Add the Geoportal Search to a List of Search Providers

Often users want to search Geoportals without launching the Geoportal webpage. Because the Geoportal advertises its OpenSearch document in its webpages (just view the source on any geoportal page and look for OpenSearch in the source), it is easy to register the Geoportal in clients that support OpenSearch. The instructions below describe two examples of this: 1) how to include the geoportal as a search provider in a web browser navigation tab, and 2) how to include it in Windows Explorer for Windows versions that support OpenSearch (e.g., Windows 7).

Include the geoportal as a search provider in a web browser navigation tab

After this configuration, it will be possible to retrieve search results in the GEORSS format simply by typing a search term into the searchbox, as shown below.

geoportalOpenSearch.png

To register the Geoportal in your list of search providers, do the following.

1. Launch the desired Geoportal homepage in a web browser that supports OpenSearch, such as Mozilla Firefox 3 or Internet Explorer 7 or 8.
2. Click on the icon to the left of the search box. A dropdown list will appear.
3. At the bottom of the list, you will see an option that allows you to add the Geoportal search provider (the name of the search provider will be determined by the Geoportal's hosting organization). Select this.
4. Now, the Geoportal will be listed as your search provider in the search provider box. Anytime you open the browser, you can choose the Geoportal from the list (it won't have to be added again) and search directly.

Note: If you use multiple browser applications, you will need to add the Geoportal search provider to each, following the instructions above. If you want to register the Geoportal's OpenSearch with another open search client, the Geoportal OpenSearch description is located at http://serverName/geoportal/openSearchDescription.

Include geoportal serach in Windows Explorer - Windows 7

After carrying out these steps, you will be able to type a search term in the search box to the upper right of your window explorer session, and retrieve results from the target geoportal.

1. In the Internet Explorer web browser, paste the URL of the geoportal that you desire to search through Windows Explorer. E.g., http://gptogc.esri.com/geoportal
2. After the /geoportal part of the URL, type openSearchDescription - e.g., http://gptogc.esri.com/geoportal/openSearchDescription
3. After a moment, Windows will show a popup asking if "You want to add this search connector to Windows" (see below). Click the "Add" button.

windows7_OpenSearch1.png Now when you launch Windows Explorer, you will see the Geoportal Search in your list of Favorites (see below), or the list of Search Providers. windows7_OpenSearch2.png

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