Ensure your browser supports JavaScript and Applets. At this time, the Search applet only works in Version 6.x of Netscape and Internet Explorer.
If you are starting search for the first time, the search input page might take some time to load. The message Please wait while the Search applet loads is replaced by the search input page. If, after waiting approximately 30 seconds, you do not see the search input page, go to section Enabling the search for more information.
The search input page contains:
Search documents accessible from the InfoCenter using single or multiple words. The search is not case sensitive.
Single word searchType the word in the input field and click the Search button. Multiple word searchType each word, separated by a blank space, and click the Search button. For example: word1 word2 word3 Using the search resultsThe search yields a list of the documents that contain the search word or words. To display a document, click the entry in the list. Search rankingsThe search engine uses a technique called "relaxation ranking" to identify and score specific passages of text that match the user's query. This technique compares the user's query with the occurrences of the same or related terms in the topics. The documents are listed in order from the highest ranking hit (indicated by the percentage 100%) to the lowest ranking hit (0%). A document may contain more than one hit, each with a different ranking. Each document is assigned the ranking of its highest ranking hit. The number of hits is indicated by a number following the ranking, for example (100% 4). If two documents have the same ranking, then the document with the most number of hits will be higher in the list. If you searched for multiple words, any document that contains all of the search words in the specified order will be listed as a high ranking hit. If only one or two of the words are found, or if there are intervening words, or if the words are in a different order, the hit will be lower ranking. The ranking process improves when queries are more complex and include more information. Search restrictionsBoolean searches are not supported. The common boolean search qualifiers and and or are in the list of common words that are ignored in a search. Thus, both of the following searches will produce the same results: servlets and beans servlets or beans Wildcard searches are not supported. The search on java* will only look for the literal string java*. It will not find javadoc, for example. |
Although the InfoCenter is not implemented in JavaHelp, it does use the standard JavaHelp search, encapsulated in an applet for use from a Web browser. Some users will not have to perform any enablement tasks to begin using this lightweight, effective search.
The most common search problems are related to the Java and applet support provided by various browser brands and versions. You must enable a browser to support the search applet. The main task is ensuring that your browser will display the search applet in the first place.
To support the search, your browser must:
Though the IBM WebSphere InfoCenter team does not endorse the use of any particular browser brand or version for performing the search, as long as the browser supports the above technologies, be aware that:
If your Netscape browser to fails to display the search input page, try the following workarounds. You might need to extrapolate the workarounds to your particular version and environment. For the most part, particular error messages are not discussed because it has been found that any one of several messages can indicate the same basic problem. Do not disregard a workaround just because the error message mentioned in the description does not match the one that you are encountering.
Although it sounds simplistic, this workaround can help:
Optionally, try purging the browser cache. On some versions of Netscape browsers, the menu selection to do so is as follows: Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Cache -> Clear Disk Cache and Clear Memory Cache.
A common problem involves a missing or misplaced security class. Try the following workaround, especially if you see the following line in the browser Java console:
Cannot find class java/security/InvalidParameterException.
To fix the problem, you must ensure that the browser can find the classes in the java.security package. Netscape browsers can access classes provided through the system CLASSPATH environment variable. Make sure that you have a CLASSPATH environment variable pointing to classes.zip of your JDK.
For example, for AIX, try the following in your .profile file:
CLASSPATH=/usr/jdk_base/lib/classes.zip export CLASSPATH
The path to the JDK varies by system, and the JDK must be compatible with the browser version. Consult the browser documentation for any such restrictions.
If the machine that runs your Netscape browser does not have a JDK installed, then Netscape cannot use the CLASSPATH environment variable to find the InvalidParameterException.class file. Instead, you can provide your own dummy version of InvalidParameterException.class for the Netscape browser to use.
If you downloaded the InfoCenter to your local machine, the InvalidParameterException.class file is available in the InfoCenter directory.
If you are viewing the InfoCenter from the product site, you will have to create the InvalidParameterException.class file:
package java.security; public class InvalidParameterException extends Exception { public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.println("dummy class " + "allowing Netscape " + "to work with the Search applet."); } }
Copy the resulting InvalidParameterException.class file to your client machine and to a location where the Netscape browser can find it.
Depending on the browser version, place the file in a location relative to the "java" directory under your Netscape browser installation:
Create new directories as needed. For example, for the older browser workaround, create the following two new directories off the "classes" directory:
Netscape -> Communicator -> Program -> java -> classes -> java -> security
If necessary, try all locations, to see whether one will work for your particular browser.
If all else fails, or if it is more convenient to do so, try a different browser.
If the problem browser is the default browser, start your non-default browser and open the InfoCenter as a local file.
product_installation_root/web/InfoCenter/index.html
If the Web server into which you installed the WebSphere Application Server plug-in is running, you can open:
http://your_server_name/IBMWebAS/InfoCenter/index.html
If you do not have a second browser on your machine, use the above URL from a browser on another machine. Do not hesitate to try the same browser brand, or even version. It could work correctly on the second machine.
Another option is to use the second browser to view the online InfoCenter from the IBM Web site:
http://www.ibm.com/software/webservers/appserv/infocenter.html
If you find a problem that is not already documented here, you can notify either your IBM support representative (if running a locally installed search) or the IBM Web site team (if using the search contained in the online WebSphere InfoCenter).
Please include the following information: