Q.

What is MetaSearcher?

A.

MetaSearcher is a revolutionary metadata searching tool. It is a corporate website search engine that allows users to find what they are looking for through metadata or keyword searching and/or category browsing.

It can also enhance keyword searching via controlled vocabularies to improve the both search recall and precision by exploring synonym relationships and eliminating homonym problems, even when the information is not tagged by metadata using Metadata Tagging Service.

It allows you to search almost any kind of data that can be from multiple websites and reside anywhere on the Internet.  In addition, it lets you find what you need via browsing the categories you have created according to your need.

Q.

What is required to run MetaSearcher?

A.

MetaSearcher only requires a DBMS, a Web server, and a browser. It is truly open, allowing the use of any operating system, most major relational DBMS, any Web server, and any client.

Q.

Does MetaSearcher support metadata standards like Dublin Core and VRA Core?

A.

Yes, MetaSearcher supports most popular metadata standards, including Dublin Core and VRA Core.  And it lets you easily add the metadata standards that have not been provided by MetaSearcher, or create your own metadata standard templates.

Q.

What kind of data does MetaSearcher let you search?

A.

MetaSearcher lets you search almost any Web objects, including HTML page, XML page, image, video/audio, PDF, MS Office documents, and database records.  Most, if not all, of your data can be made accessible to your users.

Q.

What databases does MetaSearcher support?

A.

MetaSearcher supports most popular databases, including Oracle, Sybase, DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, and MySQL.

Q.

Does MetaSearcher support foreign languages?

A.

Yes, MetaSearcher allows you to create metadata in almost any language. 

Q.

Can controlled vocabularies be integrated with MetaSearcher?

A.

MetaSearcher enables the integration of controlled vocabularies, from vocabulary building to vocabulary indexing and to vocabulary searching. 

MetaSearcher adds a new dimension to keyword searching by incorporating the use of available controlled vocabularies to improve both search recall (retrieval of all data potentially relevant to the search topic) and precision (retrieval of only that data most associated with the search topic). Even when the information was not tagged using MME MetaIndexer, MME MetaSearcher allows the user to explore and include synonym relationships (for example, “automobile” and “car”) in a search and eliminate homonym problems by seeing the definitions for each before finalizing a search (for example, “bail” as a homonym of “bale”). Search almost any kind of data from multiple websites residing anywhere on the Internet.  In addition, searchers may browse using categories created to accommodate enterprise needs.

Q.

How many collections can be searched by MetaSearcher?

A.

Unlimited. And a collection can be either a website or a database.

Q.

What kinds of searching capabilities MetaSearcher provide?

A.

MetaSearcher offers a unique searching and browsing capability that really sets MetaSearcher apart from other metadata tools.  MetaSearcher takes advantage of controlled vocabularies to improve the search recall and precision, and tightly integrates metadata searching and category browsing to provide the best searching result and experience.

MetaSearcher enables you to browse and navigate a hierarchical category in addition to providing you with sophisticated metadata and keyword searching capabilities.  Studies have demonstrated that an effective retrieval system should enable users to find what they are looking for by both searching and browsing.  With MetaSearcher, you can find what you need easily and quickly through not only powerful searching but also efficient browsing with taxonomies or categories as interactive search interfaces.  MetaSearcher enables the user to browse categories in an expandable/collapsible tree, and provides the user with the number of results for each category while he is browsing and navigating.  As a result, the user knows exactly how many results will be returned before committing the search. 

Q.

How can I make the category browsing possible?

A.

First, you need to build categories for your particular fields based on your needs with MetaSearcher's Category Building module.  Then you can assign Web objects to appropriate categories with MetaSearcher's Categorizing module. With these two steps for category building and assigning, your users will be able to find what they need by the category browsing as well as metadata/keyword searching.