""" google-api.cobra This command line program demonstates how to programmatically execute Google searches. BUT on Apr 19, 2006, I can get no search results for it. When I visited the Google Group that discusses this API (google.public.web-apis) I found some disturbing complaints: * One poster is getting no search results. * The API results are very different from the human interface results. * Another poster was informed by Google that requests to use the API in production applications are no longer being accepted, and the poster points out that the API has not been moved out of its original "Beta" status from 2002. It may not have even been updated since then. HOW TO RUN - Using the Google Web APIs requires a license key which you can get for free here: http://www.google.com/apis/ > cd path\to\Cobra\Examples - Create a google-key.text file with your Google Web APIs license key. > google-api "stock tips" HOW TO BUILD FROM SCRATCH > cd path\to\Cobra\Examples - Launch a .NET SDK prompt and issue: > wsdl.exe http://api.google.com/GoogleSearch.wsdl - Open GoogleSearchService.cs and: - Add a capitalized method version of doGoogleSearch(): public GoogleSearchResult DoGoogleSearch(string key, string q, int start, int maxResults, bool filter, string restrict, bool safeSearch, string lr, string ie, string oe) { return doGoogleSearch(key, q, start, maxResults, filter, restrict, safeSearch, lr, ie, oe); } - Capitalize the properties of class GoogleSearchResult - Capitalize the properties of class ResultElement > cobra --compile google-api.cobra GoogleSearchService.cs - Then go to HOW TO RUN above TODO [ ] parameterize some of the Google options [ ] add MSN support [ ] number the results [ ] Handle this with some retries: Unhandled Exception: System.Net.WebException: Unable to connect to the remote server ---> System.Net.Sockets.SocketException: A connect ion attempt failed because the connected party did not properly respond after a period of time, or established connection failed becaus e connected host has failed to respond """ class WebSearch def main is shared args = CobraCore.commandLineArgs # Get the Google Web APIs license key. if File.exists('google-key.text') googleKey = File.readAllText('google-key.text') else if File.exists('google-key.txt') googleKey = File.readAllText('google-key.txt') else print 'Get a free Google Web APIs license key at http://www.google.com/apis/ and' print 'put it in a file named google-key.text' return googleKey = googleKey.trim assert googleKey # Take the query from the command line. if args.count<2 print 'usage: google-api <query>' return query = args[1] googleSearch = GoogleSearchService() # Run the query. results = googleSearch.doGoogleSearch(googleKey, query, 0, 10, false, '', false, '', '', '') if results.resultElements is nil print 'The call was made, but no results were returned.' print 'As of April 19, 2006, numerous problems with the Google API have been reported.' return for result as ResultElement in results.resultElements print print result.title print result.url print result.snippet print # tell Cobra what is in GoogleSearchService.cs: class GoogleSearchService is fake def doGoogleSearch(key as String, q as String, start as int, maxResults as int, filter as bool, restrict as String, safeSearch as bool, lr as String, ie as String, oe as String) as GoogleSearchResult pass class GoogleSearchResult is fake get resultElements as List<of ResultElement> pass class ResultElement is fake get snippet as String pass get title as String pass get url as String pass