I created my first Google gadget tonight. It took somewhat longer than 15 minutes, but it would have taken much longer if I had to start from scratch. As it was, I inspected Matthias's Libraries Australia google gadget code and adapted it. Thanks Matthias.
So I now have a Bond library catalogue search gadget to add to my personalised Google page. In the near future it will have to move to a more official home, and may be fancied up somewhat.
If you want one for your library system, the easiest way will be to find a gadget that looks similar to what you need and then adapt to suit the url search syntax for your system. Some html, xml and javascript expertise will be a help.
UWA Library has one available with tabs for different search strategies. Thanks Kathryn for your post - if I hadn't read that I wouldn't have been fiddling with gadgets on a Friday evening.
Friday, June 15, 2007
My first google gadget
Posted by Peta Hopkins at 21:33
Tags: libraries, Libraries Australia, searching
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3 comments:
OK- so I really want to be able to do this. I found Matthias' script and my HTML is OK if rusty. Can any one suggest a starting javascript book??
Heh. I threw that Libraries Australia one together quickly, I'm much happier with the UWA Library gadget.
The most important bit is to have fun!
:-P
I found this book quite useful when I started off with javascripts.
Fun Web pages with Javascript
Shelley, John, 1940-
But to build a gadget the easiest way is to base it on one that already works. The hardest part for me was modifying the html forms to ensure that the URL syntax worked with our ILMS. The javascript was already in place. Since this post I've created one based on UWA's.
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