The SSSpider™ Query Folders

When you run SSSpider for the first time, in the right bottom corner of the main application window a pane entitled "Noname.sss" is displayed; this is a Query Folder. Query folders contain queries or questions you ask SSSpider.

Several sample queries have been already included into the Noname Query folder for your convenience: this way you can quickly become familiar with SSSpider and test out its search capabilities. Using Query Folders, you may group your queries by topics, such as Travel, Politics or Sports. You can enter new queries into the Query folder and if required, you can also create your own custom Query folders for special interest subjects. Search results are stored in these folders allowing you to build up a portfolio of search reports grouped by your favorite topics.

 SSSpider Search Query Folder

Queries can be either Postponed or Completed. Postponed queries are those which have not been executed and for which SSSpider has not built any reports yet. These queries are displayed with the icon Question mark Postponed query icon. Completed queries are those which have been executed via a particular Search Set, and for which SSSpider has already built a report of its findings. These queries have the Exclamatory sign icon Completed query icon.

To add a new query to the Query Folder, first, enter the query text into the field Search Phrase in the right upper pane of the main SSSpider window. After it, drag and then drop the "New Search" picture onto the pane "Query Folder". Queries that you enter this way, will initially have the status Postponed:

 Drag and drop the NEW SEARCH picture on the pane Query Folder


To run a postponed query, simply drag and drop the corresponding query icon onto a desired Search Engine Set as it is demonstrated below:

Drag and drop a selection of postponed queries onto a Search Set

This way you may first, enter one or several queries and save them in the Query Folder, then execute any or all of them at a later time.

When you click a particular Search Query in the Query Folder pane using the right mouse button, a corresponding pop-up menu will appear. To obtain more information about each item in the pop-up menu, click it on the following picture:

SSSpider Query Folder - click a menu item to get additional help
Rename Query
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Click this item to change the query text.

Delete Query
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Click this item to delete one or several queries. If the option Delete reports along with queries is checked, SSSpider will also delete reports which correspond to the queries being deleted.

The View menu item
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This item determines how queries are to be displayed. You may select one of the following options:

  • Large icons - each query appears as a full-sized icon with a title below it.
  • Small icons - queries appear as small icons with the title to the right.
  • List - each query appears as a small icon with a title to the right of it. Icons are arranged in columns.
  • Table - each query appears on its own line with the title and additional information arranged in two columns. The leftmost column contains a small icon and query text, and the other column displays the query status. Both columns have corresponding headers.

    • Sort Queries
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    This item lets you sort queries either alphabetically by query text or by status.

    Find Query
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    Click this item to find queries by query text.

    Adjust Font
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    Click this item to change font name, pitch or color with which items in this pane are to be displayed.

    Refresh Query Folder
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    Click this item to sort items within this pane according to the currently selected order.
    See also: Sort Queries.

    The Query Folder pop-up menu item
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    Clicking this item provides you with the following basic operations with query folders. You may:

  • Create a new query folder.
  • Open an existing query folder.
  • Delete all queries in the currently open folder. If the option Delete reports along with queies is checked, SSSpider will also delete reports which correspond to all queries in the open folder.
  • Rename the currently open query folder.

    • Library
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    Click this item to see reports of all completed queries that have been built by SSSpider.

    Report
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    Click this item to see the report that corresponds to a completed query. If the query you have selected, has not been executed yet (i.e., Postponed), the pop-up menu item "Report" is grayed out.

    Advanced Query Options
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    Allows you to change or review advanced query options.
    See also: The Advanced Query Options dialog.

    Properties
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    When you click this item, the Properties dialog will appear; this dialog displays additional information about the query you have selected. By default, this dialog remains on top of the rest of SSSpider windows until you close it. Click the dialog with the right mouse button and uncheck the pop-up menu item "Always stay on top" to change this behavior.