AppleSearch

Features

Powerful information retrieval

Helps users take advantage of organizational information stored on local servers, on-line information feeds, and the vast resources of the Internet

Searches the full text of documents

Provides quick access to the most relevant documents

Supports Boolean operators and stemming, proximity, and wild-string searches

Ease of use

Allows immediate search results

Delivers easy-to-read, personalized updates to the user's desktop on a periodic basis

Allows search requests to be entered in the user's own words

Lets users search for and retrieve informa-tion from either Macintosh computers or Windows software-based PCs

Allows users to work in the operating system environment with which they are most familiar

(Mac OS or Windows)

Efficient administration

Makes it easy to monitor the flow of informa-tion and take appropriate security measures

Indexes local information sources automatically or on a scheduled basis

Lets administrators choose Internet WAIS servers that are useful to the workgroup

Supports many client users through a single Internet connection on the server

Flexibility

Can be customized to meet an organization's specific needs

Supports up to 50 connected users at a time (including remote or mobile users, via Apple Remote Access software)

Compatibility

Includes full support for both Macintosh and Windows clients

Is compatible with all major brands of PC networking interface cards (via AppleSearch for Windows client software)

Description

AppleSearch is easy-to-use, yet sophisticated, client/server software designed to be a personal assistant--a knowledge navigator that finds information relevant to users' needs, prioritizes it, and keeps users updated if information changes. AppleSearch software helps organizations manage and use the growing stockpiles of electronic information; it lets users in a cross-platform network search local servers as well as the vast resources of the Internet from both Macintosh computers and Windows software-based PCs.

A server administrator clicks on a button to index documents that reside on the server or a locally mounted volume, making them available as local information sources. If the server is connected to the Internet, AppleSearch provides a list of all Wide Area Information Servers (WAIS) found on directory servers, allowing the server administrator to select those that are most useful to the organization. Selected WAIS servers can be searched as if they were local information sources, with-out being indexed by AppleSearch.

AppleSearch "reporters" are user-defined search agents that look for and retrieve requested information. Reporters can be created either for immediate use or for ongoing scheduled searches; they look for new or recently modified documents relevant to the search request and automatically deliver the findings in periodic newspaper-style updates.

With AppleSearch, users can specify their topic of interest in their own words. And for users familiar with information retrieval, AppleSearch supports the full range of Boolean oper-ators. The feature-rich AppleSearch search engine, from Personal Library Software, processes the request and finds the relevant documents by looking not only for how often the user's words occur, but also for how close the words appear together.

An easy, cost-effective means of managing and finding information from both inside and outside the organization, AppleSearch is the information-retrieval tool of choice for Apple LANs. Screen Shot of Reporter with Information

Product Details

Setup and configuration

AppleSearch is quick and easy to install.

An AppleSearch server supports 50 concurrently connected users; users connect to one AppleSearch server at a time.

To use the Internet capability of AppleSearch, a server connection to the Internet is required. A direct (not dial-up) connection is recommended.

Information sources

An information source can be any shared folder on an AppleSearch server volume and can reside on any locally mounted volume such as a hard disk drive or CD-ROM drive.

Incremental indexing can be scheduled on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis.

Indexing speed is 10 to 30MB/hour, depending on document format.

Index files are approximately the same size as the text in source documents.

If the server is connected to the Internet, the server administrator can select up to 100 WAIS servers listed on WAIS directory servers to appear to users as information sources. AppleSearch automatically scans for new WAIS servers.

Document format independent

Apple's XTND file-format translator technology, in conjunction with MacLinkPlus/AppleSearch, from DataViz, Inc., allows AppleSearch users to view the text of nearly all document types without needing the application that created them.

The following translators are included: MacWrite 4.5, 5.0, and II; Microsoft Word for Macintosh 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 5.1; Microsoft Works (word processing) 2.0 and 3.0; PageMaker 4.0; Ragtime 3.1; AppleWorks; WriteNow 2.0 and 3.0; Nisus 3.0; PICT (text extraction only); WordPerfect for Macintosh 1.0, 2.0, and 2.1; FrameMaker MIF 2.0 and 3.0; Microsoft Excel; Microsoft Word for Windows 1.0 and 2.0; and Word Perfect for Windows 5.1.

Reporters and updates

Reporters contain search criteria defined by the user. Once saved, they reside on the server and can be scheduled to search and retrieve information relevant to the search request on a periodic basis from both local and Internet information sources.

Results found by a scheduled reporter are automatically formatted in an easy-to-read update and delivered to users on the days and times they specify.

Security

Provides password protection to the server.

Manages search requests based on user and group access privileges defined in AppleShare or Mac OS file sharing.

Supported platforms

AppleSearch Server

An Apple Macintosh computer with a Motorola 68040 processor, a Power Macintosh, or a Workgroup Server

Mac OS software version 7.0 or later

At least 8MB of RAM for use with Mac OS file sharing or with AppleShare 3 software; 12MB of RAM for use with AppleShare 4 software; or 16MB of RAM for use with AppleShare Pro software

An Apple SuperDrive floppy disk drive

An internal hard disk with available storage space equivalent to 2.5 times the space required for the textual content of the source being indexed

An optional CD-ROM drive for use with on-line manuals

AppleSearch Client

Macintosh

An Apple Macintosh computer with an internal hard disk drive and at least 4MB of RAM

Mac OS software version 7.0 or later

An Apple SuperDrive floppy disk drive

Windows

Any IBM or 100 percent compatible computer running Intel processor 386 or greater; ISA, MicroChannel, VISA, and EISA internal buses; 4MB of RAM

Windows 3.1, 3.11, or Windows for Workgroups3.11 software

MS-DOS 5.0 or later

Ethernet network adapter card

NDIS 3.0 or ODI network interface driver

Network requirements

AppleShare or Mac OS file sharing (AppleShare 4 is recommended to provide a higher-performance configuration that allows a larger number of users)

An AppleTalk network connection (via LocalTalk, Ethernet, Token Ring, or Apple Remote Access software) between the server and clients; Windows software-based computers must be connected via Ethernet

MacTCP (which is included) to run an Internet connection from the AppleSearch server

Ordering and Licensing Information

AppleSearch v1.5 Server and Client for Mac OS and Windows

Order No. M2136Z/D

AppleSearch server software

AppleSearch client software (for both Macintosh and Windows)

AppleSearch Administrator's Guide

AppleSearch User's Guide

Getting Started with AppleSearch

An electronic version of the manuals on CD-ROM

MacTCP software and manual

User license to make unlimited copies of the AppleSearch client for Macintosh and Windows software and documentation

Developer Information

Developer information can be ordered from the APDA Tools Catalog. For a free copy of the catalog, call:

1-800-282-2732 (United States)

1-800-637-0029 (Canada)

(716) 871-6555 (international)

For information about developer licensing, please contact:

Software Licensing Department
Apple Computer, Inc.
2420 RidgePoint Drive, M/S 198-SWL
Austin, TX 78754
U.S.A.
(512) 919-2645
AppleLink: SW.LICENSE

Product specifications are subject to change. Check with your Apple reseller for the most current informa-tion about product specifications and configurations

(c) 1995 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, APDA, AppleLink, AppleShare, Apple SuperDrive, AppleTalk, LocalTalk, Macintosh, and MacTCP are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S.A. and other countries. AppleSearch, Apple Remote Access, Mac, and Power Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. AppleWorks is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., licensed to Claris Corporation. FrameMaker is a registered trademark of Frame Technology Corporation. MacLinkPlus is a registered trademark of DataViz, Inc. MacWrite and FileMaker are registered trademarks of Claris Corporation. Nisus is a trademark of Paragon Concepts, Inc. PageMaker is a registered trademark of Aldus Corporation. PowerPC is a trademark of International Business Machines, Inc., used under license therefrom. Ragtime is a trademark of B & E Software. WAIS is a trademark of WAIS, Inc. WordPerfect is a registered trademark of WordPerfect Corporation. WriteNow is a trademark of T/Maker Company. The CPL search engine is a product of Personal Library Software, Inc. Mention of non-Apple products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of these products. All understandings, agreements, or warranties, if any, take place directly between the vendors and the prospective users.

January 1995. Product specifications are subject to change without notice. Printed in U.S.A.

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