As part of Developer Press' continuing efforts to provide technical documentation in HTML format, we are introducing a prototype HTML search engine on the March '96 Reference Library Edition of the Developer CD Series. This application, called Apple HTML Local Search, provides a fast indexed search for local HTML documents, similar to Apple DocViewer's "Query" and Adobe Acrobat's "Search" features.
Apple HTML Local Search is a very early prototype, and your feedback and comments are extremely important if we are to improve it to the point that it can become a regular part of the Reference Library CD. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey included in the Apple HTML Local Search folder. The first 100 respondents including their shipping address will receive a useless, yet sure to be cherished, small token of our appreciation.
Thank you,
The Developer CD Team
Using Apple HTML Local Search
1. To use Apple HTML Local Search, launch the application located within the "About this CD" folder at the top level of the March '96 disc.
2. The default browser has been set to Netscape. If you are using a browser other than Netscape, then use the Preferences menu item (in the Edit menu) to change the default browser. If you are using InternetConfig, your HTML helper application will be used.
3. Enter your search criteria and click the Search button.
4. Double-click on a file in the returned list of documents to launch that file with your Web browser (or, select the file and click the Open button).
In addition, you can select one or more of the files listed and click on the Find Similar button. Find Similar will search the current database for files that most closely match the currently selected document(s).
Browsing the Local HTML Content
If you just want to browse the content, a good place to start is the Developer Services home page.
Warning
This content is provided for the purposes of testing the way cool prototype search application. Some hyperlinks may be "broken" and some may connect to other web servers on the internet. What can we say? Like all deadlines, it was upon us before we knew it (but we got the important part working)!
Highlights of what's in HTML:
• Selected develop magazine articles
• Recent Apple Directions issues
• A prototype of the QuickDraw 3D book
• Developer University online courses and course information
• Macintosh Technical Notes
• Macintosh Technical Q&As
• Other stuff...
Note
Links to local PDF (Acrobat) files may result in your web browser opening the PDF file rather than launching Acrobat.
About the Indexes included with this prototype
The indexes included with this CD are for the content on the Apple Developer
Services Worldwide Web site.
• Index of All HTML Content
This is the index for each and every HTML file stored in the "Developer
Services HTML Content" folder on this CD.
• Apple Directions
This is a subset of the "Developer Services HTML Content" folder
which contains all Apple Directions related pages.
• develop Technical Journal
This is a subset of the "Developer Services HTML Content" folder
which contains all develop, the Apple Technical Journal related pages.
• Inside Mac, QuickDraw 3D
This is an index to the entire QuickDraw 3D and 3DMF volumes of Inside Mac
in HTML format.
Known Problems with the Prototype Application
This section summarizes a few problems that may be encountered in the prototype
application.
Supported Browsers
We tested this application with:
Netscape Navigator 1.12
Netscape Navigator 2.0b4 and 2.0b5
MacWeb 1.1.1E PPC
MacWeb 1.1.1E 68k
America Online Browser v1.0.
All of these browsers function properly when messaged by the
Apple Local HTML Search application. If the browser you use isn't listed
here it will probably work if it supports the ODOC Apple event.
Unsupported Browsers
Unfortunately, NCSA Mosaic 2.0.1 does not support the ODOC Apple event,
and as a result it cannot be used with Apple HTML Local Search.
Other Known Problems
• ObjectSupportLib and Power Macs
If you are running a PowerMac with MacOS version earlier than System 7.5,
be sure that AppleScript is installed. The prototype requires the ObjectSupportLib
and the Apple Shared Library Manager.
• Progress and Thermometer bars on 4 bit displays
If you have the depth on your monitor set to less than 16 colors/greys
the thermometer bars that display progress and relevancy will always be
100%. This will be addressed in later versions.
• Using InternetConfig with this prototype
This prototype partially supports InternetConfig. Your http Helper application
preference is used. You can still use the preferences dialog of the application,
but changes will only affect the current session of the application. Any
changes to the prefs will not be reflected in InternetConfig. Changes to
InternetConfig while the application is running will not affect the HTML
helper pref in the application.
To Report Bugs
While this is just a prototype application, we are interested
in knowing if you find any bugs or problems with its use. Please send email
to dpfeedback with a description of the bug. Please include machine configuration
