[Web4lib] IE7 and Firefox 2.0 Search Engine for Web2

Tue Mar 13 08:22:40 EST 2007

I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but one thing you can 
do is create an OpenSearch Description Document (a very simple XML 
document) that you reference in the <head> element of your search 
results page.

This allows users with Firefox 2.0 or IE7 to 'discover' your catalog 
search directly from the search provider drop-down in their browser (no 
installation required) when they are viewing any page where you 
reference the OpenSearch description doc. The only thing you need is a 
stable URL for searching the catalog into which the browser can insert 
the user's search terms. It's not a plugin that users install, but you 
may find it useful.

Here's a relevant snippet of our OpenSearch description document:

<OpenSearchDescription>
<ShortName>NCSU Libraries Catalog</ShortName>
<Description>Search the NCSU Libraries Catalog</Description>
<Url type="text/html" indexOffset="0" 
template="http://www2.lib.ncsu.edu/catalog/?N=0&Ntk=Keyword&Ntt={searchTerms?}&No={startIndex?}"/>
<Image type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" height="16" width="16">
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/catalogws/include/favicon.ico
</Image>
<Query role="example" searchTerms="ncsu"/>
</OpenSearchDescription>

The <Url> element tells the OpenSearch provider (the browser) how to 
insert elements like search terms into your OPAC's URL to get results. 
The <Query> element is just an example search that should return results.

Find out more info about how to structure this document and the required 
elements at:
http://www.opensearch.org/Specifications/OpenSearch/1.1#OpenSearch_description_document

Then you need to reference the location of the OpenSearch description 
document in the <head> element of whatever page you want users to be 
able to 'discover' your search plugin from. Here's what it looks like on 
ours:

<head>
...
<link rel="search" type="application/opensearchdescription+xml"
     href="http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/catalogws/include/opensearch.xml" 
title="NCSU Libraries Catalog" />
...
</head>

-emily lynema
NCSU Libraries

Lowery, Clint wrote:
> (Apologies for cross-posting.)
> 
> I remember a thread somewhere about Firefox search plug-ins being used
> by some libraries using the OpenSearch method.  
> 
> My question is has anyone been able to construct one for the Web2 OPAC
> for SirsiDynix?  I'm getting a 'Firefox doesn't support this search
> engine' result so far in my attempt to create one.
> 
> I've looked at WebJunction and the documents there refer to the Sherlock
> setup and are not Web2 based.
> 
> What I'm trying to do is create a search URL in the search engine based
> off a general URL that I've been able to use in pulling results out of
> our OPAC.  I realize the executable file is not your typical cgi-bin
> type of search, but has anyone been able to create such a creature?
> 
> Clinton Lowery, Librarian
> Integrated Library Systems
> Jacksonville Public Library
> 3435 University Blvd North 
> Jacksonville, FL 32277-2464
> (904) 744-2265 x 319
> clowery at coj.net
> http://jpl.coj.net/
> 
> Please note that under Florida's very broad public records law, e-mail
> communications to and from city officials are subject to public
> disclosure.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/

-- 
Emily Lynema
Systems Librarian for Digital Projects
Information Technology, NCSU Libraries
919-513-8031
emily_lynema at ncsu.edu