Anybody knows how to have Links search the AltaVista mod if there is nothing found in the Links' database?

Here is an example (just like in Yahoo!):

When you do a search from Links, if there is nothing found in Links' database, Links would normally shoot out the 'Search Failed' page in the site_html.pl file under sub site_html_search_failure { routine. Is there a mod that we can use to have Links automatically invoke the AltaVista mod search? That way at least we have something to show to our users instead of a NOTHING found page.

Any ideas on how to automate the AltaVista mod with Links?

Thanks!

John

Are you looking for additional information other than what is in the 50+ responses in the other thread regarding Alta Vista?



--Mark

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You can reach me by ICQ at UIN #8602162

Yes Mark.

Nowhere in that thread had anybody mentioned anything about automating the AltaVista mod. So I thought it would be appropriate to start a new discussion about HOW TO AUTOMATE or INCORPORATE the script to work in conjunction with Links -- now that we have it.

There is a way of getting the meta script to work, however it's not automatic. The user/searcher must click on a hyperlink to query the AltaVista mod when a search fails. Here is what I have done on my site_html.pl file in the 'Search Failed' page:

This is the actual html code I use:

<A HREF="http://www.mylinks.com/cgi-bin/meta.perl?query=$term">Search Again using our MetaSearch feature - <em>click here</em></a>

And this is what the user will see:

Error: no matching records
Search Again using our MetaSearch feature - click here

So yes, it does work but it's a TWO-STEP process and does not look too professional if you want to impress your users.

John

[This message has been edited by jmurphy (edited December 20, 1998).]

Easiest is just replace &site_html_view_error with:

print "Location: http://www.mylinks.com/cgi-bin/meta.perl?query=$term\n\n";

So that if the search fails, the user will automatically get redirected to the metasearch script.

Be sure to remove the &html_print_headers call..

Cheers,

Alex

Hi BevG,
Alex didnt tell you to insert the code:
print "Location:http://www.mylinks.com/cgi-bin/altavista.cgi?query=$term\n\n";
into
&site_html_search_failure routine
but to replace &site_html_search_failure routine with the code.
So the server will directly take you to altavista.cgi without taking you to the search failure page.

Hi BevG, Its me again.
I have just done a sample in my site
poyin.com/resource (still under construction)

You can try a search for the word "mp4" to see if that's what you want.



[This message has been edited by Rock (edited February 09, 1999).]

Mine works flawlessly.

If there is nothing found in Links' database, the meta search will take over and do a search on AltaVista transparently.

Go see for yourself.

John


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www.yahoosuck.com - it really does!
jmurphy@yahoosuck.com

Rock,

Could you please explane to me how you did this ?

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This is how mine looks. Works like a charm!

sub site_html_search_failure {
# ---------------------------------------------
# This routine displays a failed search page with error in $error.
#
my ($error) = $_[0];
print "Location: http://www.my-domain.com/cgi-bin/altavista.cgi?query=$term\n\n";
}


... Whew... After reviewing my keyword log for the past 2 days I had noticed that many people where rephrasing their search queries and then giving up when there were not any entries with mutliple words in them, even after using the extra +/- AND commands. Even though I have posted the link to the meta search using the form field, they did not seem to understand what it meant. All they really noticed was the 'ERROR: NO MATCHING LINKS'. So, this will help out a bunch! Thanks Alex! You Rock!

Alex when I insert your code
print "Location:
http://www.mylinks.com/cgi-bin/altavista.cgi?query=$term\n\n";

into the &site_html_search_failure routine, my search gets directed to a default tempory page by the server.The URL address to altavista.cgi is correct. It works if I call altavista.cgi up via browser.

The code by jmurphy in this post also works, I just can't seem to automate it!

any ideas?

Does anybody know where can I find the altavista.cgi that you says a lot in the forum?
I searched for it and dindn´t find it.

Hello !

I would also be interested to find out. Pl. let me know if possible. Thanks

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deepy rajani

Hello !

I would also be interested to find out. Pl. let me know if possible. Thanks

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deepy rajani