You can use Search Engine Generator to easily create a JavaScript search page in minutes - instead of hours!

To use the search engine try one word to start with. If you get too many answers, try using a phrase! Similarly, if you don't get what you want with a phrase, try a single word! And if you used a plural, try dropping the 's'!

Put the search word or phrase in the top box and click 'Search this site'. Click go after selecting something.

If you return to this page using the back button, click search again to refresh (or enter a new word or phrase).

What is it?

It is a software program that builds a search page for the files on your site. (Such as the Search Engine Above).

Benefits

A good search page can greatly help your visitors find what they want on your site. JavaScript search engines are fast, but they do not really search the pages. They refer to a prepared list of information to find the information. Many search engines do not really give you the control you need. JavaScript Search Pages can be very useful ...

... however, the task of preparing the information, especially for a large site, is very, very daunting! This utility uses the information in the Title tags and the Keywords tags to build up this information. This enables you to create a search engine very quickly indeed. (Providing you have updated your meta tags!) The HTML tutorial tells you about META TAGS

What does it do?

It creates a search page for the files on your site.

What does it look like?

Below is a screen shot (run your mouse over the image to view the descriptions):

How does it work?

Select a directory containing files you wish to include in your search. (Double click on the directories in the box!) Select the files you wish to include and drag them into the top box just to the left of the directory and file information. The lower boxes will update with Title and Keyword information. (This need not concern you!) Pick other files and directories and drag and drop the files as you wish. The information will update each time and it might take a longish time. A blue bar appears to give you something to stare at while the program goes through this process!

You can select and drag files one by one. Or you can select a file and (holding the shift key down) select another. All the files between will also be selected. Or you can hold down the control key and select various files as you wish.

Important

The directory in the white box at the top left of the program MUST contain the directory for your intended search page. Double-click your way to your search page's directory and then click Get DIR.

You can preview the current file (to check whether you want to include it or not).

Click on the Create Search Page tab to create your Search Page. This won't take long, even if building the information did take a long time!

Save the file in your chosen directory.

You will, no doubt, wish to incorporate this page into one of your normal pages.

If you return to the Start page, you can change the directory next to the Get DIR button and use the same information for a different directory. Double-click the directories to go to your new directory and click Get DIR and then create the new search page. You can then search from that location (new directory).

Description

The Refresh button will re-find the titles and keywords.This is useful after loading a project, as all the data may not be in place. Also you might wish to check that the box next to Get DIR has the correct directory and file. (Any file in the correct directory will do!)

Delete Selected will remove the currently selected item from the three boxes. It does not delete the files, etc.

The find buttons are probably unnecessary because much of this is done automatically. Clicking these will reveal the Title, Description, or Keywords in the little box at the bottom of the page (on the left).

Clicking the New Project button will empty the boxes containing the files, titles, and keywords ready for you to create a new project.

Possible Problems

This is included for historical reasons, and may be useful on rare occasions. Search Engine Generator does its best to correct broken strings, for example, so these are unlikely to occur. However, for the sake of completeness, then the following points are included.

Unterminated string error

If this error occurs in the resulting HTML file, created by the search generator, then your original HTML files, the ones you used to create the search, may have a broken string. The information in the meta tags of the original file MUST have everything, which is between two quotations, on the same line. For example, if the original file has an entry like this:

<meta name="description" contents="The contents of

my book">

(should be:

<meta name="description" contents="The contents of my book">

That is, all on one line)

Then you have a broken string! The information is not on one line! The browser will report an 'unterminated string error'. Open the resulting file in the Editor and locate the line number. Adjust the information so that it is on one line (or study the JavaScript Tutorial to learn how to handle broken strings).

Alternatively, correct the original file so that the information between the quotation marks is on one line.

Object expected, or similar!

This error in the HTML file results after you have copied the original to your own file. For some reason, the form has lost its name. Check that the form still has the same name which is used in the function (F187), or even that the FORM tags are present. This error is usually a copying error, or your editor has changed the code!

Search Generator is part of the jsEditor.