[BigBoss]

Hi,

I created a quick app to help with searching the web without having to load the web page first:

Websearch allows you to create some keyword searches based upon the firefox "add a keyword search" type string. Then the app will allow you to enter the search string, and it loads safari with the search page. This way you do not have to first load the web site up to enter the search criteria. Urls.txt comes with some searches already in it.

If you have any suggestions or bug reports you can find me as _BigBoss_ in #iphone on efnet.

To install it you can add my installer: http://markmon.mine.nu:90/iphone/repo/repo.plist in installer (make sure autocorrect doesnt change .nu to .by). It is in network subsection.

BigBoss

[BigBoss]

I have moved my repository to here: http://sleepers.net/~iphone/repo.xml.

[dallasnights]

no luck does not show up on the installer, what exactly is the name and where is it
Thanks

[BigBoss]

no luck does not show up on the installer, what exactly is the name and where is it
Thanks

Name is just websearch. It's in Network section. Make sure that autocorrect didnt change "iphone" to "iPhone" when you entered the repository.

[dallasnights]

no luck maybe you can get it on the modmyi installer, it just does not show up anywhere please advise

[DaveiPhone]

markmon:

Thanks for this, very useful!

Any chance of adding Lyrics and Guitar Tab search to the default list?

http://lyrics-search-engine.allthelyrics.com/

is a good engine for lyrics, but there are many available. I'm not quite sure of the best way to get the proper syntax for submitting the search request. Once I had a method for determining that, adding my own engines is easy of course. Any tips would be appreciated.

[BigBoss]

no luck maybe you can get it on the modmyi installer, it just does not show up anywhere please advise

Are you making sure autocorrect isnt changing iphone to iPhone? The site (like most sites) is case sensitive.

I'm not quite sure of the best way to get the proper syntax for submitting the search request. Once I had a method for determining that, adding my own engines is easy of course. Any tips would be appreciated.

The searches are just firefox keyword searches. Do you use firefox? If you right click on a search field and select "add a keyword search" it creates a bookmark with the exact search string you need.

In the case of the site you want, the search string is this:
http://www.google.com/cse?cx=0073925...7ph19lwp0&q=%s
The %s replaces the text that is to be entered.
You can create this entry in the urls.txt file and yo'ull have your search string:

All The Lyrics
http://www.google.com/cse?cx=0073925...7ph19lwp0&q=%s

[DaveiPhone]

Thanks markmon, that worked perfectly, and better yet, now I understand how to customize this myself. VERY useful app!

For those interested in guitar tab as well as lyrics, here's an even better search:

http://www.tabcrawler.com/search.php?q=%s

[BigBoss]

Thanks markmon, that worked perfectly, and better yet, now I understand how to customize this myself. VERY useful app!

I'm glad it worked. I have lots of plans for websearch including a way to customize these strings easily in the GUI. I hope to work on it and my other apps during my Christmas vacation from work

[BigBoss]

I have overhauled this app a lot and submitted it to STE for official hosting. v1.2.1 should show up in installer soon. Here is the scoop on this. The main difference is that I have added a GUI config to allow you to edit, delete, re-sort, and add new searches:

Websearch allows you to create some keyword searches based upon the firefox "add a keyword search" type string. Then the app will allow you to enter the search string, and it loads safari with the search page.

Let's cover how you might perform a search without this app. Let's say we want to search for "Final Fantasy XII" in gamestop's site. You would load safari, then type in "www.gamestop.com" and wait. If you're on EDGE, you'll wait a while for gamestop's page to load. When that's done, you can now type "Final Fantasy XII" into the search box. On most pages you'll have to zoom to the search box first because the text is small - so it takes a bit. After this, you now have to wait all over again for your search to load.

With this app, you tap the WebSearch button, tap "gamestop" and enter "Final Fantasy XII". Safari is loaded and the search page is the first thing that is displayed. You only wait once, and you also have much less typing.

The app comes preloaded with several common search engines but you can add/remove/resort on your own using the built in GUI. To add more URLs, just click edit, add, and follow instructions. You will be told to open mobile safari and go to the page you want to search and perform a search for "Asdf". Afterwards, you return to the app, and it will pull the search string out of the Safari history for you. Now you just name the new search string for display and you have a new search!

With the "Launch Safari" option, the app can be used as a safari icon replacement - just hide safari with customize and move WebSearch into its place.

Here are a couple screenshots of the app:
http://markmon.mine.nu:90/iphone/myapps/ScreenMain.jpg
http://markmon.mine.nu:90/iphone/myapps/ScreenEdit.jpg

[dallasnights]

COOL Where can I download it on teh net and manually install on my phone, good job

[BigBoss]

COOL Where can I download it on teh net and manually install on my phone, good job

Until STE posts it, you can get it by adding my repository here: http://sleepers.net/iphonerepo
If you don't want to use installer for some reason, you can download the zip file that is hosted here:
http://sleepers.net/~iphone/repofile.../websearch.zip
Make sure you use the name WebSearch.app exactly like this when you install it. It is hard coded at the moment to expect /Applications/WebSearch.app.

[armadillo]

Forgive my ignorance, but wouldn't it be easier to use bookmarklets for this purpose? You could simply add a bookmark category with bookmarklets such as this:

javascript=escape(getSelection());if(!x)%7Bvoid( x=prompt('Movie?',''))%7D;window.location='http://www.imdb.com/find?tt=on;nm=on;mx=20;q='+x

To see this in action save the above as a bookmark in Safari and sync the iPhone. Then select the bookmark. This will pop up a dialog in Safari (no need to switch apps) asking for the search entry and would accomplish the same as this app? Maybe I'm missing something, but I have a couple of these bookmarklets and they are great. Tons of search bookmarklets can be found here:

http://www.bookmarklets.com/tools/search/srchbook.phtml

And there's more bookmarklets for all sorts of purposes.

[skb875]

Fantastic App!
I just replaced my Safari with this

All it needs is a better icon.

Nice update.
I love the little thumbnails next to the search options.

The icon definitely is better, but still looks a bit funky, it seems too small.

[BigBoss]

Fantastic App!
I just replaced my Safari with this

All it needs is a better icon.

I put some extra icons in the zip file I sent to STE. You may want to see if you like those better. I made it small because I have a 6 icon dock.