004, 04:10 PM

[Tom Philo]

JS menus are at the present not spiderable at all by any of top 15 to 20 engines that I have ever looked into.

Using the <no script> tag can be very, umm say, visually disjointing in the search results after a page has been spidered.

Now EVERY page that has the JS menu will also have those no script links on them - thus if you have 200 pages with that JS menu you will have 200 SERPs that start out with all your menu URLs - and not your actual first paragraph at all. Been there done that.

The newer SERP on some engines now show the phrase in context on the page but many others will default to show the first valid text found on the page - and that will be your <noscript> menu list.

I'd just put a text link to a site map at the bottom and put in spaces inside the <noscript> </noscript> tags so that nothing is displayed and let the SE pick that up.

If people turn off JS then they can just navigate using the site map and instream embedded links on each page.

[0utrage]

Hi taphilo,

I think this calls for a test. I'm sure I've had javascript links followed in the past.
I'm getting visited by Google just about avery day on my new site so I'm going to add a JavaScript link in there and see what happens.
(IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[0utrage]

Ha Ha!

I just realised why my JavaScript links were spiderable. I do them a special way! If you implement them as in the example below the link appears as a normal link but you can use JavaScript to open it:

CODE

<a href="http://www.yoursite.com" onclick="window.open(this,'mywindow'); return false;" onkeypress="window.open(this,'mywindow'); return false;">My JavaScript Link</a>

Obviously you can use your own function in the onclick and onkeypress events. The onkeypress event is added for accessibility should the user not have the use of a mouse.
Note the word 'this' after window.open. 'this' refers to the URL within that particular anchor.

It's on my site now just to double check. I'll keep you informed. (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[chrishirst]

That's because it's not really a javascript link. It's a standard text link with javascript enhancements.

the basic rule is if there is a href="whatever" that appears in the page source then crawlers can "see" and follow the link. Javascript events and "document.write" are not triggered, so if the link is written onto the page by javascript they won't be seen at all.

going back to the original post, the menu will not be seen by the crawlers (not yet anyway) because the only code in the page source where the menu is shown will be;

CODE

<script type="text/javascript">
init()
</script>

<edit> 'cos I really should preview posts first </edit>

This post has been edited by chrishirst: Sep 14 2004, 04:43 AM

[0utrage]

So can we expand on that and say that JavaScript links may be followed if implemented correctly?

Imagine this scenario...

Your javascript is embedded in the page. Your page is crawled and the data processed by the search engine. The text of the JavaScript is 'read' along with everything else.

If the engine sees a properly formed URL within that script, surely it will want a look?

Whilst obviously not ideal and certainly not good for optimisation, I would say that perhaps Yes they may be followed.

Is there anybody who can categorically state one way or the other?

[bassplayer]

Ok how about this code (Its from a sample script)

<param name="/1" value= "1,root">


  <param name="/root/1"  value= "0,Menu">
    <param name="/root/Menu/1"  value= "2,Introduction,introduction.html,main">
    <param name="/root/Menu/2"  value= "5,Parameters,parameters.html,main">
    <param name="/root/Menu/3"  value= "2,Customize,custom.html,main">

  <param name="/root/2"  value= "0,On Line Books">
    <param name="/root/On Line Books/1" value= "4,Java Gurus,http://www.pbs.mcp.com/ebooks/1575211025/index.htm,main,http://www.pbs.mcp.com">
    <param name="/root/On Line Books/2" value= "4,Developer's,http://www.pbs.mcp.com/ebooks/157521069X/index.htm,main,http://www.pbs.mcp.com">
    <param name="/root/On Line Books/3" value= "4,Web Publishing,http://www.pbs.mcp.com/ebooks/157521198X/index.htm,main,http://www.pbs.mcp.com">
    <param name="/root/On Line Books/4" value= "4,Expert Solutions,http://www.pbs.mcp.com/ebooks/078970935X/index.htm,main,http://www.pbs.mcp.com">
    <param name="/root/On Line Books/5" value= "4,1.2 Unleashed,http://www.pbs.mcp.com/ebooks/1575213893/index.htm,main,http://www.pbs.mcp.com">
    <param name="/root/On Line Books/6" value= "4,Web Programming,http://www.pbs.mcp.com/ebooks/1575211130/index.htm,main,http://www.pbs.mcp.com">
    <param name="/root/On Line Books/7" value= "4,Gamelan JAVA Directory,http://www.pbs.mcp.com/ebooks/1562764497/contents.htm,main,http://www.pbs.mcp.com">

  <param name="/root/3" value= "6,Compiler JDK 1.2,http://www.javasoft.com/products/jdk/1.2/,main,http://www.javasoft.com/products/jdk/1.2/">
  <param name="/root/4" value= "5,Use javascript,popup.html,blank">
  <param name="/root/5" value= "5,Floating menu,noframe.html,_top">
  <param name="/root/6" value= "3,E-Mail,mailto:mLAVwilson@hotmail.com,main,Send E-Mail to Matthew Wislon (mLAVwilson@hotmail.com)">

  <center>You need a better browser</center>

</applet>

Are these links spiderable?

They were really put into a menu.html file and the following lines are on the main page:

<FRAMESET cols="185,*" border=0 framespacing=0 framespacing=no frameborder=0>

  <FRAMESET rows="*,0" border=0 framespacing=0 framespacing=no frameborder=0>
    <FRAME src="menu.html"    NORESIZE name="menu"  scrolling="no">
    <FRAME src="blank.html" NORESIZE name="blank" scrolling="no">
  </FRAMESET>

  <FRAME src="main.html"      name="main" >

</FRAMESET>

I'm sure if we use the frame the spiders won't see them, but if I put the code directly on the main page would they see them and would it slow down the loading of the page?

Edit: can I do the same thing with a table?

[chrishirst]

Are these links spiderable?

No.

I'm sure if we use the frame the spiders won't see them, but if I put the code directly on the main page would they see them.

They definitely won't be seen in frames
and No.

Edit: can I do the same thing with a table?

Of course.
No matter what you do those links won't be read

[Kingspod]

I'd just put a text link to a site map at the bottom and put in spaces inside the <noscript> </noscript> tags so that nothing is displayed and let the SE pick that up.

I would agree with that... a site map is not only a great way for someone to navigate under the following circumstances:

1. If they are stuck
2. If they have javascript turned off
3. If they are using an accessibility text reader (Which is to be law now if you are a UK company offering services to the public)
4. If they are using an old browser that isn;t compatible with the methods you are using.

A site map is just a really good idea, for the reason above, and presumably a lot of other reason, not least because it tells the search engines where to go next (IMG:http://www.highrankings.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[gooner]

I am led to believe JavaScript links can be followed if the JavaScript is embedded in the page.

I'd say as far as Google's concerned that's true.

I was snooping about websitepublisher.net/forums/ a few months back and noticed the site owner's using an alternative Adsense URL...

CODE

<script type="text/javascript"><!--
...
google_alternate_ad_url = "http://www.websitepublisher.net/ads/searchfeed.html";
...
//--></script>

If you check that page you'll see it has a PR of 6/10.

Up until recently it's IBL's were showing only internal pages (not showing any atm) which suggests to me Google has the ability to index full path URL's from embedded JS scripts.

This post has been edited by gooner: Sep 24 2004, 07:17 PM

[idoubt]

thanks you. I had the same problem. I guess i have to change the menu and go back to good old text links.
thanks again

[gooner]

Be interested to know why qwerty, searchrank and others in this thread mention search engines don't index JS menus when my post above indicates that's false, atleast as far as Google's concerned.