Can googlebot follow dynamic URLS?

[djtaverner]

I have a large dynamically generated site. I am trying to improve its visibility to google.

If I create a links page/ site map to all dynamically generated internal pages will google follow these links E.G:

<a href = "http://www.buyitat.com/index.php?action=displaycat&catid=16&customheader=custom-header16">Crazy Title</a>

To reiterate:
Can googlebot follow links on a static html page to dynamic php pages?

Also:

What url rewrite options are there apart from apache mod_rewrite?

cheers
Dave Tav

[hannamyluv]

Yes, google can follow static pages to a dynamic URL. They actually prefer it that way, is what a google rep told me. They will catalog these pages.

[pageoneresults]

I'm not too sure Googlebot will follow that particular dynamic URI...

http*//www.example.com/index.php?action=displaycat&catid=16&customheader=custom-header16

You've got an id= in there which I think is going to be a problem. From my perspective, that is an unfriendly URI to both visitors and bots alike. I wouldn't worry just about Google. I'd be worried about the other players that are getting ready to dig into Google's market share over the next few months. They may not be as forgiving as Google when it comes to those types of dynamic URIs.

What url rewrite options are there apart from apache mod_rewrite?

If you are on a Windows Server, there is ISAPI Rewrite and a few other rewrite products. For Apache, I believe the mod_rewrite is the best and only option, not sure on it being the only option though.

P.S. Can we get you to remove the reference to the site in the URI? It is against the TOS of the board. Just replace it with www.example.com, thanks.