I understand that a link can be removed from Google if the webmaster
of the site uses a robots.txt file. Should the webmaster be able to
use the robots.txt file to remove the same link from Yahoo, MSN and
other search engines?

The robots.txt file will "tell" the indexing spiders of search engines
what they are allowed to "record" from each web site.  You can
dis-allow certain pages from being indexed, dis-allow pictures and
graphics from being indexed etc.

SO, if the question is really, Search engines have a page indexed and
I don't want them to index it anymore,  then you need to use the
robots.tx file to dis-allow the page from being indexed again.  The
next time your website is spidered for indexing, the "search Engine
result" that you don't want listed should be removed.  This however
can take some bit of time, since indivdual search engines vary on how
often they spider a particular site and how often they update their
databases.

You can find more information about robots.txt on this site:
http://www.searchengineworld.com/robots/robots_tutorial.htm

Currently to my knowledge, there is no way to change a search engine
result between it's updates.  Your best bet is to manipulate your
webage, that is "indexed in the search results", and wait to be
re-sidered.

I had a situation like that as well on a site of mine.  A search
engine result appeared that I didn't want.  I actually deleted the
page, and 2 days later when my site was re-indexed it disapeared fromm
the search engine results.  This was accomplished because I am indexed
almost everyday or every other day by most search engines.  (ton of
links comming to site, and google adsense program on site).  If your
web site is slow to be indexed than it could take awhile.  Do a google
search on your website and see when the date of the last Cache.  If it
is current or resent, then that website is indexed frequently.

Hope this helps,  you may want to clarify your question to be more
specific, if this answer didn't answer your question

thanks 
Eric


A good article on how search engines work:
http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/may01/liddy.htm

Thanks Eric. When I type my name into search engine Yahoo it brings up
a link to a website that had my name and some information about me.
Now that website no longer has the page that had my name. Could the
webmaster still remove the link from Yahoo or will it just go away
over time. You may have already answered this but I'm not sure.

Hello Kurly,

Since it is Yahoo that is indexing the website, and the website
rmeoved the inforamtion, it is now just a matter of time.  When yahoo
updates their search results for the particular website, then your
"link" will disappear.  Unfortunately, yahoo is extremely slow to
update their records as compared to Google and some of the other
website.

If it is a case of potenial Identify Theft, you made be able to
contact Yahoo itself and attempt for them to remove the Old link. (
don't hold your breathe)

Eric
www.blackbeltdomain.com/extreme
"The Martial Arts Forums"

This is not a formual answer from the Google Researchers, so they may
attempt to add additonal information.  Just trying to help :)