Using frames

dlsdawg · Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 45

Hi Cory....
I read a post from you talking about how frames are outdated. Not sure exactly why they are considered out dated...
I decided to build a site using frames to see what is was like. My first attempt I think is pretty good www.dldawg.com/frames

I had read an article a long time back about how the use of frames can block or cause problems with the search engine robots from properly reading and Caching the site. Is there any truth to this?

Thanks
Dale

ogsolution · Joined: 26 Dec 2007 Posts: 144

Frames are ok if it serves your purpose. However, the layout on your site can also be reproduced used some CSS and you would just have one file instead of 4 separate files.

sticks464 · Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Posts: 1283

The site is not bad with frames and as ogsolution said it can be done differently. Considering the is a site about web design, it should be done to modern standards as it acts as a portfolio for your abilities. If you want the menu and header to remain fixed, it can be done with css thereby eliminating the individual scrollbars. All content can stay where it is at with a redesign of the index page and use includes to call the individual pages.

Frames are not accessible and will not be indexed by search engines past what is displayed on the home page. Plus pages cannot be bookmarked by users.

Corey Bryant · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:50 pm

Let's say you have your navigation in a frame. And you are in the top ten for Using HTML Frames. The link from the search engine takes you to http://www.example.com/using-html-frames.html - with some information. But since the user did not enter from http://www.example.com/ then they don't have the "proper" display and will not see your navigation. You can use JavaScript to force frames but using JavaScript is another issue.

I cannot think of one good reason to use frames. Most use them as an easy way to update their website, but there is other ways to include content.

_________________
Corey
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