Although the USGenWeb querybot is not quite ready, the query
committee thought you'd like to hear what's been going on. The
program logic is complete, and is going through the initial test
phases.
Here are some of the features of the new querybot:
* 1) The ability to have the query forwarded to any combination of
the
following:
- sent to the CC's e-mail
- sent to a mailing list
- posted to a Web page, with a Web page interface for the CC to
reset the page (no waiting and wondering if someone else has done it)
* 2) The query can be in the following formats
- HTML, with various options
- In CCHelper format
* 3) The format of the query submission page is controlled by you,
but we
will give you a vanilla working page to start with. You also control
the page the visitor gets after the query is submitted, so you can
link them back to whereever you like.
* 4) The CC controls the options in #2 thru a Web page interface, so
there is no need to depend on others when you change e-mail addresses
or want a different format.
In addition, the querybot will work hand in hand with the new Surname
Helper surname search engine. Queries posted to your Web page that
come from the querybot can be automatically indexed with Surname
Helper. Each county participating in Surname Helper will have a
search page for their county that will allow searches for a particular
surname. And there is a search page for all of USGenWeb as well as for
each state. Researchers have reported finding leads in counties
which they never thought to look using the predecessor to Surname
Helper, CCHelper Central, so the national and state level search pages
can bring in new visitors to your county.
The combination of the new USGenWeb querybot and Surname Helper will
give you control over your queries (you decide which are posted and
can correct any blatant errors before they are posted) and the
benefits of having your pages reachable thru a national, state and
county level surname search page. Both these functions use the same
set of password-protected Web pages for registration, so you'll have
one-stop shopping for controlling the various options, changing URLs
or your e-mail address.
The USGenWeb Query Committee
---------------
<alphabetically>
Mike Gwinn <mgwinn(a)mediaone.net>
Michael L. Hebert <mhebert(a)geocities.com>
Dr. Brian Leverich <leverich(a)rootsweb.com>
Patty Lindsay <plindsay(a)discover.wright.edu>
Dale Schneider <maddoc(a)ibm.net>
Stacy Whitney <stacy(a)wave.sands-edge.com>
Barry Zurawicz <digeridu(a)sprintmail.com>
Megan Zurawicz <pigoletto(a)worldnet.att.net>