Apple HTML Local Search

!!! PROTOTYPE !!! PROTOTYPE !!! PROTOTYPE !!!

As part of Developer Relations' continuing efforts to provide technical documentation in HTML format, we are providing a prototype HTML search engine on the 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.

Thank you,
The Developer CD Team

Using Apple HTML Local Search

1. To search our HTML document collection, launch the application located within the "Apple HTML Local Search" folder.

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

For this release, we have provided the following information in HTML format:

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)!

Note

If you click on a link to an Acrobat document and you get a strange looking document in your browser, you need to add an entry to your Browser's handler preferences. In Netscape Navigator this is done as follows:

Install Adobe Acrobat Reader
Select "General Preferences" from the "Options" menu.
Choose the "Helpers" tab.
Add a new helper by clicking the "New" button.
Enter the Mime Type: application and subtype: acrobat
Enter the extension "pdf" (without quotes) in to the extensions field
Select the Acrobat Reader application using the "Browse" button.
Select File type: PDF
Select "Launch Application" as the action.

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.

Inside Macintosh And Beyond!
This is the index of the Inside Macintosh folder, including books that aren't technically called Inside Macintosh (Cyberdog, Apple Guide, JManager Reference, etc.).

Macintosh Technical Notes
We've indexed all of the HTML files stored in the "Macintosh Technical Notes" folder on this CD.

Macintosh Technical Q&As
This is the index for each and every HTML file stored in the "Macintosh Technical Q&As" folder on this CD.

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 2.0
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.

Window Resizing
This version will only permit horizontal resizing of the search window. We hope to have this limitation addressed in the next version.

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 and a full description of the problem.