Updates on California Webmasters User Group Search Features - Nov 2006 Meeting

1. Search UpdateWebmasters User Group by Kevin Paddock, DTS Search Administrator“searchMaster@dts.ca.gov” State of California Webmasters User Group Wednesday, November 29, 2006

2. Search Update • “Dessert First” • Clarifications • The new Google search URL • Site search – free or not? • Keymatch Project Update • Other Cool Features

3. Questions?

4. Clarifications • Base URL for new search • http://search.ca.gov • The form code published is for state-wide search (CA search) only • The Form code • Code not intended for site search • But you are very clever and know how to use: • the query operator -- “site:” • the URL parameter -- “&sitesearch” • the URL parameter – “&output=xml”

5. Search CA Form Code <form action="http://search.ca.gov/search?" method="get"> <input name="site" value="ca_all" type="hidden" /> <input name="client" value="ca_x" type="hidden" /> <input name="output" value="xml_no_dtd" type="hidden" /> <input name="proxystylesheet" value="ca_x" type="hidden" /> <p> <label for="search" accesskey="s" class="hidden">Search: </label> <input name="q" size="25" maxlength="50" id="search" value="Search" onfocus="if(this.value=='Search')this.value=''" onblur="if(this.value=='')this.value='Search'" type="text" /> <input name="submit" title=“Submit search” alt="Go" type="submit" value="Go" /> </p> </form>

6. Clarifications, page 2 • the “site:” query operator • .../search?q=services site:www.dts.ca.gov • works at www.google.com too • get site search for free from google.com? • get site search for free from google.com/coop/cse/? • our GSA behavior has been modified to... • return either a confirmation message: • “Yes! Your query produced 29100 results. Your site is indexed.” • or the standard error message: • Your search - site:www.finewines.ca.gov - did not match any documents. No pages were found containing "site:www.finewines.ca.gov". • Why no results? • DTS cost recovery model currently in place dictates that we recover costs for services. To achieve that objective, the behavior of this operator was modified.

7. Clarifications, page 3 • the “&sitesearch” URL parameter • .../search?q=services&sitesearch=“www.dts.ca.gov” • returns results for indicated site only • Whoopee! Site search for free! However... • No department branding. • No department control of results layout, colors, etc. • No administrator console for customizations, accessing features, collections configurations, etc. • No DTS support. • not deterred by these drawbacks? Try...

8. Clarifications, page 4 • the “&output=xml” URL parameter • .../search?q=services&output=xml&sitesearch=www.dts.ca.gov • Whoopee! Site search for free! • No UI. Returns an XML object of search results (think “web services”) for site indicated by the &sitesearch value • Create your own layout using server-side scripting • Static pages web site? Sorry. • You don’t really care about GSA features accessed via the admin console.

9. Clarifications, page 5 • What will DTS do? • If you want supported site search now, DTS offers this service for less than the cost of purchasing a GSA or GSA-mini. • eServices is researching the situation: allow free site search to all departments or continue with the current pay-for-service model and alter the &sitesearch parameter too. • DTS Site Search Service description: • See:http://www.dts.ca.gov/custguide/DTS_Customer_Guide.htm • Email searchMaster@dts.ca.gov for PDF version. • Why does “&sitesearch” work but “&site” does not? • The “behavior modification” steps to prohibit free site search were not completed before DTS was instructed to “hold off” further modifications until a decision is made. • Recommendation: don’t start using “&sitesearch” for production search. Wait till we have an decision.

10. Questions on Clarifications?

11. Keymatch Project • Keymatch Update: • 117 entered so far (migrated & updated from K2) • Entire list is or will be viewable at www.eservices.ca.gov • or email searchmaster@dts.ca.gov for a copy • Should all State web site “machine” names (or aliases), entered as sole search term return the associated web site homepage as a Keymatch? • abc  www.abc.ca.gov • dhs  www.dhs.ca.gov • dot  www.dot.ca.gov • caltrans  www.dot.ca.gov

12. Keymatch, example

13. Keymatch List - example

14. Keymatch • Should all State web site “machine” names (or aliases), entered as sole search term return the associated web site homepage as a Keymatch? • If yours is not already listed and you want it added • make your request to... • searchmaster@dts.ca.gov • send requests in CSV file format. • see previous Search Update PPT for fields and descriptions

15. Other Cool Features • Related Queries • Interactively suggest alternative queries • Search term (keyword or keyphrase) driven • Associates alternative words or phrases with specified search terms. • Related Queries appear as links at the top of the results list • Clicking the link, submits a new query, like spell suggest • “You could also try...” • Related Query request format: Search TermsRelates to ccc conservation corps • Email your requests as a list in CSV format: •  ccc,conservation corp

16. Other Cool Features: Related Queries

17. Other Cool Features • Query Expansion • Query expansion enables the search appliance to automatically add extra terms to a user's search query, in order to return additional relevant results. • Two Types: • Stemming • searches for “engineer” will include “engineers” • Automatic Synonyms • searches for “FAQ” will include “frequently asked questions” • Both types support blacklists • GSA includes a QE list of 20,000 synonyms (mostly stems) • Currently disabled due to a bug in the GSA.

18. Questions?

19. Thanks for Watching • Contact: • Kevin Paddock, Search Administrator • DTS: 464-4233 • searchMaster@dts.ca.gov