Thunderstone Blog: Customized Search Engine & Search Software

It can be difficult to find the right search solution for a college, university, or other educational institution so that users can gather the information they need to succeed. The right search solution affects multiple types of users, including current students, prospective students, their parents, and anyone who works at the affected institution, so it’s critical to find a search option that can cater to all these parties.

Specific Search Solution Issues for Educational Institutions

Thanks to a wide range of users, educational institutions can amass a hodge-podge of different sites. These can include main “marketing” sites, individual department sites, and student/faculty pages. This assortment of sites with different functions and capabilities can prove problematic for search functions.

Another issue is that these sites can be targeted to different types of users. The marketing site can be directed toward prospective students and their parents. Student and faculty pages may be designed for use of a group of people with individual logins. Each one of these sites need to provide its users with results that match their intent. For example, a “marketing” site should help users find information on the school itself, whereas an internal login for the school library’s site should returns results for documents, books, and other files in the library’s database.

Along with the wide variety of sites, there’s also the possibility that different departments might run their own sites. This means that the institution needs a search solution that is powerful enough to handle many files, as well as flexible enough to match the needs of each different department and its users.

Search Appliance Solutions for College and University Sites

With the wide range of potential sites and users, a high-performance search solution that can allow multiple administrative users is in order. In this setup, these users can be delegated permissions on specific areas of the index or specific settings. For example, a College of Medicine might administer its own search while still feeding results into the main University Search. There could also be a situation where one user may be responsible for the look and feel of a search while somebody else oversees the actual crawling of the search.

The range of potential sites and audiences can also be addressed with the ability to promote particular pages for specific searches, including custom messages in the search results page. For example, a search for “Admissions” could link to the appropriate page with a specific message with it, or a search for the sports team could show the latest scores or schedule. That will provide each audience with customized results that can improve their overall search experience.

If you need powerful customizable search solutions for your school, Thunderstone can help. High-performance solutions like our parametric search appliance or the highly-customizable Webinator web index and retrieval software can help your users find what they need, no matter which one of your sites they’re using. Contact us online or give us a call at 216-820-2200 to start the process of getting a customized search solution that’s built for your institution’s needs.

Not all websites search needs are the same. A custom solution may be needed to handle your searching needs. Thunderstone's TEXIS can provide you with a full text search engine that will give you the power you need to handle your internal searches.

What Exactly is TEXIS?

TEXIS is a fully-integrated full text search engine. That makes TEXIS a flexible option that works with numerous integrated applications, including:

• message profiling and handling
• image library management
• help-desk support
• online news retrieval
• business intelligence
• research libraries
• litigation support
• Internet retail operations

TEXIS is powerful search engine option that can handle 10,000 records and more with an English language vocabulary of 250,000 words, plus phrase concept associations for natural language queries. In fact, TEXIS is the core technology for our other products, as it encompasses database and search engine capabilities.

What Makes it Different from Other Search Engines?

The key for TEXIS is versatility and customization. TEXIS isn't limited to website or fileserver searches; it can be tailored to do even more, giving you an option that be customized to be as powerful as you need it to be. TEXIS is the only search engine with a Structured Query Language configuration. This provides you with added benefits and advantages when it comes to complicated search requirements.

Fully-Integrated Full Text Search Engines from Thunderstone

Some of our customers use TEXIS as a search engine, others need it as an e-commerce system. Our TEXIS technology can be customized to fit your needs, so don't be afraid to tell us what you need and we'll be happy to work with you.Contact us online or give us a call at 216-820-2200 for more information on how TEXIS from Thunderstone can benefit you.

Increase sales and reduce customer service calls when your customers quickly and easily find the products they need.

CLEVELAND, OH — Thunderstone Software LLC announces the Thunderstone Catalog Search solution designed so all kinds of business, from manufacturers, industrial supply and other B2B suppliers to online web stores can boost sales with enhanced search capabilities.

• Query auto-complete providing suggestions as you type, often showing the desired product with a few keystrokes
• Full catalog import allows searching and faceting on any attribute
• Automatically select facets based on search results
• Highly configurable search results order, using one or more of: relevance, popularity, rating, price, profit, "featured", any other product attribute, e.g. size or capacity
• Preconfigured searches on SEO friendly pages
• Analytics integration
• Configurable search result styles including grid and list, which can include pictures and "Add to Cart" links.

The Thunderstone Catalog Solution can be delivered in a variety of ways to suit the customer, include a hosted SaaS solution, virtual appliance, hardware appliance or software. Each comes with Thunderstone’s Head Start Assistance which ensures a successful deployment, and Investment Protection Program so as your needs grow the solution can be scaled up without starting over with a new solution.

To find out more about the Thunderstone Catalog Solution call +1 216 820 2200, Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Eastern Time, or visit www.thunderstone.com/catalog. After an initial needs analysis you can try the solution for 30-days with your own catalog to see how it can enhance your web based catalog.

For over 30 years Thunderstone Software has been dedicated to providing the best search solutions possible to government, corporate, and non-profit customers, with exceptional service and devotion to finding the right solution for the customer.

For further information call +1 216-820-2200, visit www.thunderstone.com/catalog or email

April 2008 - Archive

CONTENTS

• Questions on Search
• Happenings
• Save $200 on attendence at the Enterprise Search Summit in New York City
• An Enterprise Search Tool Self-Check Up
• New Upgrade Options Offered For Thunderstone's Maintenance & Support Program
• Tech Tips: Equivalence Files aka Thesaurus or Synonyms
• Subscription/Unsubscription and Contacts

QUESTIONS ON SEARCH

What are some of the key technologies to look at when you are trying to turn data into information and business success?

Before looking at specific technologies it is important to determine where information could be used to improve business success. Is it a matter of too much or too little information, or not being able to access it efficiently?

While there are several key technologies today that can help convert information into business success, including search data warehouses which allow users to query all structured and unstructured data in an ad-hoc manner to answer their questions, and collaboration tools to let groups enhance information, the real key technology is a platform that is flexible enough to meet the changing needs of the business as different types of information become available, and the business goals change.

These tools will help users set the line between information overload, and not finding the information they want. Some of the technologies a flexible tool enables are alerting applications that can notify employees of new or changed content they are interested in, filters to hide the content they don't care about, and passive search embedded into applications that can suggest related information as content is created.

To get your questions on search answered please email .

HAPPENINGS

Stephen E. Arnold (President of Arnold Information Technology) interviewed John Turnbull (President & CEO of Thunderstone Software LLC) for the "Search Wizards Speak" feature on his "Beyond Search" blog. You can read the article at http://www.arnoldit.com/search-wizards-speak/thunderstone.html

UPCOMING EVENT

Enterprise Search Summit 2008

The Enterprise Search Summit in New York City, May 19-21, is focused on extending search as a major computing platform. It is held at the Hilton New York. Thunderstone is a Gold-Level Sponsor. Come and visit us at tabletop 8.

If you are going to be in New York for the Enterprise Search Summit, please let us know. We'll schedule some time to get together and make sure we are serving you as well as possible.

SAVE $200 ON ATTENDENCE AT THE ENTERPRISE SEARCH SUMMIT IN NEW YORK CITY

ENTERPRISE SEARCH SUMMIT is a highly intense, in-depth, 2-day conference that covers how to develop, implement and enhance cutting-edge internal search capabilities. If you are an information manager or IT or search professional, ENTERPRISE SEARCH SUMMIT is where you will learn strategies and build the skill sets you need to make your organization's content not only searchable but "findable."

Save up to $200 on a Gold Pass or Full 2-Day Conference attendee pass, compliments of Thunderstone Software LLC, by registering online at http://www.enterprisesearchsummit.com/ and using the Priority Code THST88 to automatically receive your discount. Choose between:

• a Gold Pass -- which includes the Full 2-Day Conference Pass (May 20 - May 21) plus your choice of two half-day pre-conference workshops on May 19. You'll pay only $1,095, instead of up to $1,295.

• or just the Full 2-Day Conference Pass (May 20 - May 21.) You'll pay only $895, instead of up to $1,095.

Either way, you will have complete access to enjoy all the tabletop displays in the vendor showcase for FREE.

Thunderstone's Fred Harmon () and Peter Thusat () look forward to seeing you at the 2008 Enterprise Search Summit in Manhattan. Call us at +1 216 820 2200 if you'd like to schedule a time to meet with us at tabletop 8.

AN ENTERPRISE SEARCH TOOL SELF-CHECK UP

by Stephen E. Arnold
sa at arnoldit.com

I don't want to repeat the information in the first three edition of Enterprise Search Report or my new study Beyond Search: What to Do When Your Search System Doesn't Work. I can, however, pull out some of the key points and offer these as a simple check list:

1. Do you conduct user surveys and ask employees about their likes, dislikes, and needs with regard to your enterprise search system? If you answered "yes", do you take action and then do a follow up survey, to determine how the change is perceived? If "yes," congratulations. If "no", you may be flying blind.

1. When you run a query, how long does it take the system to return results? If your system is as fast as Google's or Microsoft's Live.com, kudos. If your Intranet search system is slower, users may give up and go elsewhere for information. Obviously, when users don't use the search system, it's not meeting their needs. In my research, some enterprise search systems return results in a minute or more. That's too long to make a harried employee wait.

1. Does your system index new and changed content every few minutes? If you answer "yes", you are in tune with today's need for near-real time information. In my work, more than 80 percent of search systems update content on a daily or less frequent basis. These systems don't have the current information employees require. Keep in mind that most information requests are satisfied with the most recent information, so delays in index updates are one of the major causes of dissatisfaction. Needed information is not in the system and, therefore, not available.

1. Does your enterprise search system provide its users with suggestions or links to information tangential to their direct query? If you answered "yes", pat yourself on the back. You are providing a system that makes it easier for some employees to explore or discover information without playing guessing games with a search box.

1. Does your enterprise system automatically classify information so a user can point-and-click her way through the available information for her security level and job function? If you answered "yes", take a break and relax. You are in the select few who have implemented a useful content processing function for your system's users.

1. Is your system up 24x7 with 99.999998 uptime? If you answered "yes", you have enterprise-class uptime. Most enterprise search systems are not able to meet this uptime target unless the service is hosted and managed off your premises.

What if you answered "no" to these questions? As the saying goes, "Houston, we have a problem."

Read the full article at: http://arnoldit.com/wordpress/2008/04/11/enterprise-search-disappointing-and-annoying-users/#more-236

NEW UPGRADE OPTIONS OFFERED FOR THUNDERSTONE'S MAINTENANCE & SUPPORT PROGRAM

The annual maintenance agreement on your licensed Thunderstone search solution provides you with a Standard, Enhanced or Premium Level Maintenance & Support Program.

MSP STANDARD LEVEL
MSP STANDARD LEVEL includes all relevant software enhancements and upgrades during the covered term plus convenient access to Thunderstone's well-qualified technical support engineers by phone, email and message board. For Appliance customers it provides free replacement and overnight shipment of any hardware that requires replacement due to hardware failure.

MSP ENHANCED LEVEL
In addition to everything provided in MSP STANDARD LEVEL, Thunderstone customers at MSP ENHANCED LEVEL also enjoy:

• One day of remote training, consulting and/or customized software development services to support initial project implementation activities.
• Scheduled Quarterly Reviews to analyze system performance, resolve known user and administrator issues, discuss current/future needs, etc.
• Automated backup of Appliance settings at Thunderstone for easy restorations.
• DISCOUNTED rates offered on additional desired training, consulting and/or customized software development.

MSP PREMIUM LEVEL
In addition to everything provided in MSP STANDARD and ENHANCED LEVELS, Thunderstone customers at MSP PREMIUM LEVEL will automatically receive:

• Two additional (three total) days of remote training, consulting and/or customized software development services to support initial project implementation activities.
• Priority Access to technical support resources and staff.
• Membership on Thunderstone's Customer Advisory Board.
• One day of on-site consulting services provided at the customers' preferred location in North America per year.
• One day of remote training, consulting and/or customized software development per year.

Now Thunderstone customers who participate in Thunderstone's MSP STANDARD LEVEL Maintenance & Support Program may "upgrade" their annual maintenance agreement to the higher MSP LEVEL of their choice and obtain all the benefits offered at the MSP ENHANCED or MSP PREMIUM LEVELS.

For more information and pricing details about the options available to you, simply send an email to or phone Fred Harmon at +1 216 820 2200 ext. 105.

TECH TIPS: EQUIVALENCE FILES AKA THESAURUS OR SYNONYMS

All the Thunderstone Search Solutions, including Texis, Webinator and the Thunderstone Search Appliance, include a thesaurus which can be used to expand search terms out to cover the concept the user is interested in.

The included thesaurus can be extended or replaced by a custom thesaurus to match your specific needs. To create the thesaurus you can use your favorite editor to create a plain text file. This file needs to be compiled before being used.

The file consists of the word the user entered, followed by a comma separated list of synonyms to search for. For example if the file contained the line:

car,ford,chevy,toyota

A search for "car" would also search for "ford", "chevy" or "toyota". When compiling the equivalence file you can specify the relationships between the words on each line. With the Thunderstone Search Appliance this is specified via the "Permutations" option in the interface, and for the software tools the -l option to the backref program.

The options available are:

None (backref -l1) - no permutations are done, creating a single direction association, using the example above "car" would also find "ford", "chevy" or "toyota", whereas a search for "chevy" would only search for "chevy".

Single (backref -l2) - a single permutation is done, creating a bi-directional association. Going back to the example above "car" would still find "ford", "chevy" or "toyota", however a search for "chevy" will now search for both "chevy" and "car".

Full (backref -l3) - a full permutation is done, creating a complete association. Using the example above any of the search terms "car", "ford", "chevy" or "toyota" will search for any of the other terms, e.g. a search for "toyota" would find "chevy".

You can use the "None" option and provide the explicit mappings, which may require a larger input file. You can also break lines up for ease of maintenance, so the following would be equivalent to the line above:

car,ford
car,chevy
car,toyota

Feedback, suggestions and questions are welcome to

July 2008 - Archive

CONTENTS

• Questions on Search
• News Happenings
• How Do You Use Search In Your Enterprise?
• Customer Quote of the Month
• Subscription/Unsubscription and Contacts

QUESTIONS ON SEARCH

Q. How are different disciplines such as enterprise search, ECM and business intelligence coming together, and what challenges or opportunities does this present to organizations in the management of their information?

A. The ever-increasing amount of information produced by and available to companies today provides sizable challenges and commensurate opportunities. To go along with that, there are a growing number of products that can help with specific aspects of handlling that information. Each of the disciplines (such as ECM, BI and search) is expanding in an attempt to provide an enterprise-wide view of the available information. Each is gaining capabilities from the other disciplines but still maintains its core view -- whether that be maintaining a central repository for all information, analyzing selected information in special ways or creating an efficient method to rapidly access and retrieve information.

Companies need to really know what information they have. And they must make intelligent decisions about how it can best be used within their workflows to provide a competitive advantage. In most organizations there are many opportunities to make better use of the available information. However, it can be a challenge to find the right tool with the features and flexibility needed.

NEWS HAPPENINGS

Free-lance writer Paul Korzeniowski interviewed, among others, Thunderstone Texis customer Derek Matthews (Lead Knowledge Architect of Arbia, Inc.) for an article to appear in the August issue of DestinationCRM magazine.

Eric Kavanagh (Host of DMRadio -- http://www.dmreview.com/dmradio) will interview John Turnbull (CEO of Thunderstone Software LLC) 21 August 2008 for a scheduled web radio show broadcast on "Enterprise Search."

How Do You Use Search In Your Enterprise?

Businesses, governments, NGOs and educational institutions use Thunderstone's enterprise search solutions in a wide range of applications. How about you? How many of the following search applications have you considered, or perhaps already implemented, at your organization?

• auctions
  Thunderstone has worked with well-known companies (and federal government customers) to deploy some of the most highly successful online auction sites in the world.

• classified advertising
  From real estate and automotive sales to personals and help wanted ads, Thunderstone's flexible search tools have made setting up online classified advertising a breeze.

   

• CRM and help lines
  When your people need to rapidly find precisely the right response to the pressing concerns of your customers, Thunderstone provides powerful search products for results you can trust.

   

• document 'findability'
  An intranet doesn't do you much good, if the file server contains documents your authorized users can't locate and retrieve as desired. Help them access data faster and securely with Thunderstone Software.

   

• eDiscovery and litigation support
  Lawyers and judges began using Thunderstone's Metamorph concept-based searching technology for litigation support more than 20 years ago and for eDiscovery applications as early as 1997.

   

• intelligence collection/analysis
  Customers employ Thunderstone's technology to create multiple independent search collections, each consisting of one or more websites. They can create special collections of web information for their users, or for competitive intelligence purposes, by indexing targeted third-party websites anywhere on the internet.

   

• internet publishing
  Thunderstone empowers viewers of your online publications to do "parametric searches" for relevant content on a particular subject, written by a specific author and published within a certain timeframe. The parameters (defined attributes) of "author" and "publish date" enable precise queries that quickly return only the exact matches your users want. Keyword, full-text search alone does not offer this capability.

   

• knowledge management
  Systems integrators can rely on Thunderstone Software for extremely robust and secure enterprise-wide information retrieval across multiple repositories that serve different types of users, who all want dynamic, context-sensitive views of defined content (structured data) with the ability to refine results through full-text searching (unstructured data.)

   

• multimedia searching
  Access/retrieval needs increasingly involve many varieties of multimedia data. Thunderstone's customers can also search for audio, graphics, photos and video files stored in databases where, thanks to Thunderstone, all the content becomes immediately searchable -- including newly added or frequently changed data.

   

• online product catalogs
  Thunderstone supports very large, high-volume online catalogs that contain unstructured text (product names, narrative descriptions, etc.) and structured content (styles/sizes, prices, current in-stock availability status, etc.,) giving online shoppers the ability to search by item description, to navigate by price range or to efficiently do both in combination.

   

• vertical portals
  Market niche specialists, non-profit organizations and other uniquely-focused subject matter experts have turned to Thunderstone for affordable, easy-to-implement search tools with the power, versatility and scalability demanded by their vertical portal sites.

   

• website searching
  Happy customers around the world have discovered that websites (public-facing or internal) with many pages and lots of potentially valuable information will enjoy substantial benefits by adding the search advantages of Texis, Webinator or Thunderstone Search Appliances.

   

If you would like to share your own story about one or more effective ways that your organization has deployed Thunderstone search technology, please call +1 216 820 2200 or send an email to

Next month's edition of this newsletter will include a look at how the U.S. General Services Administration uses Thunderstone Search Appliances in its Unisys ClearPath Mainframe environment to handle different types of searching on a popular GSA auction site for selling excess and surplus government furniture, office products, scientific equipment, heavy machinery, airplanes, vessels, vehicles, etc.

CUSTOMER QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“We use a Thunderstone Search Appliance to search our company intranet. All the customization options are great. It has been a very valuable product to us. Overall, the product is very nice. And with all the customization options, we were able to make the search engine perform the way we wanted it to. Great job on delivering a great product.”

Jeremy Townsend
Programmer/Internet Analyst
Perdue Farms Inc.

Feedback, suggestions and questions are welcome to