Creating a front end search engine

This is more of a question if something is possible. I know how to create web pages and upload them to a server, but I was wondering if you could build a web page that will launch when you launch a network drive. I have a small network setup at home and on one of my servers I have about 700GB of data that I want to be able to search using a web interface. Right now it is all listed as folders, about 900, when you open the network drive from another computer. I didn't know if you could make a web page launch instead of the folder view and provide a search engine, so to speak, for everything on the drive. If you could do something like this do I have to use PHP or can I do it with a simple HTML search script? Would I have to register a domain name and point it to that server? I want to keep it internal if possible. I know I can add an index.html page to the drive and open it after opening the network drive but I want it to launch automatically. I thank you for any advice given in advance.

How proficient are you with PHP?

This find file script sounds like what you're looking for

Assuming your using windows... You should be able to map the network, obv you'd need to have apache installed... you should be able to use something like xammp for that, just for ease if you don't already have something.

Then just use the map network drive tool in windows to create a drive that links to the file on your server that contains the search features (i'm assuming you can map directly to file, i know you can to a folder). Also the way a server works, a folder path should default to the index file.

Other than that you could always just use a shortcut on your desktop or something to load up the external file

It looks like the easiest way to do this would be with PHP. Does anyone know a way to do it with a simple html script that would search a directory and display the results? I'm still learning php so anyone that can help I thank you. I am trying the php idea right now but still want to try to do it with PHP.

There is no way you'd be able to do this with HTML. HTML is quite simply static text - it has no processing capabilities.

You would need to use a server-side language (PHP, as mentioned above, or ASP, JSP, CF etc.). Otherwise you can try out Bocaj's suggestion.

My suggestion would require he have a serverside file running in the apropriate environment.

Although even still windows (an all modern operating systems) have search functions built in.

Doing it yourself with a server side language is alot more faff.... but then you get more control over the way results come back, aesthetics and the data displayed.

Try hotscripts.... or do a google for something like 'php search script' or something similar.

You could set up xammp on your other pc/server it's just a simple install and allows you to create a server environment.

I have xampp installed on my laptop so I can do php labs with a book I bought the other day. I'll try it out on my laptop to start with a small directory. I don't see why it won't work but as soon as I get to the point I will post back the results if you are interested. Thanks for the help from both of you.

I found this XML and FLASH script that can be used for searching. I have a VBS script that scans my directory and has an output of all of the Artists in an html file with links to album names under the Artisits and song titles under the album names. Does anyone know a way to tie the XML file to the VBS file? Or maybe how to have FLASH search the output of the VBS file?

FOrgot to paste the link to the script I found

http://www.devarticles.com/c/a/Flash...able-Database/

finally found something to work with. http://www.kirupa.com/web/xml/examples/searchbestof.htm

This is actionscript searching an XML file. Its perfect, now I need to add the links to the folders and it should be good to go. Just wanted to put some closure on this post.