Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for adding independent functionality to software applications. For one embodiment of the invention, software providing a desktop search functionality is implemented at the operating system level and allows a target application to access and use the desktop search functionality without modification of the application. For one such embodiment, information communicated between the target application and the operating system, or other applications, is intercepted and evaluated. A determination is then made as to whether or not to implement the desktop search functionality within the target application based upon the intercepted information. Desktop search functionality added to the target application may replace or augment the existing desktop search functionality of the target application, if any. For one embodiment of the invention, a desktop search capability is provided to specific applications to which such capability is deemed beneficial.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing an Internet (Web) search functionality to a target application. The Web functionality allows a target application to access and use the Web search functionality without modification of the target application. For one embodiment, information communicated between the target application and the operating system, or other applications, is intercepted and evaluated. A determination is made as to whether or not to implement the Web search functionality within the target application based upon the intercepted information. For one embodiment of the invention, a Web search capability is implemented with applications to which such capability is deemed beneficial. For one embodiment of the invention, the added Web search functionality automates the process of saving selected web content to the user's personal computer, locating the saved Web content on the personal computer, and appending the saved content into the target application product.

Abstract: The generation a search query based on information stored on a storage medium is described. According to one embodiment of the invention, search criteria is entered to perform a search of a storage medium of a client computer. The search of the storage medium determines a web search criteria. The client computer provides search results based on the web search criteria.