Matrix, Search Engines: W3 Catalog

CUI W3 Catalog

Key Links

Organization

• The index is a searchable database of keywords from selected Internet hotlists or subject catalogs.
  • The user can search for a matching string, substring, or perl regular expression. The search is performed using a perl interface to a lightweight database engine called msql.
  • There are no advanced searching features such as multiple keywords, boolean expressions, or match quality and maximum hits.
  • The engine compares the search expression to the keywords extracted from the title and text of each document that was indexed.
  • The server index permits search request using forms and non-forms access techniques.
  • The resources indexed by this server have no particular content restrictions.

Administration

• Although certain files on the server seem to be updated regularly, these are probably the output of automated software. The latest changes I can see to documents are from March and April 1995.
• Many of the internal links are non-functional, including important features such as the non-forms search page.
• User searches often return results within 20 to 30 seconds, and there seems to be no load problems or service refusals.
• The database consists of over 12,500 entries. The server makes no attempt to find or expunge dead links, and the recommendation is to contact the page's author rather than the CUI administrators.
• The search page is very clear and easy to use. Overall the documentation and resource pointers are cluttered, but quite valuable.
• Additional Services
  • The search portion includes a link that may be helpful in creating a perl regular expression, but no additional help information.
  • Addtions to the database are registered on the (out of date) recent changes page.
  • By far, the most valuable resource maintained here is a unified interface to numerous Internet and Web search engines, covering information servers, software, people, news, and documentation.
  • Search results include document extracts, addition date, and a link to the original place that this resource was added from.