Note: This documentation is for an old version of Webinator. The latest documentaion is here.

Integrating Webinator with your Site

There are three main techniques to integrate Webinator with your site. The techniques are categorized as follows:

Static Host
Dynamic Host and HTML
Dynamic Host and XML

The simplest technique, Static Host, uses the built-in capability of Webinator to present a search page directly to a site visitor. Although this technique can be used with a dynamic host, it is commonly used with a static host. On your site, you present either a search field or a simple link. If you present a search field, when a visitor submits a query, the query is sent to Webinator. If you present a link, when a visitor clicks the link, a search page generated by Webinator is presented to the visitor, and the visitor uses this search page to submit a query. In either case, after a query is sent to Webinator, it responds by sending the search results (HTML) to the visitor's browser. Note that you can customize the HTML of the search page, and this allows you to maintain a consistent appearance for your site and the search page generated by Webinator.

The Dynamic Host and HTML technique can be used in dynamically generated web sites. The host server sends a search query (HTTP request) to Webinator, which responds by sending search results as HTML to the host server. The host server is responsible for sending the search query to Webinator, handling the HTML search results from it, and for all interactions with the site visitor.

The Dynamic Host and XML technique can be used in dynamically generated web sites. The host server sends a search query (HTTP request) to Webinator, which responds with the search results as XML. The host server is responsible for sending the search query to Webinator, handling the XML search results from it, and for all interactions with the site visitor.