Many sites and guides are out there that teach you HTML (the language web pages use). In short, it is a series of style modifying tags that adjust the appearance of text and graphics. However, there is much more to it than that. If you are serious about learning, we would recommend checking out http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/General/Internet/WWW/HTMLPrimer.html. You can create NetSource summarizers without knowledge of HTML, but it is always better to know something before hand.
2. What limitations are there?
NetSource does have a few limitations on the extent of the HTML rendering it can do. For example, currently images cannot be included, and tables are also excluded. These are two things which slow down page rendering a lot. If a faster and more compatible way is found to include these though, they will be.
For the best way of finding NetSource's HTML engine rendering limits and style, it is best to see how it renders HTML. To do this, under the miscellaneous features simply select NetSource's HTML Rendering feature, type or paste some source in the first field, and then click on the render button to see the output.
3. How can I share my summarizers with other people?
Sharing summarizer files you created is a simple process. Since we do not accept attachments in e-mail, we've developed a simpler, more secure, and generally more effective method of submitting Summarizers. Simply create the summarizer file as you would normally (or select one), then from the "Support Menu", select, "Submit Summarizer". Just select the summarizer you wish to submit, and copy and paste the text in the field, into an email file, and send it to summarizers@nextforcesw.com. We will view every Summarizer submitted, and if the content is appropriate, put it up for download on our site.
Another way you can share Summarizers, is putting it up for download on your site. You can send us a URL, and we will review the file there.
4. Can I replace the Summarizers built into NetSource's "Sources" folder?
You could, but if auto-updating offers something new that we support, the Summarizer you created will no longer work. Instead, we are going to be offering something better in the near future.
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2. Advanced Features:
Besides all of the normal features and techniques NetSource has for summarizing a site, there are also a few more "hidden" techniques that are not really shown. They are as follows: Including returns in your text, setting a "static" start position, and setting a "static" end position.
To Include returns in the start text, end text, or replacing text, all you have to do is put a "•R•" where the return would normally be.
To set a "static" start position, instead of putting in some text to locate first in the HTML, you can have text started at a specific character position. Please note, that using static positions may result in errors in rendering HTML if the size of the page the Summarizer obtains the data from changes. But how to accomplish it, is in the Start Rendering field, type in StartPosition(x) where x is the character number you wish to start at, and if you wish to have a “static” end position, simply type in StartPosition(x) in the end field, where x is the character number you wish to end at.
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3. Good Summarizer Creation Techniques:
1. Access the smallest pages possible with the same data to speed up the process.
2. Use as few find and replaces as possible to also speed up the process.
3. Take advantage of the advanced features NetSource’s summarizers have as they often provide. Using 1 advanced feature is often faster than a few more common features.
4. Make sure text is large enough to be read, but not that is floods the page.
5. Contrast text so it can be read more easily.
6. Submit it to us, especially if it does something unique or cool.
