** Reply to note from [log in to unmask] Wed, 25 Aug 1999 09:02:56 GMT
> The TWI website is hosted by Uunet. It is searchable with the Muscat
> search system, hosted by Muscat through Uunet. Uunet are dropping
> this service in a couple of weeks so we have to find an alternative
> fast.<snip>
Hi Sheila,
Can I slightly change your Question.
Do you have many many pages to justify a search engine? I know it is nice to
have one but is it really necessary?
What I find is that on the one hand there must be sufficient material to be
indexed in order to get some hits returned. After that a lot depends on the
user being able to construct "good" queries to make it worth while. I find
that in smaller sites a search engine becomes a negative offering 'cause if I
try 2-3 queries and do not get the results I expect, I have to go back to
navigating the site. The most annoying result is to get no hits at all for
what to me appears to be "a standard query".
Could your problem be solved with two super-duper indexes. One would be a
list of more or less everything on your site (site map if you like) the other
more of a subject index.
Nevertheless, in answer to your Q. it may be possible to use altavista (or
similar) and restrict the search to your site (If anyone on the list can
offer advice on setting up a local form to use directly alta vista's advanced
search?) Altavista bumps some adverts but at least it has the brand name.
A second alternative is SWISH (has been ported to 2-3 platforms) but that
depends on you being able to run it as cgi on Uunet servers and being
platform compliant.
Third alternative, wait for the reincarnation of Search Maestro in pure Java.
One day it may happen and I'll get a big grin on my face.
Regards
Charles
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Charles Christacopoulos, Secretary's Office, University of Dundee,
Dundee DD1 4HN, (Scotland) United Kingdom.
Tel: +44+(0)1382-344891. Fax: +44+(0)1382-201604.
WebDad of http://somis.ais.dundee.ac.uk/
Home of the Scottish Search Maestro http://somis2.ais.dundee.ac.uk/
Happily using OS2 Warp.
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