NAME
WWW::Search::NetFind - class for searching NetFind
Originally based on Google.pm. NetFind is the same
as AOL search.
SYNOPSIS
use WWW::Search;
my $Search = new WWW::Search('NetFind'); # cAsE matters
my $Query = WWW::Search::escape_query("search engine consultant");
$Search->native_query($Query);
while (my $Result = $Search->next_result()) {
print $Result->url, "\n";
}
DESCRIPTION
This class is a NetFind (AOL) specialization of WWW::Search.
It handles making and interpreting NetFind searches.
http://search.aol.com.
NetFinds returns 100 Hits per page.
This class exports no public interface; all interaction should
be done through WWW::Search objects.
AOL SEARCH
Please note that searching at search.aol.com produces
results from both the Open Source Directory and the licensed
Inktomi search engine. Results from Open Source Directory are
presented first followed by results from Inktomi.
If there are no results from the Open Source Directory, then
results are presented from Inktomi alone. Those results
that start with "MATCHING SITES" are from the Open Source
Directory and those that start with "MATCHING WEB PAGES"
are from the Inktomi engine.
If you are interested in results only from Inktomi,
then force the search to use the web.adp query like so:
$search->native_query(WWW::Search::escape_query($query),{search_url=>'http://netfind.aol.com/web.adp'});If you are interested in results only from the Open Source
Directory, refer to the OpenDirectory.pm module.
SEE ALSO
To make new back-ends, see WWW::Search.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
native_setup_search is called (from WWW::Search::setup_search)
before we do anything. It initializes our private variables (which
all begin with underscore) and sets up a URL to the first results
page in {_next_url}.
native_retrieve_some is called (from WWW::Search::retrieve_some)
whenever more hits are needed. It calls WWW::Search::http_request
to fetch the page specified by {_next_url}.
It then parses this page, appending any search hits it finds to
{cache}. If it finds a ``next'' button in the text,
it sets {_next_url} to point to the page for the next
set of results, otherwise it sets it to undef to indicate we''re done.
TESTING
This module adheres to the WWW::Search test suite mechanism.
AUTHOR
This backend is maintained and supported by Gil Vidals.
<gil@positiongeek.com>
LEGALESE
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
BUGS
Since this is a new Backend there are undoubtly one. Report any ASAP.
VERSION HISTORY
1.8
Changed the root search from netfind.aol.com to search.aol.com
because netfind.aol.com seemed very unresponsive and the
searches timed out frequently. Also changed to the new format
using $self->hash_to_cgi_string($self->{_options});
1.5
Formatting change 10/08/99
0.7
First release 09/19/99