DW Generated Site Search Engine

Report · Sep 11, 2008

I'd like to add search capability to my site, which is static (not DB-based or generated on-the-fly), but with many pages based upon templates. I've been looking at Google's solution, but you can't completely control the look and feel of the results page display. It would seem relatively simple to have DW build a fairly robust index of a static site's content, and provide some javascript code (SPRY widget?) or even PHP that could be included to search the site index and display the results in a consistent (webmaster designed) results page. The same code could be used by everyone, since the database structure would be the same (just different data), and because the site is static, the index can be built off-line, quickly on my computer before it is uploaded to the site.

Does this capability exist, or does anybody else see this as valuable?

Report · Sep 11, 2008

GrizzlyAK posted in macromedia.dreamweaver.appdev:

> I'd like to add search capability to my site, which is static (not
> DB-based or generated on-the-fly), but with many pages based upon
> templates.

I've only dabbled with the free version - and without templates - but I
think WrenSoft's Zoom Search fits the bill for you.

http://www.wrensoft.com/

They have DW extenstion available, too.

http://www.wrensoft.com/zoom/support/tutorial_dreamweaver.html

--
Mark A. Boyd
Keep-On-Learnin' :)

Report · Sep 12, 2008

Thanks Mark. I'll give it a go!

Cheers,
Griz

Report · Sep 24, 2008

Mark, WOW!

Thanks so much for turning me on tow ZoomSearch from Wrensoft. I downloaded the free version for small sites to try out, and within about an hour I had my site indexed and the search working on a live staging area on the web. I then spent a little more time modifying the results page to fit my site exactly (not like Google's option where you can only change the header). With ZoomSearch, the script dumps the results right into my own template (the base of which they provided), using their pre-made CSS which I modified to fit my color scheme. Ingenious design.

I'm completely amazed at the speed and configurability of this application, how easy it is to use, and the ability to remove ALL SIGNS of the manufacturer from the results. However, even though I could remove all traces of Wrensoft, I actually left it in. Wrensoft produced such a great product, and saved me so much time, that I actually want to advertise their product on my site! Imagine that!! ;-)

Kudos to the folks at Wrensoft for a spectacular product. Because of the size of my site, and the options I wanted, I ended up purchasing a Professional license for the product for $99. What a steal!!

Thanks again...

Griz.

Report · Sep 24, 2008

GrizzlyAK posted in macromedia.dreamweaver.appdev:

> Mark, WOW!
>
> Thanks so much for turning me on tow ZoomSearch from Wrensoft. I

[snip good praise for WrenSoft]

> Thanks again...

Yea, it is a nice tool, eh? I think I first found a reference to it on
the Project VII site. http://www.projectseven.com

--
Mark A. Boyd
Keep-On-Learnin' :)