Click for Apple's Sherlock page!

Building a Sherlock™ Plug-in!
Click for Apple's Sherlock page!
[ About issp_builder | Download isspbuilder | What is Sherlock? | Contact Me! ]
(This site designed for 640x480 resolution and checked in Netscape 4.0 )


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Part 5: Test your plug-in to see if it will work.
[ About issp_builder | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 ]

Step 5a:

Install your new Sherlock plug-in:

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  • Just drop a COPY of your plug-in onto your closed System Folder:
    It will be installed in the proper place.

Step 5b:

Test your Sherlock plug-in:

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  • At this point we just want to find out if the plug-in will work at all.

    Here's how:
    1. Connect to the Internet.
    2. Launch Sherlock, and click:
      or:
      1. "Search Internet" (if using OS 8.6.1 or below)
      2. the "Earth" icon (if using OS 9 or above).
    3. Look for name of your plug-in, and select only that plug-in.
      (Didn't find your plug-in?
      Then quit Sherlock, go back to       Step 4c, and give your plug-in a proper name!)
    4. Run the Sherlock search and see what happens:

      If this is the result:
      ...it might be:

      ..I immediately get the message
      "A network error occurred."
      • The web site is down.
        Try running a search directly from the web site.
      • The plug-in's "ACTION" line is not correct: Try modifying it.
      • There isn't a ">" character on the line right right before the first "<INPUT" line in the plug-in.
      • The "</search>" line is missing from the bottom of the plug-in.

      ..after waiting a minute or two, I get the message
      "A network error occurred."
      • One of the plug-in's "<input" lines may be incorrect.
      • It may not be possible to write a plug-in for this site
        (due to the web site's search engine, or the way it sends search results to your computer.)

      ...Sherlock reports:
      "No Items were found".
      • Try searching for a more common word or phrase.

      ..only a few links were found
      • Try searching a more common word.
      • The search results may be displayed in a separate box or table that Sherlock didn't see.
        (If this is true, there's a slim chance a plug-in can be written for this site.)

      ..lots of links were found, and most look like they match my search request.
      • Looks like your Sherlock plug-in is working!

    5. If your plug-in didn't work the first time don't feel bad: They rarely work the first time!

      To modify your plug-in, just:
      1. Quit or Close Sherlock,
      2. Open the plug-in file in BBEdit Lite,
      3. Make your changes and Save the file,
      4. Repeat Steps 2 thru 4 above. 
      5. Keep doing this until your plug-in works.

Step 5c:

Congratulations...You've created a working Sherlock plug-in!

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Grab yourself a nice cool drink, hot fudge sundae, whatever, and celebrate.
(Just don't do this if you plan to make hundreds of plug-ins ;-)
(click here to return to the beginning of this Tutorial)



[ About issp_builder | Download isspbuilder | What is Sherlock? | Contact Me! ]
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Disclaimer: These plug-ins and any associated programs at this website have been provided to make your searching with Sherlock more convenient & productive. While they have been thoroughly tested & work just fine on my Macintosh, they are provided "as is" without warranty or remedy of any kind: You assume any risks in using this software, and are solely responsible for any outcome resulting from such use. Unless explicitly stated, these plug-ins were created solely by the Author through direct examination & use of the websites mentioned, and are neither endorsed nor supported by Apple Computer or the specific websites they are designed to work with.

Copyright: While this information is available free of charge, it is not in the Public Domain. Copyright is claimed on all material presented on this page, as well as any files linked to this page that have been created by the Author of this site. Plug-ins may be distributed provided the entire folder of information is distributed without alteration. If you would like to distribute them in a collection, CD-ROM or by other mass duplication means, contact me for permission. Thanks.

Questions? Comments? Plug-ins? Contact me! I welcome any questions, comments, suggestions, plug-ins or links you may have.

Trademarks:

  • Mac and the Mac logo are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. The Made on a Mac Badge is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., used with permission.

Any other trademarks, service marks, or icons mentioned/shown in this document are the property of their respective owners, and it is not the intention of this site to dilute or compromise such marks: Contact me if you wish your mark to be acknowledged or removed from this site.

 

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