Abstract: A search apparatus with a user interface to a search engine is disclosed. The search apparatus includes a search term field, a search result list area and a search result display area. The search term field is adapted to receive a search term to be submitted to a search engine to initiate a search. The search result list area is used to display a list of search results found during the search. The search result display area is adapted to display one or more web pages corresponding to the search results, wherein the web pages are displayed in a matrix format. When configured to display two or more web pages, the at least two web pages are concurrently displayed. The number of the web pages concurrently displayed in the search result display area is user selectable.

Abstract: A toolbar apparatus includes program code stored in computer readable memory. The program code is configured display a control panel listing a plurality of information sources. At least one of the information sources is accessed via a computer network, and at least one is not. The program code is further configured to record a user selection associated with a quantity of selected information sources from the plurality of information sources. The program code is further configured to display, in a toolbar, a quantity of data entry fields that is equal to the quantity of selected information sources. Each of the data entry fields is associated with a selected information source. The program code is further configured to receive a search query entered into a data entry field. The program code is further configured to submit the search query to the selected information source associated with the data entry field.

Abstract: A method in a computing system with a graphical user interface (GUI) for installing a desk band is provided. The computing system comprises an operating system and a shell. An installation program is used to instantiate a desk band activator object within the context of the shell. The desk band activator object is configured to obtain a pointer to a desk band object and, in the context of the shell, pass that pointer to a method of an interface. The method in turn is used to activate the desk band object.

Abstract: A text search and retrieval system which builds an index representing every word in stored files created by a variety of applications, searches for requested words using the index and ranks the files based on the relative strength of match with the search request. From a display of the ranked filenames, the user can select a file, whereupon the file is tested to determine which one of a plurality of file viewers to deploy. The corresponding viewer is automatically loaded and used to display consecutive screens of information from the selected file. Further searching within the file is accomplished within the context of the viewer by matching character strings of a new search request with words in the items of the file produced by the viewer. To work on a file in view, the user can invoke the software application which created the file by loading the application corresponding to the viewer along with the desired file, without abandoning the search system.