internal search engine

I have a client that wants to add a search engine to a retail showroom. I'd
like it function similar to JCPenney or LandsEnd where you can type a style of
product or exact product number. A product type search would result in a page
of pictures that match the criteria. I've had suggestions like CoffeeCup which
appear to be only Windows compatible. I don't mind purchasing some software to
do this but really not interested in paying a service to do it for me on a
monthly basis. Is there anything out there compatible for Mac or is there
another way within Dreamweaver CS3?

Heya,

Adding a search feature to a site is rather simple if you know basic MySQL and
scripting language. Basically you query and filter keywords stored in a
database table to your page. I like to use spry/ajax that gathers info from
mysql using php then parses to xml (see
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/spry/samples/utils/query2xml.html) to query
data in spry search. That way search results are displayed on the page without
reload. Javascript is required for spry search to function otherwise a sever
side scripting language is recommended (php, asp, etc.)

If you're interested in spry check out this page there's more filter examples
in the example pages...


http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/spry/samples/data_region/NonDestructiveFilter
Sample.html

http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/spry/samples/data_region/ZuggestSample.html

Hope that helps!

This was helpful in at least pointing me in the right direction. I am a
relatively new designer and work in Dreamweaver primarily in Design view. I've
developed several more static sites but have a request for a search engine from
a new client so am willing to learn.

I don't not own MySQL and have never worked in PHP but am willing to learn.
I've located a book MySQL: A Visual Quickstart Guide which I plan to purchase.
It looks like I'll need to purchase MySQL 5.1 software but haven't been able to
track down a price. And what is MySQL Enterprise? Is special software
required for PHP?

I'm hoping I'm on the right track. I am not a service provider/host. Just a
designer who places sites on services the client has already selected. (Many
of my clients have already paid for hosting services and then realizes they
can't build their own site to do what they want.) The site I've been asked to
add a search engine on has approximately 300 products, not thousands. (Wish
CoffeeCup was Mac compatible.)

If you have any further advice I'd be grateful. Please set me straight before
I invest in more than I need!

mustangdesigner wrote:

This was helpful in at least pointing me in the right direction. I am a
relatively new designer and work in Dreamweaver primarily in Design view. I've
developed several more static sites but have a request for a search engine from
a new client so am willing to learn.

I don't not own MySQL and have never worked in PHP but am willing to learn.
I've located a book MySQL: A Visual Quickstart Guide which I plan to purchase.
It looks like I'll need to purchase MySQL 5.1 software but haven't been able to
track down a price. And what is MySQL Enterprise? Is special software
required for PHP?

I'm hoping I'm on the right track. I am not a service provider/host. Just a
designer who places sites on services the client has already selected. (Many
of my clients have already paid for hosting services and then realizes they
can't build their own site to do what they want.) The site I've been asked to
add a search engine on has approximately 300 products, not thousands. (Wish
CoffeeCup was Mac compatible.)

If you have any further advice I'd be grateful. Please set me straight before
I invest in more than I need!

PHP is a serverside language, its free, so is MySQL, but its a database
server, not an application. You can interact with it via a PHP
application that is basically a website with some options set in a
config file.

Google MAMP its all of the above for Mac in a nice installer to get you
going. Your host will need to offer the same as what you install as your
localserver... this is your testing environment.

Good luck!

Dooza

Keep in mind that if the client's site (the retail showroom) is currently a
static site, then adding php/mysql is not going to provide you any search
functionality. You would need to first convert the static site to a dynamic
one, which could be a huge undertaking. It might be the right thing to do - we
can't tell without knowing all the details - but you might also investigate
search tools for static sites in the interim.

Is this client's site already dynamic?

The client currently has a static site developed by another designer. There
are many issues with the site so I will be starting over. I was tempted to get
started building the new site but concerned it wouldn't work well to add the
search engine after the fact. What can you suggest for tools for static sites?
That may be a better fit anyway.

Mustang,

If you know how to write xml you don't need dynamic attributes to develop a
search feature. It's just easier in the long run to use php, MySQL to query a
database and create xml which can be used with spry to create a search.

For static just create an xml file with main tag then nest tags for certain
items relevant to your search - keywords, product, product URL, price, etc.

Again, check out the links to spry search I've recommended. View the source
code and you should be good to go. Minus creating the xml file it should only
take about 10 mins. to add the search feature into your site. Upload the
relevant javascript files as seen in source, create a variable for the xml
dataset and you'll be all good.

View source code and study! Start out simple; just try a blank page like the
one mentioned then when you feel comfortable with the development try to
implement it into your site. If you are interested in spry search using xml
which has no need for php and MySQL and you need further assistance please
inquire

Hi DWFAQ.info
You stated--"If you are interested in spry search using xml which has no need
for php and MySQL and you need further assistance please inquire" I'm
inquiring. I was about to buy the book MySQL: a quickstart Visual Guide but
I'm curious about your offer of doing this using spry and xml. Where can I get
a basic tutorial on getting started that way? Is it advisable for a showroom
website of roughly 600 items?

It depends on what in those items, I build a search engine that walks through
200 items in a breeze, and its quite large to.

if you could split those 600 items up in sub categories you will gave a faster
web page. A good example of splitting up content is the spry gallery, (
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/spry/demos/gallery/index.html ) instead of
displaying about 100 images on one page, its chopped in to categories. where
the user can switch from.

Spry has allot of examples http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/spry/samples/

and a nice demo of a product page here
;http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/spry/demos/products/index.html

"V1 Fusion" <info (AT) 3rd-eden (DOT) com> wrote

It depends on what in those items, I build a search engine that walks
through
200 items in a breeze, and its quite large to.

if you could split those 600 items up in sub categories you will gave a
faster
web page. A good example of splitting up content is the spry gallery, (
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/spry/demos/gallery/index.html ) instead
of
displaying about 100 images on one page, its chopped in to categories.
where
the user can switch from.

Spry has allot of examples
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/spry/samples/

and a nice demo of a product page here
;http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/spry/demos/products/index.html

Building a search facility that requires JavaScript could be a mistake - and
one that could expose a retail client to ADA (or similar) claims.

--
Al Sparber - PVII
http://www.projectseven.com
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