Java Script

How much does this effect the spiders

[WebMan61]

I have a new customer and he wants a site that will have a fair amount of java script. I have heard that it will hurt our chances of good search engine rankings. Any comments?

[onionrep]

Javascript is fine as long as give the spiders <a href> links to follow elsewhere.

It is also a good idea to put your scripts in a .js file and refer to them

<script language="JavaScript" src="filename.js">

</script>

As opposed to filling your page with lots of fat bloaty code.

The noscript tag is also quite useful, and of course essential for people with non javascript enabled browsers.

[WebMan61]

If the spiders follow the href will they idex the part of the page you want them to idex?

[AgentSmith]

WebMan61:

Not a direct answer to your JavaScript issue, but having a static html link to a Site Map could be an alternative for having certain section(s) of your desire to be crawled.

As for Site Map link on the Home page, it's a level 1 status, so in theory, a spider will follow the link and perhaps, will contuinue on with the crawling process for the links in the Site Map.

MHO HTH:)

[onionrep]

Webman61

Not sure if i follow your question re: "part of the page"

The spider will not index this

<a href="javascript:;" onClick="openaWindow('details.php?custid=2','pop','scrollbars=yes,width=600,height=380')" >

As all it will see will be this - javascript:;

Whereas if your noscript tag contained this

<noscript>
<a href="details.phpcustid=2" >
</noscript>

Then it will see the file and spider it.