Since the introduction of the first Oracle search plugins for Firefox, a few things have changed:

• Mozilla upgraded Firefox to version 2.
• Microsoft upgraded Internet Explorer to version 7.
• And Google released the Custom Search Engine.

So, what does this have to do with search plugins? Read on and you will know:

• What’s new in IE7 and Firefox 2 regarding search plugins.
• You will be introduced to the new Oracle custom search engines powered by Google.
• And you will be able to install many Oracle search plugins that will help you in your Oracle-related research and learning.

Search plugins in the new Firefox 2 and IE 7

Both Firefox 2 and IE 7 browsers now support the OpenSearch description format (XML) for search plugins. Which means that if you develop a search plugin for Firefox, that exact same search plugin can also be installed and used in Internet Explorer.

Moreover, there are now two (automated) ways to install search plugins (and they both work in Firefox 2 and IE 7). The first is to call one simple JavaScript function, the second is through auto-discovery of search plugins.

Using auto-discovery, a web site that offers a search plugin can advertise it so that Firefox 2 and IE 7 users can easily download and install the plugin. This is similar to the RSS auto-discovery of feeds.

Search Plugin Installation in IE 7 Using Auto-Discovery

In IE 7, here is how the search bar looks when you browse a website without search plugin auto-discovery:

And here is how it looks with search plugin auto-discovery enabled:

If you click on that small orange down-arrow, you will see something similar to this:

In fact, if you are using IE 7 to browse this very page, you will be able to see it in action in your browser right now. Just look at your search bar.

Note: I have noticed that IE 7 does not discover more than 3 search plugins using auto-discovery.

Search Plugin Installation in IE 7 Using a JavaScript Link

Alternatively, if the installation is done using the JavaScript link, you will be presented with this window in IE 7:

Search Plugin Installation in Firefox 2 Using Auto-Discovery

In Firefox 2, here is how the search bar looks when you browse a website without search plugin auto-discovery:

And here is how it looks with search plugin auto-discovery enabled:

If you click on that small blue-ish down-arrow, you will see something similar to this:

In fact, if you are using Firefox 2.0 to browse this very page (or Wikipedia for example), you will be able to see it in action in your browser. Just look at your search bar.

Search Plugin Installation in Firefox 2 Using a JavaScript Link

Alternatively, if the installation is done using the JavaScript link, you will be presented with this window in Firefox 2.0:

Oracle Custom Search Engines

I have created three Oracle custom search engines powered by Google.

1. The first search engine is for Oracle-related blogs. It searches all the blogs aggregated by OraNA.

2. The second search engine is for Oracle-related forums and mailing lists. Currently this search engine searches the following sites:

   • freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/
   • orafaq.com/forum/
   • dbasupport.com/forums/
   • petefinnigan.com/forum/
   • rittman.net/forum/
   • oracle-base.com/forums/
   • dba.ipbhost.com
   • asktom.oracle.com
   • groups.google.com/group/comp.databases.oracle
   • forums.oracle.com

   Let me know if you have other Oracle-related forums you want to include in this search engine.

3. The third search engine is for Oracle-related websites. Currently this search engine searches the following sites:

   • jlcomp.demon.co.uk
   • dizwell.com
   • akadia.com
   • idevelopment.info
   • arikaplan.com/oracle/
   • julian.dyke.users.btopenworld.com/com/
   • dba-oracle.com
   • psoug.org
   • orafaq.com
   • oracle-base.com
   • oracle.com (including OTN)
   • red-database-security.com

   Let me know if you have other Oracle-related sites you want to include in this search engine.

These search engines, and more, are now available to you right from your browser’s search bar.

Install Oracle search plugins

Just click on a search plugin below to add it to the list of engines available in your browser’s search bar:
(Firefox 2 or IE 7 and above only)

Oracle Custom Search Engines:

• Oracle-Related Blogs
• Oracle-Related Forums
• Oracle-Related Websites

Oracle Documentation Search Engines:

• Oracle - All versions
• Oracle DB 8.1.7
• Oracle DB 9.0.1
• Oracle DB 9.2
• Oracle DB 10.1
• Oracle DB 10.2
• Oracle DB 11.1
• Oracle DB 10.2 Error Messages
• Oracle DB 10.2 Virtual Book
• Oracle Application Server 10.1.3.1
• Oracle Metalink

Keyboard Shortcuts

Here are four search bar keyboard shortcuts that will make using the search bar even faster:

• Go to search bar: Ctrl+K in Firefox. Ctrl+E in IE.
• Select next search engine in search bar: Alt+Down in Firefox. Ctrl+Down in IE.
• Select previous search engine in search bar: Alt+Up in Firefox. Ctrl+Up in IE.
• Open search results in a new tab: Alt+Enter

And here is a bonus tip to change the width of the search bar in Firefox.

Happy searching!

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Possibly related:

• Oracle Bookmarklets, Search Plugins and New Features Updated
• Oracle Firefox search plugin
• Add Any Search Engine to Your Browser, The Easy Way
• Useful Firefox Extension: ConQuery
• Oracle docs virtual book Firefox plugin

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Tagged Documentation, Firefox, internet-explorer, plugin, search | Post a Comment