Site Search Solutions

Linux, Windows, and Life After Atomz

[rogerd]

With Atomz inserting ads into their free search results [webmasterworld.com], I predict that webmasters will be scrambling to implement new search solutions on sites.

Atomz Express (the free service) targeted sites under 500 pages in size, and offered weekly spidering. It was platform independent, too, since only a small form (the search box) needed to be included in the HTML of the site.

Where should webmasters for small sites turn next - is it time to bite the bullet and install search scripts? Or is outsourcing still viable with alternatives other than Atomz?

[aleksl]

I've used a free service of FreeFind for a few years. They insert 3 paid text ads right above your search results. Sites get spidered every week or so. They offer pretty cheap solutions for smaller sites, but have no idea of quality.

[sun818]

I tried FreeFind, was not impressed. For site search, you can try FDSE (by Fluid Dynamics). This is what WebmasterWorld's site search engine is based on. I use it for my site with about 3,000 pages. Search is not faster than a major search engine, but it is acceptable for a file based search engine.

Its free and there is an automated web based install script which is impressive.

[insight]

Is there any clear leader for script based spider/indexing/search engines?

I looked at ht://Dig [htdig.org] almost three years ago, and decided the extra effort wasn't worth any possible improvement over Atomz. With Atomz running ads know, I may have to re-evaluate.

It seems like there should already be some really great Perl solution made out of a bunch of CPAN modules and some glue code, or some decent/recent PHP script.

I guess it's time to start my own search through cgi-resources, scripts.com, etc. etc.

[Symbios]

I recently switched from atomz to Google search, its free and there's some return on clicks although there are the ads, FDSE as mentioned above is good and has some interseting options, also its very easy to install, it will even set itself up if you enter ftp details with password (I'd suggest a guest account for this though).

[DaveAtIFG]

Check out Corzoogle. Configure a few options, upload one PHP file and you're installed.

[thefa]

I am testing isearch... Anyone with some experience with this one?

[Genie]

I need a free, hosted alternative to Atomz. There's a selection listed here:
Open Directory... Site Search [dmoz.org], but I can't say that one leaps out at me.

[sonjay]

I second FDSE. I used it on a 4,000+ page site, and it works fine. I especially like the massive amount of customizing you can do, including tweaking the search algorithm to give greater weight to specific parts of your site.

[kodaks]

You may want to try out Interspire's Fastfind. It is free and very easy to use.

[Hester]

thefa: "I am testing isearch... Anyone with some experience with this one?"

If it's the same company as isearch.com AVOID THEM LIKE THE PLAGUE! They have a spyware toolbar that installs itself into Windows leaving many users unable to remove it. (They do an online uninstaller but who would trust it?) This toolbar then blocks access to a list of websites. These are ones for Adaware etc that are needed to download anti-spyware to get rid of it!

Not only that but it hijacks the browser so any wrong domain names you type in go to a special page instead of saying "domain can't be found", which redirects you to the isearch home page after a few seconds.

It's upset a great number of people - I can give you a link if you want showing a forum thread discussing this with over 30 pages of posts in it. Most of them angry users disgusted at isearch's tactics. Sticky me if you're interested. I found plenty of other links on Google as well.

We wasted a whole afternoon last week getting rid of this from one machine - even though it had been patched with Service Pack 2.

[thefa]

This is where I got isearch from:
[isearchthenet.com...]

It does not seem to be related to the toolbar thing you refer to. Check this link as well:
[isearchthenet.com...]

The good thing with isearch was that it was php + mysql allowing me to maintain some homogeneity in the tools I use.

But I'm a bit disappointed by the way ot manages accented characters and by the support so far.

I'd be interested in other php + mysql based site search solutions.

[PaulPA]

I am also looking for an Atomz replacement. But I'm running into a problem. I need something that is PHP/MySQL but I would really prefer one that can handle phrase searching. Most of free or low cost ones I've seen do not do searching by phrase. Anyone have other suggestions? Thanks.