Re: Internet search engines and databases

Tony, this is exactly the sort of thing that XML is designed to help with. You would do well to take a look at comp.text.xml to review what can already be done.

On Wed, 15 Mar 2000 08:10:24 -0500, Tony Fulford <tony_fulford_at_attglobal.net> wrote:

>I would like to start a new thread to discuss the future of searching
>the internet.
>
>Internet search engines utilize the accessible content of a website to
>generate their search results. More and more website content is being
>placed in databases and served dynamically to users as required. The
>information in these databases is not available to search engines
>because the databases have security mechanisms (e.g., username &
>password) to prevent access. As more and more websites become based on
>information contained in databases, the search results be come
>increasingly sparse and inaccurate.
>
>I have already found that when I want to find an item, a particular
>model computer printer (using model number for the search) for example,
>I will not get a hit from many websites via the search engines, yet if I
>go to the websites and search, I do get a search hit. So where will this
>leave us for comparison shopping for products.
>
>Are web search engines going to be relegated to providing search results
>from websites which only have static content?
>
>Are there ways to let search engines have access to databases without
>giving away the store (i.e., family jewels)?
>
>If we give search engines access to the databases, how do they know how
>to search them (e.g., databases, tables, columns, etc.)?
>
>Is it possible to generate an XML standard which would allow general
>access to most databases?
>
>Do we need some standards for databases which want to participate with
>search engines?
>
>The future of internet navigation and true competitive x-commerce
>depends on resolution of this problem. Let's get started!
>
>Tony Fulford
>Business User Software
>
 

-- 
Mark A Preston BSc, FIAP
The Magpie's Nest
mark_at_mpreston.demon.co.uk