Re: "Data Missing"

[Elizabeth Thomsen <et@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 7 Aug 2000, Harvey Hahn wrote:
> I was under the impression that Innovative did *not* want users to 
> use the standard browser buttons (it could have unpredictable 
> results) but, rather, to use the Innovative screen buttons *only*.

Well, it doesn't matter what Innovative wants, people are going to use
their browser buttons anyway-- this is a problem that comes up at times
with all web-based database programs.  You can't expect people to use
their usual browser without bringing their usual-browser habits with them.  
As for running the browser without buttons, that works OK on library
workstations, but we get more web catalog searches done from outside our
buildings than from our busiest library.

It seems to me that I've been seening the Data Missing error ever since
we came up last December.  It always happens if you revise the search in
the search box on the results page.  This is another manifestation of the
same problem that I posted about last week with the Javascript "back"
buttons on our library information pages.

You can sort of see what's happening.  If you do a search on "magic
schoolbus" and then, on your results page, add a space to make the search
"magic school bus," you'll see that although you get the right results,
and the search displays correctly in the search box on the results page,
the URL in the location box displays with "magic+schoolbus" instead of
"magic+school+bus".  If you do the same thing on Yahoo or Altavista, the
search URL has the "magic+school+bus" string in it.

I think that's the problem, I just don't have the solution.

-- 
Elizabeth Thomsen, Member Services Manager
NOBLE: North of Boston Library Exchange
Danvers MA 01923
et@xxxxxxxxxx

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