Strings for creating direct URLs

[mattc]

Hi all,

I think this is possible, but possibly I'm lacking some understanding.

If I run a google search then when it completes, i can see the string in the url and the variables that make it up - i can copy this url and put it in an href etc...

On many websites, I find that the variables don't appear in the url, so a link will just take you back to the search page. Take http://www.apple.com/software/pro/tr...certifieds.php for example. If you search for a last name e.g. smith then it will reload the page with results but it doesn't show

?lastname=smith

or similar in the url.

I understand I can look at the source to find the variables, but I can't seem to write a url that works as a link to the results page for lastname = smith

If someone could clarify how or if this is possible I'd really appreciate it!
Thanks

[NRasool]

HI Matthew, Are you talking about Actinic search? If so, then you can use the following format:

http://localhost/cgi-bin/ss0000xx.pl?page=search&PR=-1&TB=A&SS=<search term>&ACTION=Go!

Where

Localhost = your website address
xx = script number
<search term>=your search term - smith in your example

You can make a simple href with that link

Kind Regards

[mattc]

Hi NRasool

I wasn't actually, but thank you!

I understand how to manage the actinic search string. I was hoping it was possible to work out a URL string for sites that don't display it - not necessarily just for search but also for input.

E.g. if I look at the source of a page and see that the input for a field with name="age" then is it possible to write a URL (for use in a link on a webpage) that automatically inserts 50 into the "age" input and submits?

[fergusw]

Matthew,
What you are referring to is usually defined as the "query string" i.e. the part after the ? in the URL.
It depends on the website's technology as to whether a direct URL with the query string data will work or not.
E.g. some website search pages pass the information for the search results through a forms "POST" method, which does not use the querystring (GET METHOD), hence a direct URL would not work in this instance.
Also, some sites utilise session objects to track and track a users experience on the site, thereby negating the ability to directly link through a URL with a querystring.

Some sites you will be able to do this with, some you wont.

[mattc]

Thanks fergusw - that clears it up for me.

[Mark H]

If you use the main search boxes on the Apple link you provided, it doesn't work, as you say. However if you use the standard search box on the top right of the page it does provide a URL string which could be made into a link, eg:

http://www.apple.com/search/mac/?q=iphone

So, two different methods on the same page......