Using Otopy

To use Otopy, launch a new Internet Explorer (6.0 or greater) browser window. On the IE toolbar, you will now see a button for Otopy.

Click on the Otopy icon to start the Otopy application. This will open up a panel on the left side of your browser window.

The Otopy panel contains a text entry box. This is where you enter your search request. Click on "GO" to fetch results.

Otopy makes it easy for you to use multiple search engines. The Otopy search panel offers you a selection of search engines and shopping sites on which to execute your search.

Once you've entered a search term, all you have to do is mouseover any of the search engines listed to see results from that source. It couldn't be easier!

On the Otopy panel below the buttons for the various search engines, you will see a list of alternative search terms automatically generated by Otopy. These alternate terms help you refine your search as they can provide results that are either synonymous with or closely related to the entered search term, as well as results that are either more narrowly or more broadly defined than the original search term.

If you want to see the results for any of these alternate terms, point your mouse at the term you want to see (it's not necessary to click). If you do click on one of the alternate terms, Otopy re-executes the search with the newly selected term. This may be helpful in bringing up additional results and different alternate search terms.

Advanced Features

Redisplaying recent searches and search results

There are several ways to redisplay search results that you previously viewed in the last few days, hours, or minutes.

To return to a search that you just did:

To return to a search you've conducted in the last few days:

  1. On the Otopy search panel, click the History button to the far right of the text entry box.

    A list will appear, with recent searches organized by day, week or month.
  2. In the list that appears, click a week or day, then click a search term to display results.

Format of Displayed Results

Otopy can display search results in one of two formats. The default format appears as a list just below the search engine buttons. You can select the alternate format by clicking on the list icon to the right of the search string text entry box. The alternate format is a colorful hexagonal display.

To switch back to the list display, click on the hexagon icon to the right of the search string text entry box, and then select the list icon.

Preferences

You can customize certain features of Otopy by clicking on the Preferences button at the bottom of the Otopy search panel. A popup window will appear, as shown below.

You can select whether Otopy displays search results when you roll your mouse over a term in a list (this is the default setting) or you can choose to have new results shown only when you click on a term.

If you accept the default setting of mouseover, you can also choose the length of time before new results are displayed after rolling your mouse over a search term. The default setting for this time delay is 500 milliseconds. You can slow down the speed at which the display changes by lengthening the time delay to 1000 milliseconds, or speed it up by shortening the time delay to 100 milliseconds.

Once you've made your selections on the Preferences popup, click "OK". You can adjust these settings at any time.

Troubleshooting

Problem: I don't see the Otopy icon on my toolbar.

Solution: If you are using either the Google or Yahoo! Toolbar (in place of the native IE toolbar), you may need to manually add the Otopy button. To do so, right-click on your toolbar and select "Customize".

Select "Otopy" from the available buttons listed on the left. Highlight it, and then click "Add" to add the Otopy button to your toolbar.


Problem: When I click on the Otopy button on the toolbar, nothing happens.

Solution: If you have the Otopy button on your toolbar, but it doesn't do anything when you click on it, there may be a conflict between the Otopy plugin and other software or applications on your computer. This problem can be easily solved by following the procedure outlined below.

  1. Close all open Internet Explorer browser windows.
  2. Launch IE again. Try the Otopy button now.

    If it still doesn't work, you may need to restart your computer.
  3. Close all open Internet Explorer browser windows.
  4. Close any open applications (e.g. Outlook, Word, etc.)
  5. From the "Start" button, choose "Turn Off Computer", then select "Restart". Your computer will shut down briefly and then restart automatically.
  6. Launch IE again. Try the Otopy button now.

In rare cases, the Otopy button won't work even after restarting your computer. In this situation, you'll need to delete all cookies and all temporary Internet files.

On the IE toolbar, select "Tools" and then choose "Internet Options"

Choose "Delete Cookies". When that process is complete, choose "Delete Files". Don't worry, this just deletes copies of web pages you've viewed since the last time this temporary folder was cleaned out; it won't delete favorites or anything else that you've purposefully saved on your computer. Depending on how full the temporary folder is, this may take a minute or two.

Once you've deleted cookies and temporary files, close down Internet Explorer, and then launch it again. You're in business now!