Desktop Search Comes to Enterprise

Two MSN search tools have been updated for enterprise use. Windows Desktop Search, which helps users find files on their desktop PCs, is based on MSN Desktop Search but adds support for management technologies used by enterprises, such as Group Policy and Systems Management Server (SMS). MSN has also released an enterprise-ready version of its Search Toolbar, which includes Desktop Search and other features such as pop-up blocking. However, customers will still need separate products to conduct intranet searches, and it’s unclear how these search tools will fit into the company’s larger enterprise-search strategy.

Desktop Search

Windows Desktop Search (WDS) is very similar to MSN Desktop Search. Like that tool, WDS creates a local index of information on a user’s hard drive, including the full text of Office documents, the full text of all items in Outlook or Outlook Express (including e-mail messages, calendar entries, and tasks), and any available metadata about files (such as author and date created or, in the case of a music file, the artist and album name). Third-party file formats, such as Adobe PDF files, can be indexed through free, downloadable add-ons known as iFilters. Data is indexed in the background, which minimizes its effect on the PC’s performance. Once information is indexed, users can retrieve it by entering keywords in a small search box in the Windows Deskbar. (MSN Desktop Search is covered in “MSN Launches Search Tools” on page 22 of the Jan. 2005 Update.)