Creating a Web Finder Plugin

Note: If you have not already done so, it is recommended that you read the previous section to become familiar with Web Finder Factory LE's main Interface.

Creating a Standard plugin is extremely simple and even more so than with previous versions of Factory. Virtually all that needs to be done is a straight copy and paste of a URL For this exercise Lycos, a popular general purpose search engine, will be used.

To begin creating a new Plugin launch Web Finder Factory LE and click "New" when the options palette appears. You will then be presented with the main dialog of the application. The characteristics of the search engine can now be entered.

HomePage

Enter the URL for the search engine homepage here. This action will mean that the user is taken to the search engines' homepage when ever they choose "Homepage" from the "Plugin Info" dialog of Web Finder.

Example: For Lycos, www.lycos.com would be entered into this field.

Plugin Comments:

In the "Plugin Comments" box type a short paragraph about the search engine and what it looks for. Plugin comments must be less than 255 characters in length so try to make your comments concise.

 

Creating a Category

A category of a plugin contains all the essential information for querying a search engine, such as the URL and query field names. Unlike previous versions of Web Finder, multiple channels of a search engine are now contained within one plugin. For example, all information for searching Lycos's web channel is in one category while the information for searching Lycos's news channel is within another but both are within the one plugin.

Every Web Finder Plugin must have at least one category, even if it is for a simple engine for searching a file archive.

To create a category a 'mock' search must be performed on the search engine so the correct URL can be retrieved for performing further searches. To do this, go to the homepage of the search engine and perform a search for "test" (without the quotes). When the results of the search come up copy the URL from the browser and paste it somewhere safe (the Notepad in the "apple" menue is a good place)

Important: Only perform a 'mock' search for the word "test" exactly. Later, when you come to paste the URL into Factory, it looks for the word "test" in order to correctly decode the URL for the information it needs.

Return to Web Finder Factory LE and create a new category by pressing the "Add" button. A new dialog will appear.

 

A new category window

The Category Title:

The category title is the name of the category and will appear in Web Finder's Category Popup Menu. Try to keep category titles as short and descriptive as possible. If category names are too long then they will be truncated when displayed in Web Finder. Some examples of common category names are "The Web", "News", "UseNet", "Files", "Music", etc. However, you may call a category what ever you like.

 

The Category URL:

Paste the URL from the mock search you performed earlier into this field. This URL is decoded by Factory when you press the "OK" button.

 

A Lycos category complete.

 

When you are finished press "OK" to create the category, you will be taken back to the main dialog. If at any time you wish to edit the category select it in the "Categories" list box and press "Edit".

 

Figuring out the search engine conditions

If you look back at the Web Finder Factory LE's main dialog you will see the search parameters group to the left of the window. Anything you select here will appear in the parameter pop up menu whenever your plugin is selected in Web Finder.

Usually, any search engine that supports search conditions will have something similar to a "search tips" or "Help" page. These pages usually list the different kinds of conditions that can be used with that particular engine. If you are unsure then treat the engine as if it doesn't support t them.

As a quick guideline, general purpose engines such as Infoseek, Lycos, AltaVista, etc will support various search conditions. Other more specialised search engines, such as file archives will not.

That's it. After you have finished click the "Save" button. You will be presented with a standard Save dialog box. Save your plugin and Web Finder Factory LE will do the rest. After it has finished you can close the plugin by pressing "Close" or continue to make further changes.

 

 

 

 

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