Summary

All major web browsers enable users to perform "quick searches", which directly query an Internet search engine. For example, to query Google's search engine in Firefox, users don't need to browse to google.com and then search (two steps), as they can query the search engine directly from the browser's "quick search" bar (1 step). This article explains how to enable browsers supported by Web Access to perform "quick searches" on Laserfiche repositories.

Note: If you are not logged in to your repository before using a browser's Web Access search provider, you will be prompted to do so before search results are displayed. You will only be able to see results for Laserfiche entries you have access to. In addition, the search provider will use the same settings as Web Access' Quick Search tool (these settings are defined at the user-level). For example, if you have configured Quick Search to search only text and entry names, the search provider will do the same. You can also include wildcard characters in your search terms, and it is not case-sensitive. Lastly, you must create one search provider for each browser and/or repository.

Note: After following the instructions below, close the browser and re-open it before attempting to use the new search provider.

Note: All instructions below apply explicitly to the Windows version of each browser, and may not be relevant to versions for other operating systems. In addition, this information is specific to the version number listed, and is subject to change as each third-party browser is updated. For more information on how search providers work for any of the browsers, see the product's official documentation and/or website.

Internet Explorer 8

To automatically create the search provider:

The recommended way of adding a Laserfiche Web Access search provider to this browser is by following the instructions in the product's help files, which explains a streamlined approach. Only use the manual method, explained below, if the above method doesn't work.

To manually create the search provider:

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Browse to Windows Search Guide page.

   Note: If the above link does not work, query an Internet search engine for "Add Search Providers to Internet Explorer" and look for a search result from Microsoft.com.

3. Under Create Your Own:
   
   
   • For the URL, enter http://WAServer/laserfiche8/index.aspx?db=RepoName#view=search;quicksearch=TEST, where WAServer should be replaced with the name or IP address of the machine hosting Web Access and RepoName should be replaced with the name of your Laserfiche repository.
   • For the name, enter Laserfiche Web Access.


4. Click Install.
5. In the Add Search Provider dialog box, click Add.

Firefox 3

To automatically create the search provider:

The recommended way of adding a Laserfiche Web Access search provider to this browser is by following the instructions in the product's help files, which explains a streamlined approach. Only use the manual method, explained below, if the above method doesn't work.

To manually create the search provider:

1. Open a text editor (e.g., Notepad) and paste the following text into it:

   
   <SearchPlugin xmlns="http://www.mozilla.org/2006/browser/search/">
      <ShortName>Laserfiche Web Access</ShortName>
      <Description>Searches a Laserfiche repository via Laserfiche Web Access</Description>
      <InputEncoding>UTF-8</InputEncoding>
      <Url type="text/html" method="GET" template="http://WAServer/laserfiche8/index.aspx?db=RepoName#view=search;quicksearch={searchTerms}"></Url>
      <Url type="application/x-suggestions+json" method="GET" template="http://WAServer/laserfiche8/index.aspx?db=RepoName#view=search;quicksearch={searchTerms}"/>
      <SearchForm>http://WAServer/laserfiche8/index.aspx</SearchForm>
   </SearchPlugin>
   

   
   
2. Replace all instances of WAServer with the name or IP address of the machine hosting Web Access and replace all instances of RepoName with the name of your Laserfiche repository.
3. Save the file to your desktop as LFWA8.xml.
4. Browse to Firefox's installation directory. In most cases, this will be C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox.
5. Browse into the searchplugins folder.
6. Drag the LFWA8.xml file from your desktop into the searchplugins folder. You may be prompted for administrative permission.

Chrome 9

1. Open Chrome.
2. Click the wrench icon on the browser toolbar and select Options.
3. Ensure the Basics tab is selected.
4. In the Search section, click Manage.
5. Click Add.
6. In the Add Search Engine dialog box, enter the following:
   
   
   • For the name, enter Laserfiche Web Access.
   • For the keyword, enter lf.

     Note: Keywords are used to differentiate Chrome's search providers in the browser's "omnibox" (the address bar at the top of the browser window that doubles as a search box). For example, if a user had two search providers (Google with a keyword of "google.com" and Web Access with a keyword of "lf"), he/she would enter a keyword before the search term to specify which engine should be used (e.g., LF mysearchterm).

   • For the URL, enter http://WAServer/laserfiche8/index.aspx?db=RepoName#view=search;quicksearch=%S, where WAServer should be replaced with the name or IP address of the machine hosting Web Access and RepoName should be replaced with the name of your Laserfiche repository.
   
   
7. Click OK

Safari 5

Apple does not provide an easy way to add custom search providers to Safari. If you are using Mac OS X, you can install a third-party plug-in, such as Glims or Acid Search (both can be found via an Internet search engine query) to add a custom search engine. As of the date this article was last published, there is no known way of adding a custom search engine to the Windows version of Safarfi.