offline browsers redux -- something new to try

[per funke]

Just to balance the advertisments a little...
you can also try GoAhead's software 'GotIt' to do the same thing for you not
only for
one page but for the whole or parts of the site.
(They don't pay me for saying this..)
For one page alone you can do 'Edit Page' in Netscape and if you save to
a new folder you'll have all the graphics and things in one place, it doesn't
cost
you anything..
One problem needed to point out is that often graphics are stored at the website

with a header written to the beginning of the file telling the software on the
distributing server how it should present it to the surfer. When downloaded
to you own machine this file is not readable with your browser due to the
extraneous information in the beginning (Netscape presents a crashed pane,
Explorer a button with a red 'X'). It can be edited away with an hex editor
but I think most people tend to use their weekend to other things...
I suppose the SurfSaver can't help you with this problem or am I wrong??
I'll just have to try the SurfSaver and see.

Regards Per

Shirl Kennedy wrote:

> Today's "cool tool of the day" (http://www.cooltool.com/todaystool.html) is
> something called SurfSaver (http://www.surfsaver.com/), by askSAM Systems,
> which makes a freeform text database much beloeved by journalists, attorneys
> and many other professionals who work with lotsa words.
>
> >From the SurfSafer Web page:
>
> "The Filing Cabinet for your Web Pages"
>
> "SurfSaver lets you store Web pages directly from your browser into
> searchable folders and integrates with Internet Explorer 4. Just right-click
> on a Web page, choose "SurfSaver Save" and the page is saved to a folder.
> Later, right-click and choose "SurfSaver Search", and you have the original
> pages with their original formatting (including graphics!)"
>
> <-----snip----->
>
> "SurfSaver lets you store Web pages directly from your browser into
> searchable folders. Once saved, you can quickly search and browse these
> pages (even when you're not connected to the Internet). SurfSaver is the
> ideal tool for anyone doing on-line research. It gives you a place to store
> the information you collect, and saves you from the frustrations of trying
> to retrace your footsteps to find a particular Web page. Just as important,
> SurfSaver gives you a permanent archive of the information you collect. If
> the original Web page changes or disappears, you'll still have the
> information."
>
> <-----snip----->
>
> "SurfSaver is not a replacement for a browser; it enhances a browser. You
> navigate the Internet just as you've always done. When you find a page you
> wish to save, right click the mouse and choose the SurfSaver Save command.
> The page is saved with text, graphics, and hypertext links. It's quick and
> easy."
>
> <-----snip----->
>
> "The Web pages you save in SurfSaver are easy to find. You can list them
> all, or you can search for specific pages. SurfSaver offers a wide variety
> of searches including full-text, Boolean, proximity, date, and more. You
> search the pages directly from your browser. Simply right click the mouse
> and choose the SurfSaver Search command. The pages you retrieve will have
> all of their original formatting (even graphics!)."
>
> A free beta is downloadable from the SurfSaver home page (URL above).  Right
> now, the current version runs only with Internet Explorer 4.x, although
> versions are planned for IE 3.x and Netscape as well.  The full shipping
> version will be out at the end of this month, with a price of $29.95...I
> think that's if you download it off the Web.  It's ten bucks more for a
> shrink-wrapped version.
>
> I've downloaded a beta copy but haven't had the time to play with it yet --
> possibly this weekend.  But based on the experiences I've had with askSAM
> products and people over the years, I'm optimistic.  (A fellow I know who
> was thinking of buying the askSAM database e-mailed the company and asked if
> it would be suitable for storing a variety of scanned municipal codes and
> ordinances.  He got an e-mail back from an askSAM honcho who said he would
> be in the guy's area the following week, and would be glad to stop by and
> talk about this with him.  The honcho brought a copy of the product,
> installed and configured it for the guy and got him up and running with the
> database -- at no charge, mind you -- and still calls back periodically to
> see how it's working out.)
>
> CNet has named SurfSaver an editor's choice.  (Review is at
> http://www.cnet.com/Content/Reviews/JustIn/Items/0,118,365,00.html .)
>
> Oh, BTW, if you've ever thought you had a need for a freeform text database,
> askSAM is the way to go (http://www.asksam.com/)  Nice interface, easy to
> use, supports HTML, and also offers a Web publishing add-on now.
>
> Shirl Kennedy (who has no financial/personal involvement with askSAM
> Systems)
> Internet Waves columnist -- Information Today
> Best Bet Internet:  Reference and Research When You Don't Have Time to Mess
> Around
> http://www.ala.org/editions/openstacks/bestbet/index.html



--
Per Funke
Systems Technician, University of Orebro, Library
Phone 046 19 303478, Fax +46 19 331217