Pricelessware Site - Search Facility

[Josiah Jenkins]

Only doing as I'm told !
"Any suggestions and/or comments should be posted
on the alt.comp.freeware newsgroup for discussion."

Susan,
Have you considered using a search facility on the site ?

There's a good free one (so I'm on-topic) available from
a company called Atomz.
http://www.atomz.com/applications/search/trial.htm

"Atomz Express Search is a free, reduced-feature version of our
award-winning Atomz Search that includes everything you need to
integrate basic search capability on your own personal Web site.
Why does Atomz offer a free version? It's simple. We want you
to see how effective on-demand software is to use and how easy
it is to maintain"

I know it says "trial" in the URL but I've been using it for around
18 months now on my own website (100+ pages) and I've never
had any pressure from them to upgrade to anything else.
The only contact I get from them is an e-mail each week giving
search usage statistics for the site.

If you want to see it in action, it's at the foot of the menu page
of : http://www.ian-stewart.dsl.pipex.com/

The same HTML is pasted into another menu page at :
http://www.ian-stewart.dsl.pipex.com/informer.htm
so it can be used on as many pages as required.

-- The Despicable Stewart
-- Perfidious Alban
-- http://www.ian-stewart.dsl.pipex.com/

 

[Steven Burn]

Only doing as I'm told !
"Any suggestions and/or comments should be posted
on the alt.comp.freeware newsgroup for discussion."

Susan,
Have you considered using a search facility on the site ?

There's a good free one (so I'm on-topic) available from
a company called Atomz.
http://www.atomz.com/applications/search/trial.htm

If Susans listinbgs are already in a database, it wouldn't be too hard for
someone to write one especially for the PW site. (just a pity the site is
PHP and not ASP ;o)).

--

Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
www.it-mate.co.uk

Keeping it FREE!

 

[Antoine]

pity the site is PHP and not ASP ;o)).

Troll beginning just recognized and therefore avoided ;-).

Seriously, if Susan needs some help to code a php search module for
pricelessware, I may give a hand.

 

[vbMark]

Only doing as I'm told !
"Any suggestions and/or comments should be posted
on the alt.comp.freeware newsgroup for discussion."

Susan,
Have you considered using a search facility on the site ?

There's a good free one (so I'm on-topic) available from
a company called Atomz.
http://www.atomz.com/applications/search/trial.htm

"Atomz Express Search is a free, reduced-feature version of our
award-winning Atomz Search that includes everything you need to
integrate basic search capability on your own personal Web site.
Why does Atomz offer a free version? It's simple. We want you
to see how effective on-demand software is to use and how easy
it is to maintain"

I know it says "trial" in the URL but I've been using it for around
18 months now on my own website (100+ pages) and I've never
had any pressure from them to upgrade to anything else.
The only contact I get from them is an e-mail each week giving
search usage statistics for the site.

If you want to see it in action, it's at the foot of the menu page
of : http://www.ian-stewart.dsl.pipex.com/

The same HTML is pasted into another menu page at :
http://www.ian-stewart.dsl.pipex.com/informer.htm
so it can be used on as many pages as required.

-- The Despicable Stewart
-- Perfidious Alban
-- http://www.ian-stewart.dsl.pipex.com/

I set up my web page to help me search Pricelessware. You can use it if
it helps.

 

[Susan Bugher]

Only doing as I'm told !

*very* good!

"Any suggestions and/or comments should be posted
on the alt.comp.freeware newsgroup for discussion."

Susan,
Have you considered using a search facility on the site ?

It's been suggested before. There *are* Google search links on the about
page:

<q>
You can search the entire Pricelessware site at this Google search link
http://www.google.com/search?as_q=site:www.pricelessware.org ) or this
Google advanced search link
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:www.pricelessware.org&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8

(Use this search to find words or phrases in the program descriptions.)

There's a good free one (so I'm on-topic) available from
a company called Atomz.
http://www.atomz.com/applications/search/trial.htm

I'm somewhat familiar with it - I believe that's the one SOS uses on his
site.

What kind of search is needed that's not available now? Is a different
kind of search needed or is it more a matter of where the search
links/boxes are located? I'd like to be sure the *requirements* are
clearly defined first. . . .

Susan

 

[Susan Bugher]

Troll beginning just recognized and therefore avoided ;-).

Maybe Steven's offering to redo the site in ASP (our new webmaster?).

Seriously, if Susan needs some help to code a php search module for
pricelessware, I may give a hand.

Thank you!

Let's wait for some discussion on what's lacking now - and what would be
useful - before discussing how to proceed.

Susan

 

[Ben Cooper]

*very* good!


It's been suggested before. There *are* Google search links on the
about page:

<q>
You can search the entire Pricelessware site at this Google search
link http://www.google.com/search?as_q=site:www.pricelessware.org )
or this Google advanced search link
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:www.pricelessware.org&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8

(Use this search to find words or phrases in the program
descriptions.) </q>

You could add Google's site search-
http://www.google.com/searchcode.html#both
"What could be better? Search me.
Google Free web search with site search
----------------------------------------
If you want visitors to find things easily within your web pages, add
Google Free site search as well as web search. Just copy and paste the
boxed code into your site, then replace the words "YOUR DOMAIN NAME,"
which appears three times in the code, with your own website's actual
domain name (e.g., http://froogle.google.com)."

OR

You could add "Customizable Google Free WebSearch and SiteSearch"-
http://www.google.com/services/free.html
"Want your search results to look more like your site? With a few easy
additional steps, you can customize your results display to include
background, text and link colors you select. Simply register your site
with Google, then choose the version of Google Free you want from our
menu."

 

[Wald]

Maybe Steven's offering to redo the site in ASP (our new
webmaster?).

Only the thought!

 

[Susan Bugher]

You could add Google's site search-
http://www.google.com/searchcode.html#both
"What could be better? Search me.
Google Free web search with site search
----------------------------------------
If you want visitors to find things easily within your web pages, add
Google Free site search as well as web search. Just copy and paste the
boxed code into your site, then replace the words "YOUR DOMAIN NAME,"
which appears three times in the code, with your own website's actual
domain name (e.g., http://froogle.google.com)."

OR

You could add "Customizable Google Free WebSearch and SiteSearch"-
http://www.google.com/services/free.html
"Want your search results to look more like your site? With a few easy
additional steps, you can customize your results display to include
background, text and link colors you select. Simply register your site
with Google, then choose the version of Google Free you want from our
menu."

I know one search result people would like - a list of the Linux apps -
I'm not sure any of these search tools would produce that - the Google
link shown now will show the web pages such apps are one - which is not
much help.

ISTM that it might be particularly helpful to add a search link/tool at
the bottom of the Category Index page? Yes/no? Other pages?

Somewhat related question. Would it be helpful to add a link to the acf
prog.info DESKTOP page at the bottom of the PL DESKTOP page (etc. etc.)?

Susan

 

[Susan Bugher]

I know one search result people would like - a list of the Linux apps -
I'm not sure any of these search tools would produce that - the Google
link shown now will show the web pages such apps are one - which is not
much help.

oops - Google shows each web page linux apps are *on* (not the name of
each app)

 

[Ben Cooper]

I know one search result people would like - a list of the Linux apps
- I'm not sure any of these search tools would produce that - the
Google link shown now will show the web pages such apps are one -
which is not much help.

Maybe create a sub-section of "Linux only" Pricelessware which only
lists programs that are useable in Linux?

ISTM that it might be particularly helpful to add a search link/tool
at the bottom of the Category Index page? Yes/no? Other pages?

Somewhat related question. Would it be helpful to add a link to the
acf prog.info DESKTOP page at the bottom of the PL DESKTOP page (etc.
etc.)?

Well, anything that makes it easier for someone who's searching for
something to find it.

Can't you just do ALL of that and have it ready by Monday?

 

[Susan Bugher]

Maybe create a sub-section of "Linux only" Pricelessware which only
lists programs that are useable in Linux?

or I could add another column to the Program Index page. . .

Well, anything that makes it easier for someone who's searching for
something to find it.

Can't you just do ALL of that and have it ready by Monday?

truth will out - I really want to concentrate on the acf info pages
and get them licked into better shape - authors and URLs in particular.

I'm having pretty good luck Googling for missing authors by searching
for: freeware author "name of app"

That seems to work most of the time and is fairly quick (when I don't
get sidetracked). If anyone wants to help - pick a letter of the
alphabet and have at it (I finished the "A" programs today, "B" apps are
almost done).

Susan

 

[dszady]

or I could add another column to the Program Index page. . .

Or a column specifying Linux also (XnView comes to mind, GNU stuff, Source
Forge etc.) or Alternative OS.
There is a database of WinApps that will run in Linux under Wine. Or in
my case, beer Perhaps 'Wine Compatible'

Yes. This has turned into a fine hobby for you.
Remember, there is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness.
Just kidding!

truth will out - I really want to concentrate on the acf info pages
and get them licked into better shape - authors and URLs in particular.

I'm having pretty good luck Googling for missing authors by searching
for: freeware author "name of app"

That seems to work most of the time and is fairly quick (when I don't
get sidetracked). If anyone wants to help - pick a letter of the
alphabet and have at it (I finished the "A" programs today, "B" apps are
almost done).

Susan

I did a search on US government public domain software and it would take
a lot of work to ferret out the research papers and the shareware from the
actual usable programs. Some companies seem to stretch the meaning of
public domain pass the limits of reason. (EBAY)
OT: A guy on EBAY is selling an "air guitar".

 

[Susan Bugher]

Or a column specifying Linux also (XnView comes to mind, GNU stuff, Source
Forge etc.) or Alternative OS.
There is a database of WinApps that will run in Linux under Wine. Or in
my case, beer Perhaps 'Wine Compatible'
Just the Win Apps that are cross-compatible. (<sigh> Yes, Java Apps are
cross-platform independant)

I need to split the "OS" field in the spreadsheet - 1 field for
Windows/Dos, 1 field for other OS, 1 field for additional
info/requirements. Then I can add a column for Win and a column for
other OS on the Program Index page. I'll put that little chore on the
todo list - no promises as to when. . .

Yes.

Okay, another item on the todo list.

This has turned into a fine hobby for you.
Remember, there is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness.
Just kidding!

I plead guilty to Obsessive-Compulsive.

I did a search on US government public domain software and it would take
a lot of work to ferret out the research papers and the shareware from the
actual usable programs.

Oh yeah, not worth the effort. . . the Small Business pages got to me
'cause I could see the list of programs, but I couldn't download them
(looking through the window of the candy store syndrome). I suspect they
changed the directory location and forgot to update the web pages - but
I couldn't figure out the new URL - very annoying.

Susan