Using QuestAgent from a Web Server

Although QuestAgent is designed as an offline search engine (e.g. for use from a CD/DVD) it can also be successfully used from an intranet web server. (Search applet must read a number of data files for each search. This will work just fine in an intranet environment but it may appear slow from an Internet web site.)

QuestAgent should work with any standard web server. It’s important that the web server is allowed to serve data files used by search applet. There’s a known issue with the IIS described bellow.

If search applet fails to start when run from a web server, check both browser’s Java console log and web server’s log file for eventual error report.

Use on the web site can be limited license purchased by the publisher. In case of limited distribution license, QuestAgent can be used from a single web server named by the publisher.

Serving QuestAgent on IIS

When you request a file from IIS, and the file has name extension (suffix) that is not a defined MIME type on the Web server, IIS may return error “HTTP Error 404 – File or directory not found”. QuestAgent search applet uses several file name extensions unknown to IIS. You need to add these to IIS server’s MIME mappings table with the type application/octet-stream. You can do this in IIS Management Console (right-click the computer name, then click Properties and select MIME Types).

QuestAgent data file extensions are: .prm, .jqf and .cfs.