Wildcards in URL.TXT

[kajones]

Are wildcards (*, ?) allowed in the URL.TXT file? If so, would someone be kind enough to provide an example? I'm trying to use them so that I don't have to include every domain URL for particular web sites in order to allow access to users.

Thanks.

[spragers]

From what Scott has said before, the URL and access functions use an In String function - that is,

+hotmail

would allow any site with "hotmail" in the URL or title, and

-hotmail

would block any site with "hotmail" in the URL or title

I don't believe the URL file is designed to use wildcards (i.e. "hotmail*")

Hope that helps

[tvandam]

Another problem with the text string blocker is that students, when using FirstSearch or Infotrac cannot send mail to their 'Hotmail' account if hotmail is blocked.

[lkleckner]

OK - I'm confused, then don't block Hotmail...

[tvandam]

The point is that not just URL's are blocked... if '-chat' or "-games" are blocked, students cannot search for those subjects in a search engine or an on-line database. We want students to be able to send an article from a database to their Hotmail account but we don't want them actually go to the site; i.e., restrict the address line only....

[Guest]

Maybe the IP filter would work better for you. This filter converts the URL to the IP then checks the file, instead of using the URL as is.

[Scott]

Wild cards will be supported in the up and coming PWB v2.05. This should make the filters much more flexible.

--Scott

[Jaysun]

To block patrons from going to Hotmail, but to allow them to send e-mail from InfoTrac (and other databases) to their Hotmail accounts I have the following entries in my URL.txt:

-www.hotmail.com
-http://hotmail.com

The second entry blocks a patron from entering hotmail.com in the address bar, but does not block "hotmail.com" from being somewhere in the URL as would be when e-mailing to a Hotmail account from InfoTrac.

Hope this helps,

Jason