Need advise: Eliminating Frames and KISS nav menu

[Ed_A_ROC]

I am revamping our church's website and would like some advise on two design changes.
Current site:
Prototype:

*** Frames ***
Current one has frames and I understand no frames is a more recommended solution. [Is it true no-frames generate better results from search engine crawlers?] I did read in another thread that there is no capability (html or other functionality) to not have to duplicate code that is the same display for all pages? Examples: Banner and footer. In other words, is it correct I will need to create a template (with banner, nav, "space for content/main section", footer)?

*** Nav Menu ***
Found some nav menu code on dynamicdrive.com, created by Ger Versluis, named "hv menu". I like it except have found that it is too slow for my tastes. One thing I like is that the menu data is stored in another (javascript) file rather than the html page - allowing changes in the .js file to effect the entire website.

Does someone have suggestions as to where I might find something the same in functionality - what I use, not necessarily all that's available, but is faster? I have spent many hours searching and testing so far and will continue until I get what I'm looking for.

I suppose I could (1) learn javascript, (2) look at Ger's code and (3) strip it down to the funcionality that I use.

TIA,
Ed A
(Relative newbie to css and js)

[edited by: JamesR at 7:22 pm (utc) on Dec. 17, 2003]
[edit reason] please, no URLs to personal or commercial sites per TOS [/edit]

[simonuk]

Hi Ed and welcome.

Search engines are liking frames less and less. Everytime I revamp a framed site to a non-framed site the hits improve. The increase is many reasons including better accessability, more user friendly and not confusing SE's all play a part. I thankfully see framed based web sites less and less.

As for the nav menu, you would be amazed how many people don't have javascript enabled. On one of my clients sites it is as high as 86% have it turned off. If you do go this route please make sure you have standard links on the page as well. This is also good because SE's can't read JS so if your links are done in JS only your first page will get indexed.

I prefer using css or a simple graphic mouseover to JS's for link affects because there are less problems and it degrades on older browsers quite nicely.

Simon.

[Ed_A_ROC]

Simon - Thanks for the reply. Some good info that I was not keen too - especially the high % who do not have javascript enabled. Something tells me the site stat you mentioned may have to do with something about the clients and may not reflect the "normal" user population.

Where do I find css nav menu coding? What do you mean by "simple mouseover"? Can I still get submenus with css and/or "simple mouseover"?

Ed