.swf counts as pages, increase pr?

[helenp]

Hi was just wondered,
I had one diferent flash file on every page, I am taking them away, not to have flash files on pages, and seen that when searching for my site in google: pages that mentiones your site, I can see that all these .swf counts as pages, they even have PR.
When taking all them away will I lose PR? though my site will have less pages.

[GoogleGuy]

We can follow links in Flash .swf files just fine. Typically I recommend avoiding Flash if you want optimal crawling by lots of search engines' spiders, but if they're already crawled with PR, then it might be better just to leave it be.

One thing that I would recommend is to provide a non-Flash "escape hatch" of text links that still allow you to traverse the site without going into the Flash pages. Or you can add text links on HTML pages that have Flash (e.g. a static text "skip intro" link that bypasses the Flash). That will help with any search engine bots that don't know how to crawl Flash .swf files..

My rule of thumb is "make sure that you can reach any page with a static text link." Usually that boils down to something like a site map, but that simple rule of thumb is probably what I end up recommending for 90% of sites that have problems with crawl coverage.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.. :)

[helenp]

Thanks GG,
but thats not my case.........
I had an flash text on all pages, but discovered how to have the same affect with an javascript, you know change color when mouseover, could as well be done with an hover, but if you donīt want an link (the hand make people think itīs an link) better java.
Just to make the site more accesible for all users, without flashes, I decided to take them away, and discovered that they are indexed by google as pages...........
therefore was thinking that by taking them away I will lose about 100 "pages".............and also my ranking?

[GoogleGuy]

If I'm understanding you correctly, it wouldn't hurt to drop that Flash.