For a little while at least, it seems like the ‘interim’ search is going to stay. So we might as well get to know it a bit better! Some people have complained about the lack of features compared to the old search engine, but I can assure you that they are still there, just not as obvious as before.
If you’ve ever used the advanced search operators in Google, then you’ll be pleased to know that they work here too. Check out this Google Cheat Sheet, which gives you a few simple tools that allow you to conduct more powerful searches. The only things that don’t work on our local search are the ‘calculator operators’.
February 15, 2008 – 1:40 pm
You wouldn’t need to be observant to have witnessed the anguished death throes of our Ultraseek search engine this past fortnight. It’s been up again, down again many times - at the moment it’s displaying some sort of awful error output. Not a good look.
As most of the University’s templated pages point to this search engine, I’ve been very keen to release a replacement include file so that everyone can update their sites, but one last piece in the puzzle has been holding me up for months.
I give up! This zip file contains a number of interim include files that will update pages on the new ‘07′ standard template as well as the old ‘blue curve’ standard template. Site admins should copy the files to their appropriate folders, (perhaps keep a backup of the old files!).
Download the new include files.
What do you mean, ‘interim’?
As soon as the aforementioned piece of of the puzzle falls into place, a new version of the include files will be released. It will sport a much simpler URL which will provide longevity to our search engine. The interim include will not stop working any time soon, but when the next/final include is released, it should be updated.
The files have been tested and are working in two sites, so as long as your templates haven’t been messed with too much, you should have no troubles. All the same - remember what I said about backups 
September 26, 2007 – 4:15 pm
Welcome to the search engine blog.We have created this fine blog in to keep all those people interested in search (yes, both of you!) up to date with what is in the works for search.unimelb.edu.au.You will notice that there is a Google customised search now available at http://search.unimelb.edu.au. Over time this engine will be modified to provide a range of exciting options, finally becoming self-aware in 2011.