Recipes to extend onCue

aQtivate your own web site with onCue

Because onCue suggests things to the user, and brings the web right onto their desk, a web-based service that would not be so useful just on the web may take on a whole new character. Let your imagination roam.

If you have read go to specific web pages on given keywords or add links to Internet searches and services, you may have already worked out how you can do the same to your own website.

We'll suggest a few ways onCue can aQtivate your existing or new web site below, and don't forget that you can add dancing histograms to your web site using onCue!

keywords to drive your web site

In the case of keywords, simply create sets of keywords appropriate for specific pages on your web site and follow the recipe in go to specific web pages on given keywords.

aQtivate your existing forms

If you already have a search or other kind of form on your web site, you can aQtivate it using exactly the same mechanism as in add links to Internet searches and services.

Of course, you should have a pretty good idea of what the actual search URL is, so it should be easier than dealing with someone else's web site. Also, as it is your own site, you can make it easier for onCue to work well with it.

If you use POST for your forms (which is often the right thing) also have GET equivalents. It is often easy to modify your scripts to accept either.

If you have complex forms with multiple input fields you will not be able to interface easily to them using the current version of onCue XML Qbits. However, you can often have a simpler form with one input (e.g. ordering details for one item rather than a shopping list). Alternatively, change a complex form into a two-stage form (see below).

make two-stage forms

Suppose you have an electronic postcard web site where the user enters an email address and message and chooses a postcard. This cannot be automated in one step by the current version of onCue XML Qbits. However, it can easily be modified for this purpose.

Make a new CGI script (or other server-side program such as ASP or Java Servlet) that simply takes a single email address and then creates the original form with the email address field already filled in.

Now create an XML Qbit that reacts to an email address (see the fine tuning section of add links to Internet searches and services). The help text could read "send a postcard to a friend".

When the onCue user copies an email address, onCue suggests your service. The user simply selects it, onCue then takes them to your new part-filled in web page, ready for them to complete and send.

create a new service!

Of course, you may think of a whole new service. Just program it using your favourite method: CGI scripts, ASP, Servlets, etc. Then make onCue XML Qbits for it. If you read through the above before you start, you'll be able to tune the scripts to work well with onCue from the beginning.

and more ...

Look at have an aQtive Intranet! for more ideas on aQtivating your web site. Have fun!

deploying your onCue XML Qbits

Read giving your Qbits to others for details on how to distribute XML Qbits.

If you want to deploy onCue to promote or enhance your web site see aQtive corporate services for details on licencing and consultancy.

More recipes to extend onCue

• go to specific web pages on given keywords
• add links to Internet searches and services
• aQtivate your own web site with onCue
• have an aQtive Intranet!