Frequently Asked Questions

    General:
    1. I have just downloaded WebFerret, how do I start it?
    2. Can I redistribute / put a link on my page?
    3. How do I open a saved search?
    4. I'm getting no search results
    5. Does WebFerret run on AOL (America Online)?
    6. Is there a Windows 3.1 version?
    7. How can I add my own search engines?
    8. In which order are results returned?
    9. My web browser is not launching (or the "wrong" browser is 
       launching)
   10. Where can I get the rest of the NetFerrets suite?

#1.
Q: I have just downloaded WebFerret, how do I start it?

A: All the NetFerret utilities are distributed in a executable archive 
   format that will immediately start the installation routines when run. 
   Using WebFerret as an example, follow these basic steps and you should 
   be up-and-searching within a minute:

     1. Double-click on the downloaded executable file, for example:
        WebFerret102.exe. This will launch the installation program.
 	Follow the wizard based instructions. 

     2. WebFerret will be installed into the Find menu, along with the 	
        standard operating system Find utilities (such as Find Files or 
	Find Computer). An optional short-cut is also placed on your 	
        desktop. The short-cut can be deleted at at any time without
	affecting the future functioning of WebFerret. 

     3. Click on the Start button and then on the Find menu option. You 
	will see a World Wide Web pages ... option. Select this and 
	WebFerret will load. 

     4. Once you're connected to the Internet, it's now a simple case 
	of entering a search keyword and clicking on the Find Now 
	button in WebFerret. Within seconds results will begin to 
	appear. 

#2
Q: Can I redistribute / put a link on my page?

A: YES! .. and we'll greatly appreciate it if you do. WebFerret may be
   redistributed without limitation in it's original download format. 


#3
Q: How do I open a saved search?

A: In the current versions of all the NetFerret utilities there is no    
   menu item available for opening saved searches (though coming 
   versions will have this added) and the File | Open menu item in 
   WebFerret has caused some confusion, as it is "greyed out" when 
   WebFerret firsts starts up. This menu item can be used open a
   web page and launch your browser when you have selected a result. 

   To open a previously saved search, use Explorer to go to the folder 
   in which you saved the search results. You will see a WebFerret 
   document icon with the name you gave the results when you saved. If, 
   for example, you did a search with the keyword "Internet", the 
   default name for this saved search would be: Web pages containing 
   Internet.WebFerretSearch. Double click on the icon, and a new
   WebFerret will be loaded with the query results. 

#4
Q: I'm getting no search results. 

A:There are a number of potential answers and things to check for: 

     1. Check whether your LAN or ISP connects to the Internet 
	through a proxy (firewall)? If so, go to View|Options|HTTP 
        proxy and enter the proxy configuration details. If not, then 
        make sure that these details have been left blank. 

     2. Your TCP/IP protocol stack (winsock) may not be compatible with 
        WebFerret.  Specifically the Ferrets require a 32-bit winsock, 
        and has problems working with older 16-bit winsocks such as 
        Trumpet Winsock. All development and testing is done on the 
        Win95 TCP/IP protocol stack that comes standard with the 
        operating system, and we therefore suggest using this 
        implementation. For the best possible help on configuring the 
        Win95 stack, read Boardwatch Magazine's definitive "how to" guide 
        at http://www.boardwatch.com/mag/95/nov/bwm11.htm. If you are not 
        sure which winsock you have installed, check the Ferret's Help 
        About window, which in all newer versions (beta 0.95 and higher) 
        reports which stack is installed. 

     3. If you are an AOL member, you will only be able to use the 
        Ferrets with AOL Version 3.0 for Win95. AOL 3.0 for Win3.1 will 
        NOT work. 

     4. Especially in the case of international connections outside of 
        North America, a direct link through to the search engines from 
        your ISP can go down temporarily.  When in doubt try using ping 
        from the DOS prompt to check that you can access a search 
        engine from your machine. For example: ping www.lycos.com 

#5
Q: Does WebFerret run on AOL (America Online)? 

A: The NetFerret utilities will run on the new 32-bit America Online
   3.0 for Windows 95. They will NOT work on previous versions or on 
   AOL 3.0 for Windows 3.1.  You can check what version you have by 
   going to the Help | About window of your AOL software. You should 
   see America Online 3.0 for Windows 95.  If you have not got the 
   correct version, you can upgrade by:

     1. Select the Members | Member Services | Helpful Software | 
	Download Latest and Greatest Version of AOL menu item. 

     2. Select AOL 3.0 for Windows 95

     3. Select Upgrade Now

#6
Q: Is there a Windows 3.1 version? 

A: The NetFerret code has been written to be portable, however all the 
   Ferrets rely heavily on the operating system's multi-threading 
   capabilities to search multiple databases simultaneously. As 
   multi-threading is not present in Windows 3.1, it is unlikely a 
   Win3.x version will be available in the near future.

#7
Q: How can I add my own search engines?

A: The NetFerret's currently do not have a facility for users to add 
   new search engines. This is mainly due to the complexity of reading 
   and formatting returned results for display in the NetFerret lists 
   (unlike other products, the NetFerret utilities do not require that 
   you open up your Web browser in order to view the results).  We can
   add new and updated search engines configurations "on the fly" 
   without having to release new versions, or you having to download 
   updates.


#8
Q: In which order are results returned?

A: Each request to each engine is fired off simultaneously, but 
   independently, using different "threads". The results are listed in 
   the order that they are received, not on a per engine basis. The 
   response time of a particular engine will vary greatly depending on 
   the conditions of the link to that engine and the current operating 
   load on the engine at that time. Since different engines contain 
   different data, results will obviously differ in content, which is 
   why you should use many engines in order to get the most complete 
   set of results. 


#9
Q: My web browser is not launching (or the "wrong" browser is launching) 

A: WebFerret does not directly control which browser to launch, but 
   rather looks in the registry to determine the current default HTTP 
   protocol client i.e. the current default browser. As such, it is not 
   WebFerret's choice. A simple test to determine which is your current 
   default browser is type "http:" in the Start | Run menu dialog. This 
   will start up the default browser. 

   Many users have both Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape 
   Navigator installed. These two browsers will tussel over ownership 
   of the HTTP protocol handler and the latest versions of both will 
   ask you, upon running them, if you wish to make that browser the 
   default. If, for example, WebFerret is launching Internet
   Explorer and you would rather have Netscape launch, open up Netscape
   and when it asks whether to make Netscape the default, answer yes. 
   It will then be made the default HTTP protocol handler in your 
   registry.

   If you have previously chosen "not to be asked the question again" 
   for either browser (or you are not asked whether to make that 
   browser the default on start-up), and wish to switch allegiances 
   again, you will probably have to re-install.  One of the benefits of 
   two free choices ;->     

#10
Q: Where can I get the rest of the NetFerret Suite? 

A: The NetFerret suite is available for purchase at 
   http://www.mcp.com/netferret/.  Stop by and find out more about the 
   rest of the NetFerret Suite today! 