Create your own search engine. Building web search engine and setup files

| "Full Version" Install | Non Functional Examples

Full Version Only Options

Configuring The Full Version

* Denotes Full Version Additional Features

Basic Searching: How to search in column X, or Y, or both
Basic And/Or Matching: Matching "any" or matching "all" criteria
Basic Linking: Hotlinking in your search results
Basic Formatting: Hiding certain columns/headers
Header Files: Really making the search returns look like your site.
Where to put background colors, patterns, headings...
Results Page: Format results page as "Simple" or "Tables" format.
Reset Button: Just add the one line of code as it appears in this form.
More Linking: how to add mailto's and whatnot
*Footer Files: Customizing the Bottom of Your results page.
*"Stacking the Deck": Format results to make some listings appear at the top.
*Sorting Results: Sort reverse alphabetical or random .
*Refining results: Search by "whole words/partial words" "Case sensitive or not" .
*Images: Adding images as part of the results of a search.
*Images: Using images instead of text links.
*Banner Ads: Adding Banner Ads as part of the Search Results.

"Stacking" the Results

"I notice that some search engines are charging advertisers for "Priority" placement on the Search Results Page. Can Web Search do this?"
Absolutely!
Try the 2 forms below using the following terms one at a time and see the results from both forms.
photo software digital

Regular Listing

Priority Listing
Notice that "Konica" comes up at the top, on the priority listing, regardless of which search term is used while links below "Konica" change.

All you need to do to convert Web Search into a priority listing search engine is add one more column to your spreadsheet file. Do NOT give this column a name as you have for other columns. Simply leave the header blank. When a customer chooses a "Priority Listing" option, simply type in the letter "z" in the appropriate column with their listing. The key to how the listing becomes a "priority listing" is shown in the following form. Notice the placement of the following code.
(Col4 just happens to be this database's format, any column number will work)
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="sort" VALUE="col4rev">
The search results are being sorted by what appears in column 4 and in reverse alphabetical order. The letter "z" was chosen simply to avoid conflicts with other listings. Typing in the letter "w" in a listing's column 4 would simply assign that listing a lower rating than one given the letter "z". This does not effect how the actual search is carried out. A listing must still have appropriate keywords to appear as a result. This just brings that listing to the top should the appropriate keywords be entered.
You can also use numbers to sort the priority listings. In your sample database you'll notice a column of numbers. Most are given the number "5". To give a listing a higher rating, simply give it a higher number. I.E. "9" The listing will now appear at the top of the results as long as the submit form has the following tag:
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="sort" VALUE="col4numrev">

 <FORM ACTION="http://www.web-search.com/cgi-bin/person2.cgi"> 
Match <SELECT NAME="allcomp"> <OPTION VALUE=""> the exact phrase 
<OPTION VALUE="any"> any of the words 
<OPTION VALUE="all"> all of the words 
</SELECT> 
<INPUT NAME="all"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="link1" VALUE="2"> 

<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="sort" VALUE="col4rev"> 
<INPUT TYPE="submit"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="1sp-license" VALUE="websearch"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="begin" VALUE="<TR>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="middle" VALUE="none"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="end" VALUE="</TR>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="top" VALUE="<TABLE border=5 cellpadding=5>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="bottom" VALUE="</TABLE>"> 
</FORM>

Footer FILES (custom "your look" html)

You can change the HTML that appears at the bottom of your search result pages.
The Default is a link to Web Search Software but this can be customized to show
links and images that YOU select.
If the name of your search CGI is

      
full.cgi

and your spreadsheet file is

      
full.cgi.txt

then just put the new "footer" HTML in a file called

full.cgi.foot.txt

See this text example (Also on Disk 1)
or how it actually looks!

BASIC SORTING

Results are normally unsorted--they come out in the same order as youhave them in the spreadsheet.
To instead sort by choosing a selected column of listings you could use any of the following options.
Column 4 is just an example, you can sort by any column but not more than one.

Sorting is normally alphabetical.

 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="sort" VALUE="col4">

To sort in reversealphabetical:

<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="sort" VALUE="col4rev">

If columns of numbers, Numerical sorting:

<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="sort" VALUE="col4num">

Reverse numerical sorting:

<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="sort" VALUE="col4numrev">

And lastly....random sorting:

<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="sort" VALUE="col4random">

Here is the search form for Web Search showing WHERE this tag is placed.

 
<FORM ACTION="http://www.web-search.com/cgi-local/websearch.cgi" METHOD="post"> 
<font size="+1" color="blue"><B>Match</B></font> 
<SELECT NAME="comp1col3"> 
<OPTION VALUE="any"> any of the words 
<OPTION VALUE="all"> all of the words 
<OPTION VALUE=""> the exact phrase 
</SELECT> 
<INPUT NAME="col1col3" VALUE=""> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="link2" VALUE="2"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="sort" VALUE="col4rev"> 
<INPUT TYPE="submit" VALUE="Submit"> 
<INPUT TYPE="reset" VALUE="Reset"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="1sp-license" VALUE="websearch"> 
</FORM>

Plain Text Results

Try this form for an example of a "Plain Text" result page. Code Added to Do This

  
<FORM ACTION="http://www.web-search.com/cgi-bin/person2.cgi">
 Match <SELECT NAME="allcomp"> 
<OPTION VALUE=""> the exact phrase 
<OPTION VALUE="any"> any of the words 
<OPTION VALUE="all"> all of the words 
</SELECT> 
<INPUT NAME="all" VALUE="Maine"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="link1" VALUE="2"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="sort" VALUE="col4rev"> 
<INPUT TYPE="submit"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="1sp-license" VALUE="websearch"> 
</FORM>

Table Format Results Page

Try this form for an example of a "Tables" result page. Code Added to Do This
Colored Text shows table coding and where in Search Form to place it.

  
<FORM ACTION="http://www.web-search.com/cgi-bin/person2.cgi"> 
Match <SELECT NAME="allcomp"> 
<OPTION VALUE=""> the exact phrase 
<OPTION VALUE="any"> any of the words 
<OPTION VALUE="all"> all of the words 
</SELECT> <INPUT NAME="all" VALUE="Maine"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="link1" VALUE="2"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="sort" VALUE="col4rev"> 
<INPUT TYPE="submit"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="1sp-license" VALUE="websearch"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="begin" VALUE="<TR>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="middle" VALUE="none"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="end" VALUE="</TR>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="top" VALUE="<TABLE border=5 cellpadding=5>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="bottom" VALUE="</TABLE>"> 
</FORM>

Centered Results Page

Try this form for an example of a "Centered" result page. Code Added to Do This
Colored Text shows table coding and where in Search Form to place it.

  
<FORM ACTION="http://www.web-search.com/cgi-bin/person2.cgi"> 
Match <SELECT NAME="allcomp"> 
<OPTION VALUE=""> the exact phrase 
<OPTION VALUE="any"> any of the words 
<OPTION VALUE="all"> all of the words 
</SELECT> 
<INPUT NAME="all" VALUE="Maine"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="link1" VALUE="2"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="sort" VALUE="col4rev"> 
<INPUT TYPE="submit"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="1sp-license" VALUE="websearch"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="begin" VALUE="<DT>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="middle" VALUE="<DD>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="end" VALUE="<HR>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="top" VALUE="<DL>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="bottom" VALUE="</DL>">  
</FORM>

Whole and Partial Words, Case Sensitive (Experimental)

Note: Although we don't recommend the following options, you may find a specific need for these options depending on the content of your spreadsheet/database.

Check back often as we will continue to do more refining on this code.

To make searching of column 3 case sensitive (e.g. "WEB" won't match"web"): (cm: "case matters".)

<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="comp3" VALUE="cm">

To match only on "whole words" (e.g.,"game" won't match "games"):

<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="comp3" VALUE="ww">

You can combine these two options:

<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="comp3" VALUE="cmww">   [or]    
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="comp3" VALUE="wwcm">

Placement of Code
Colored Text shows where to add your choice of the above code

  
<FORM ACTION="http://www.web-search.com/cgi-bin/person2.cgi"> 
Match <SELECT NAME="allcomp"> 
<OPTION VALUE=""> the exact phrase 
<OPTION VALUE="any"> any of the words 
<OPTION VALUE="all"> all of the words 
</SELECT> 
<INPUT NAME="all" VALUE="Maine"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="comp3" VALUE="ww"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="link1" VALUE="2"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="sort" VALUE="col4rev"> 
<INPUT TYPE="submit"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="1sp-license" VALUE="websearch"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="begin" VALUE="<DT>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="middle" VALUE="<DD>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="end" VALUE="<HR>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="top" VALUE="<DL>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="bottom" VALUE="</DL>"> 
</FORM>

Making Images part of the Results

(This Formatting takes place inside the cells of the Spreadsheet/Database) This is the Code for the above example:

  
<FORM ACTION="http://www.web-search.com/cgi-bin/person2.cgi"> Match 
<SELECT NAME="allcomp"> <OPTION VALUE=""> the exact phrase 
<OPTION VALUE="any"> any of the words 
<OPTION VALUE="all"> all of the words 
</SELECT> 
<INPUT NAME="all" VALUE="software"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="link1" VALUE="2">
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="snap" VALUE="UL"> 
<INPUT TYPE="submit"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="1sp-license" VALUE="websearch"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="begin" VALUE="<DT>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="middle" VALUE="<DD>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="end" VALUE="<BR>
<IMG SRC=http://www.web-search.com/rain_lin.gif>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="top" VALUE="<DL>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="bottom" VALUE="</DL>"> 
</FORM>

Adding Banner Ads linked to Search Results

As we discussed earlier in "Stacking the Deck", it's very easy to link an advertiser to a keyword search.
In the following we'll show you how to combine this "Priority Listing" with returning a banner ad hotlinked to the advertiser's home page.

Try the word "software" then "ftp", then both. Copy and Paste this Code Into your selected page
(We recommend the format highlighted in blue when using banner ads, others will work but the physical size of the banners can be a problem when "cells" are returned.)

 
<FORM ACTION="http://www.web-search.com/cgi-bin/person2.cgi"> 
Match <SELECT NAME="allcomp"> 
<OPTION VALUE="any"> any of the words 
<OPTION VALUE=""> the exact phrase 
<OPTION VALUE="all"> all of the words 
</SELECT> 
<INPUT NAME="all">
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="link1" VALUE="2"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="snap" VALUE="UL"> 
<INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="sort" VALUE="col4rev"> 
<INPUT TYPE="submit"> <INPUT TYPE="hidden" NAME="1sp-license" VALUE="websearch"> 

<input type="hidden" NAME="begin" VALUE="<DT>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="middle" VALUE="<DD>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="end" VALUE="<HR>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="top" VALUE="<DL>"> 
<input type="hidden" NAME="bottom" VALUE="</DL>"> 
</FORM>

All that has taken place here is an image file is replacing the Text Name of the Company in the Title Column.
Grab This File and open with your Spreadsheet Program to view the format.
(Please note the lack of quotes used in the image url.)

Image Icons instead of Text Links

Too simple to make this a separate section.

Instead of entering a Text Link in the appropriate title cell, like (Web-Search)
just use the following format without quotation marks.

The image location MUST be a full url path.
Instead of a simple text link, a small image will appear instead.
Example