Matrix of WWW Indices

A comparison of Internet indexing tools

      http://www.avaloncity.com/info/fprefect/matrix/matrix.shtml

I am currently finishing the necessary work to setup the Matrix. My current effort is to build the graphic checklist and link the image to specific portions of the collection, then complete the evaluation portions of the pages. The next step will then be to complete the administrative documents, and post public announcements to various newsgroups and What's New services. Finally, I plan on keeping the matrix alive and current... a continuing process of research and updates.

Administrative Documents

Graphical Evaluation Matrix (Text Only)

The goal of the project, this is a graphic checklist identifying key features and support issues I found relevant. Each section of the charts are linked to the relevant documents in the collection.

Sample Evaluation

This is the template document from which I build each evaluation. It demonstrates the criteria and organization of individual evaluations.

Vocabulary Page

A reference page for selected terms used throughout this collection. The discussion assumes you have familiarity with basic Web concepts and terms; if not, you should refer to the Overview of the Internet documents.

Planned Servers

A list of Web servers that I plan on evaluating. Some are more important than others, but if you know or use a service that isn't on the list mail me the URL and I will add it.

Matrix Highlights

As I built the Matrix, I have found several pages that really stand out from the rest. These are not the search engines themselves, but additional or related services that offer value-added services.

Server Index

• AliWeb
• CMU Lycos
• CUI W3 Catalog
• EINet Galaxy
• GNA Meta-Index
• GNN's Whole Internet Catalog
• InfoSeek
• Internet Public Library
• Jumpstation
• Subject Clearinghouse
• WebCrawler
• WWW Worm
• YAHOO

AliWeb

URL for Front Page: http://web.nexor.co.uk/public/aliweb/aliweb.htm
URL for Forms Search Pages:

• Nexor (Home) : http://web.nexor.co.uk/public/aliweb/search/doc/form.html
• Indiana University (Mirror) : http://www.cs.indiana.edu/aliweb/search
• List of AliWeb Mirrors: http://web.nexor.co.uk/public/aliweb/doc/search.html

CMU Lycos

URL for Front Page: http://lycos.cs.cmu.edu/
URLs for Forms Search Pages:
(The author suggests connecting to a search page from the Lyco's Front Page, which automatically selects the server with the lightest load.)

• Big Catalog: http://query1.lycos.cs.cmu.edu/lycos-form.html
• Small Catalog: http://agent6.lycos.cs.cmu.edu/lycos-form.html

• Big Catalog: http://query1.lycos.cs.cmu.edu/cgi-bin/pursuit
• Small Catalog: http://agent6.lycos.cs.cmu.edu/cgi-bin/pursuit

CUI W3 Catalog

URL for Front Page: http://cuiwww.unige.ch/W3catalog/README.html
URL for Forms Search Page:

• CUI, Geneva (Home) : http://cuiwww.unige.ch/w3catalog
• Winfield Communications, Ohio (Mirror) : http://www.winc.com/W3catalog.html

EINet Galaxy

URL for Front Page: http://www.einet.net/galaxy.htm
URL for Top-Level Page: http://www.einet.net/galaxy.htm#TOPICS
URL for Forms Search Page: http://www.einet.net/galaxy.htm#SEARCH
URLs for Non-forms Search Pages:

• All Galaxy Search Pages: http://www.einet.net/search.html
• Search Galaxy Pages: http://www.einet.net/search-pages.html
• Find Galaxy Entries: http://www.einet.net/entries/entries.html
• Search the Web (Fulltext): http://www.einet.net/www/www.html
• Search the Web (Link text only): http://www.einet.net/www/links/links.html

GNA Meta-Index

URL for Front Page: http://uu-gna.mit.edu:8001/uu-gna/index.htm
URLs for Top-Level Pages:

• GNA Local Documentation: http://uu-gna.mit.edu:8001/uu-gna/tech/index.htm
• GNA Online Catalog System: http://uu-gna.mit.edu:8001/gna-catalog/catalogview?order=topic

• GNA Meta-Library Search: http://uu-gna.mit.edu:8001/cgi-bin/meta
• GNA Miranda Search: http://uu-gna.mit.edu:8001/cgi-bin/miranda
• GNA Catalog Search: http://uu-gna.mit.edu:8001/gna-catalog/search

GNN's Whole Internet Catalog

URL for Front Page: http://nearnet.gnn.com/gnn/GNNhome.html
URL for Top-Level Page: http://nearnet.gnn.com/wic/newrescat.toc.html
Home Organization: Global Network Navigator (GNN), O'Reilly & Associates

InfoSeek

URL for Front Page: http://www.infoseek.com/
URL for Forms Search Pages:

• Demo Search: http://www.infoseek.com/doc/help/InfoSeekIntro.html#Demo
• Registered Users: http://www.infoseek.com/Query

Internet Public Library

URL for Front Page: http://ipl.sils.umich.edu/
URL for Top-level Page: http://ipl.sils.umich.edu/ref/RR/
URL for Forms Search Page: http://ipl.sils.umich.edu/ref/Search.html
Home Organization: School of Information and Library Studies (SILS), University of Michigan

JumpStation

URLs for Front Pages:

• JumpStation: http://www.stir.ac.uk/jsbin/js
• JumpStation II: http://www.stir.ac.uk/jsbin/jsii

• JumpStation Non-Forms Title Search: http://www.stir.ac.uk/jsbin/title_js
• JumpStation Non-Forms Heading Search: http://www.stir.ac.uk/jsbin/h1_js
• JumpStation Forms: http://www.stir.ac.uk/jsbin/js?search
• JumpStation II Forms: http://www.stir.ac.uk/jsbin/jsii?jsii_doc_search

Subject Clearinghouse

URL for Front Page: http://www.sils.umich.edu/~lou/chhome.html
URL for Top-level Page: http://www.sils.umich.edu/~lou/chhome.html
URL for Non-Forms Search Page: gopher://una.hh.lib.umich.edu/77/inetdirsstacks/.waisindx/index
Home Organization: School of Information and Library Studies and the University Library, University of Michigan

WebCrawler

URL for Front Page: http://webcrawler.com/WebCrawler/Home.html
URL for Forms Search Page: http://webcrawler.com/
URL for Non-Forms Search Page: http://webcrawler.com/cgi-bin/WebQuery
Home Organization: America Online, Inc.

WWW Worm

URL for Front Page: http://www.cs.colorado.edu/home/mcbryan/WWWWintro.htm
URL for Forms Search Page: http://www.cs.colorado.edu/home/mcbryan/WWWW.html
URL for Help Page: http://www.cs.colorado.edu/home/mcbryan/WWWWintro.htm#instr
Home Organization: Dept. of Computer Science, University of Colorado at Boulder

YAHOO

URL for Front Page: http://www.yahoo.com/
URL for Top-Level Page: http://www.yahoo.com/
URL for Forms Search Page http://www.yahoo.com/search.html
Home Organization: Stanford University