Support

Go to the applicable section, or directly to your question.
If your question is not answered below, contact the netXtract Technical Support group at [email protected].

Version history (latest version is 2.1)

Version 2.1 adds the following new features:

• IE sidebar: specify custom search phrases for indexing
• KBase Manager: export any category (with or without its subcategories) or the entire Knowledge Base to HTML, XML or Microsoft Access Database (mdb) formats.
• KBase Manager: import under any category your current bookmarks (favorites) from Internet Explorer.
• KBase Manager: expand / collapse the entry text, so that multiple entries can fit on the screen (expansion / collapsing at each entry level, or global, for all entries)
• KBase Manager: each entry has small in-line buttons for “expand / collapse”, “move”, “delete”
• KBase Manager: new help structure and content, now also includes a tutorial

At version 2.0 netXtract split into two Editions: Personal and Team. Team Edition is the same as Personal Edition, with additional features allowing multiple users to access a shared knowledge base. Specifically, Team Edition has the following additional features

• open any number of Knowledge Bases, local or remote
• share Knowledge Bases among many concurrent users on the network. You may now have any number of private Knowledge
• Bases but you can also access any number of shared Knowledge Bases concurrently with other users.
• select to which Knowledge Base an entry should be saved when saving a new entry
• entry-level locking when editing an entry so that concurrent users cannot edit the same entry at the same time. Entry locking is
• protected by a timeout to prevent users from locking entries indefinitely
• deploy any Knowledge Base for sharing among concurrent users on the network

Version history (latest version is 1.6)

• Version 1.6 ads the following new features: Ability to save entries to the Knowledge Base from any application: simply select the text to save and copy it to the clipboard (Ctrl+C), then invoke the Save To Knowledge Base feature by pressing the hotkey (by default, Ctrl+Alt+Insert). The hotkey can be changed through Preferences.
• Tested with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 (preview version).
• When opening a new browser window (“browse in new window” or Ctrl+N), the new window inherits the netXtract browser bar and current dictionary from the original window (regardless of the “autoshow” mode set in preferences). This means that when you have the netXtract browser bar open and you create a new browser window, the new browser window will have the netXtract bar; same for the current dictionary.
• When saving to the Knowledge Base, opening and selecting an existing keyword from the list adds to the current entry for keywords (instead of replacing the current entry).
• Save To Knowledge Base provides more room for keyword entry.
• The Knowledge Base categories are alphabetically arranged.

Version 1.6 also fixes a incorrect warning reported by netXtract 1.5 (or earlier) about running in Internet Explorer 5.0 when in fact runs in Internet Explorer 6.0.

• Version 1.5 ads the following new features: When saving to the KBase, keywords are now optional. Also, a complete list of existing keywords is now provided, to help maintain consistency in keyword usage (in other words, you have the ability to select an existing keyword, or enter a new one).
• Same as above, when editing a KBEntry from the KB Manager.
• Supports non-english characters (will index correctly French, Spanish or other documents).
• “Sticky dictionary”: if you select a dictionary, netXtract will keep using it as you move from site to site, until you turn it off by selecting “Dictionaries | None” (previously, the dictionary in use was reset when navigating to a new page).
• (minor): when uninstalled, if some files are in use and therefore cannot be deleted, it shows an informational message explaining that those files will be removed at the first re-boot.

Version 1.5 also fixes a minor problem observed only on Windows 98: when saving to the KBase from local html files residing in directories that contain spaces (for instance, from c:\My Documents\file.html) the URL saved is c:\My%20Documents\file.html and when clicked, the entry will not open the original file (due to bad URL).

Version 1.41 extends the size of the title of the page being saved. In previous versions the size of the web page title saved to the Knowledge Base was too short, therefore users experienced saving errors when saving from pages with very long titles. Version 1.41 removes this limitation.

Version 1.4 fixes a bug in version 1.3 which prevented extraction of contexts from the last frame in multi-frame site from being indexed; it also adds small improvements to version 1.3 such as version information and quick access to the netXtract support group by email and on the web.

Version 1.3 removes a limitation present in all previous versions: when browsing a site that is built with nested HTML frames (the main HTML document contains frames, and one of the frames is also made of HTML frames) netXtract will not index the current document in IE; selecting text and saving it brings up the Save to KBase dialog empty (without the selected text).

1. Version 1.2 adds and improves a few things: has a better installer: if re-installing netXtract on top of an extisting installation and a file that needs replacement is in use, the installer will not just give up with a message prompting you to close other running applications and re-try the installation. Instead it will list the applications using that file and will offer to close them for you, then continue with the installation.
2. includes a fix to an infrequent problem present in version 1.0: this problem may prevent indexing or even navigation to sites that contain the vertical bar (|) in their URL. Very few sites have this particular character in their URL (usually it’s banner URLs) however we feel it’s important that you start using version 1.2.
3. has faster loading time and indexing time (not that it was an issue in version 1.0 but we found out a way of doing both faster).
4. this version is also available in a free of charge distribution (the free distribution contains advertising). If you prefer an advertising-free distribution, you can purchase the commercial version, just like before.

Known issues (currently 10, from version 1.0 to-date, all fixed)

1. Versions up to and including 1.5 give a warning message about IE 5.0 when running in IE 6.0.
   Solution: Version 1.6 fixes this problem. The warning message has no effect, it is just annoying; to get rid of it, simply upgrade to version 1.6, which also offers more functionality (like saving to the Knowledge Base from any program).
2. A limitation in netXtract up to (an including) version 1.4 caused an error when saving to the Knowledge Base from a web page that had a very long title.
   Solution: Version 1.41 removes this limitation. Download and install 1.41 or later; a patch to make your version the equivalent to 1.41 will be provided soon.
3. A bug in netXtract version 1.3 prevents extraction of contexts from the last frame in pages that have multiple frames.
   When browsing a page that is built with frames netXtract 1.3 will not extract the contexts for a word you select in the index from the last frame. This bug was introduced in version 1.3, when adding support for sites with nested frames.
   Solution: Download and use version 1.4 or later; OR download the patch provided here. Just execute the patch and follow the instructions (the patch will inform you whether your version of netXtract has this limitation and will offer to fix it).
4. A limitation in netXtract up to (an including) version 1.2 prevents indexing and saving from some sites.
   When browsing a site that is built with nested HTML frames (the main HTML document contains frames, and one of the frames is also made of HTML frames) netXtract will not index the current document in IE; selecting text and saving it brings up the Save to KBase dialog empty (without the selected text).
   Solution:Very few sites are based on this HTML layout, however we feel it’s important that you download and start using version 1.3 or higher, as the problem is fixed in the newer versions, OR download the patch provided here. Just execute the patch and follow the instructions (the patch will inform you whether your version of netXtract has this limitation and will offer to fix it).
5. A bug in version 1.0x may prevent indexing or even navigation to sites that contain the vertical bar (|) in their URL.
   Solution:Very few sites have that character in their URL (usually it’s banner URLs) however we feel it’s important that you download and start using version 1.2 or higher, as the problem is fixed in the newer versions.
6. Missing netXtract toolbar button in Internet Explorer.
   Problem: The installation process creates a button for netXtract that should appear in IE’s toolbar.
   This button does not affect the functions of netXtract, but it’s a very convenient way to toggle the netXtract browser bar on and off. However, only IE 5.0 or greater support this feature, and only if you have not customized your IE toolbar. If you have customized your IE toolbar, you will have to use the same customization process to manually place the netXtract button in the toolbar.
   Solution: Select the “View | Toolbars | Customize” menu; a dialog box pops up. From there select the neXtract button from the left pane and press Add to add it to the IE toolbar.

    

   1. Using buggy version of Internet Explorer 5.0
      Problem: netXtract may give you the following message:
      “You are running Internet Explorer 5.0 with more than one add-on applications (similar to netXtract) installed!
      Microsoft has confirmed that due to a bug, IE 5.0 can only load one add-on application at a time (the others will not function) and recommends that you upgrade your browser to version 5.01 or higher.
      Visit www.microsoft.com/ie to download a free copy of IE.”

netXtract shows this message only when BOTH conditions below are true:

1. • you are using a very early release of IE 5.0
   • you have also another add-on product (like netXtract) installed.
     Microsoft has confirmed in MSDN online that this release of IE 5.0 cannot deal properly with multiple add-ons installed. Therefore if you have another browser add-on application installed, only one will execute properly; which one depends on your version of Windows and installation order. netXtract detects this scenario and warns you.
     Please note that netXtract versions up to (and including) 1.5 give this warning incorrectly when installed on IE 6.0. The warning is harmless but annoying – to get rid of it, simply install version 1.6.
     Solution: The only solution available for this problem is to upgrade your browser to a later release of IE 5.0, known as 5.01 (in fact, in the About box of IE 5.01 it should say 5.0.2919.6307 or greater).

1. Free (ad-supported) version loads too slow
   Problem: The netXtract side-bar takes long to appear when opened first time in an Internet Explorer instance. This only happens when ALL conditions below are true:
   1. using Windows 98.
   2. using netXtract free (ad-supported) version.
   3. using Internet Explorer 4.x
   The problem is caused by the long initialization time required by the advertising software on Windows 98 with IE 4.x. We are unsure which component of Windows 98 or IE 4.x is responsible for this.
   Solution: Installing Internet Explorer 5.x will solve the problem.
2. Entry saved from a local html file will not re-open the original file
   Problem: This only happens on certain versions of Windows 98, when saving from a local html file which resides in a directory containing space(s) in the name (for instance, from c:\My Documents\file.html) the URL saved is c:\My%20Documents\file.html and when clicked, the entry will not open the original file, becase the path is incorrect).
   Solution: This problem is fixed in version 1.5.
3. When uninstalling, some files are left on disk
   Some files are left on your disk deliberately: these are the data files (dictionaries, the KBase, etc). Other files (DLLs, EXEs) may be in use at the time of uninstalling and are only marked for deletion. Those will be removed from disk next time you start Windows. The uninstaller in version 1.5 now gives an informational messages if that is the case.

Frequently asked support questions:

After installing netXtract, I don’t see the netXtract bar in IE!

There could be several reasons for this:

• if you have kept IE open during netXtract installation (not recommended), you will not see netXtract in that instance of IE because it was started before netXtract was installed. You need to open another instance of IE to be able to see the netXtract bar.
• you are browsing a computer’s folder, not an HTML document. Point your browser to a web site to see if netXtract becomes visible.
• you have another product which, just like netXtract, installs its own browser bar in IE. If that product is set to show its bar automatically, you will need to manually request the netXtract bar: go to the “View | Explorer bar” menu in IE and select netXtract.
• Remember that you can always use the “View | Explorer bar” menu in IE to toggle netXtract on or off or to switch between browser bars.
• I do not have a button for netXtract in IE’s toolbar!

The installation process creates a button for netXtract that should appear in IE’s toolbar. However, this feature is available only in IE 5.0 or greater, and only if you have not customized your IE toolbar. If you have, you will have to manually place the button in the toolbar: select “View | Toolbars | Customize” menu then select the “Show / Hide nextract bar” button from the left pane and press Add to add it to the IE toolbar.

I used to get netXtract on the left side of IE, but now I see it on the bottom of the frame, and I have no menu for it in the View | Explorer bar menu of IE

This is caused by applying service pack 4 on Windows NT, which (according to Microsoft) installs an incorrect version of a system component (DLL). Other 3-rd party installation packages may cause this problem, too.
To resolve this, go in the folder where you have installed netXtract (or do a search on disk) and look for a file called Patch1.exe. This utility program will first show you whether indeed the problem is the one we described above, and if so, will offer to fix it. Press “Patch now” to have the utility fix the problem. If the utility does not detect the problem described, it will inform you that your system is in order (from that perspective) and will do nothing.

Will a new installation erase my current data (dictionaries, Knowledge Base) built with a previous version?

No. Subsequent installation of the product will not erase existing data. The new installation will use the same knowledge base, dictionaries, etc as the previous installation, provided that you install netxtract in the same location!. If you choose to install the new version of netXtract to a different location than the old one, you will get a new set of data files, but the old ones are still in the /users/ subdirectory of your old installation location.
Also, the uninstallation process will not remove any of your data files.

Can I use netXtract and product “ABC” that also installs a browser bar?

Yes. You will have to toggle between the two (or maybe more) browser bars, installed by each product. IE only shows one browser bar at a time, no matter how many IE add-on products you have installed.

Do all users of a computer share the same Knowledge Base?

No. Each distinct user (in computer terms, i.e. distinct login information) has a private Knowledge Base. If user A logs in and opens the Knowledge Base Manager, he will not see the same entries as user B. For total separation and in order to allow user to move their Knowledge Base to another computer, or to back it up, each user’s Knowledge Base is stored in a separate file.
To find your KBase, look in the folder where netXtract is installed for a sub-folder called users; find a sub-folder of that with your user name (if you do not login into the computer, look for DefaultUser); your KBase is stored in a file called iBase.KBase.

How do I transfer my Knowledge Base from a computer to another?

Read first the answer above. After installing netXtract on the other machine and using netXtract at least once, copy the file iBase.KBase from the location described above on the original computer to the similar location on the new computer, overwriting the existing one in the process.

netXtract gives me the message below, and does not index the document:

“You are running Internet Explorer 5.0 with more than one add-on applications (similar to netXtract) installed!
Microsoft has confirmed that due to a bug, IE 5.0 can only load one add-on application at a time (the others will not function) and recommends that you upgrade your browser to version 5.01 or higher.
Visit www.microsoft.com/ie to download a free copy of IE.”