


WAISQ(1)                 USER COMMANDS                   WAISQ(1)



NAME
     waisq

DESCRIPTION
     This is a shell level interface to WAIS questions that  have
     been  built  using  xwais.  It allows a user to submit ques-
     tions to sources for queries, and to retrieve documents from
     questions  (and  the  appropriate  source).  It can build or
     modify a question, including the modification performed dur-
     ing a search.

USAGE
     waisq
       [-f question_file] /* defaults to stdin, stdout */
       [-s sourcedir] /* or ~/wais-sources/ */
       [-S sourcename]
       [-c common_sourcedir] /* or it is ignored */
       [-m max_Result_Docs] /* defaults to 40 */
       [-v document_number]
       [-g] /* to do a search */
       [-h] /* this message */
       [-t] /* test a source */
       [-V] /* print version */
       [word [word [...]]]
     or

      waisq - [other options] /* for interactive mode */

OPTIONS
     -f question_filename
               the pathname for a question structure as stored in
               a file.  It uses standard UNIX conventions.  If no
               filename is  provided,  stdin  is  used.   If  the
               filename  is  a  dash  (  - ), no question will be
               read, so you must specify  a  sourcename  and  the
               words  to  search.   This  will  create a question
               structure and write it to stdout.


     -s sourcedir
               a directory where source  structures  are  stored.
               It  must  end with a '/'.  If it is not specified,
               ~/wais-sources/ is used.  If none of those  exist,
               the  application  will  probably  fail, unless the
               common_sourcedir exists.  Only files that  end  in
               .src in the directory are considered sources.

     -S sourcename
               the pathname of a source structure file.  It  must
               exist in sourcedir or common_sourcedir, and end in
               .src




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WAISQ(1)                 USER COMMANDS                   WAISQ(1)



     -c common_sourcedir
               Similar to sourcedir, but  usually  common  for  a
               site. It need not exist.

     -m maxDocs
               The limit on the number of results returned  by  a
               server.  Default value is 40.

     -v document_number
               The number of the  document  to  retrieve  from  a
               valid query.  This can be from a previously stored
               question, or the current question if the -g option
               is used.

     -t        Test a source to  see  if  it  is  servicing  wais
               requests.   The  first  word  will be taken as the
               name of a source.

     -g        Submit the query.  You must specify the -g  option
               in  order  to  actually perform a query.  You need
               not specify it if you  have  already  performed  a
               query from which you wish to retrieve a document.

     -V        Print the version number and date of the program.

     word...   optional search keywords  to  replace  any  search
               keywords in the question.

     -         If the first argument is a dash ( - )  then  waisq
               operates  in  an  interactive mode.  It then reads
               question  structures  from  standard  input,   and
               returns  results to standard output.  If the ques-
               tion has search-words or  relevant  documents,  it
               performs  the  query,  and  returns  the resulting
               question structure to standard output.   If  there
               are  only  result documents, it retrieves them and
               prints them to standard output.  It  continues  to
               read  it's  input  until an end of file is encoun-
               tered, and then it exits.  All other command  line
               switches  will  work, except -f.  This makes waisq
               useful as a tool for user interfaces to access the
               WAIS system.

EXAMPLES
     to create a new question and submit it for a query:
          waisq -f - -S sourcename -g word1 word2 > my_question

     to submit an existing question for query:
          waisq -f question_name -g

     To retrieve a response:
          waisq -f question_name -v 1



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WAISQ(1)                 USER COMMANDS                   WAISQ(1)



SEE ALSO
     waisserver(1),   waisindex(1),   waissearch(1),    xwais(1),
     xwaisq(1)

     Wide Area Information Servers Concepts by Brewster Kahle.
     brewster@think.com


DIAGNOSTICS
     The diagnostics produced by the application are meant to  be
     self-explanatory.


BUGS
AUTHOR
     Jonny Goldman <Jonathan@Think.COM>







































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