Sherlock, named after fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, was a file and web search tool created by Apple Inc. for the PowerPC-based "classic" Mac OS, introduced with Mac OS 8 as an extension of the Mac OS Finder's file searching capabilities. Like its predecessor (System 7.5’s totally revamped 'Find File' app, adapted by Bill Monk from his 'Find Pro' shareware find program[1]), Sherlock searched for local files and file contents, using the same basic indexing code and search logic found in AppleSearch. Sherlock extended the system by enabling the user to search for items through the World Wide Web through a set of plug-ins which employed existing web search engines. These plug-ins were written as plain text files, so that it was a simple task for a user to write a Sherlock plug-in.
Sherlock was replaced by Spotlight and Dashboard in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, although Apple continued to include it with the default installation. Since most of the standard plug-ins for Sherlock provided by Apple itself no longer function, it was officially retired and removed in the release of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard in 2007.
The Sherlock 2 search plug-in was an SGML document, and was typically given the ".src" file extension. The Sherlock plug-in was composed of three parts, identified by their element names: <search>, <input>, and <interpret> tags. These elements allowed Sherlock to (respectively) identify a search engine's web page and the parts that are relevant to searching, as well as returning the results of the search. There was also a facility for defining how a Sherlock plug-in could update itself.
Sherlock search plug-ins could also be used (with minor modifications) in Mozilla's browser suites. These plug-ins were, appropriately enough, known as Mycroft project plug-ins (named after Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock Holmes' older brother). Among some of the changes made in the Sherlock file format were the separation of the automatic update element (which formed part of the <search> element) and the icon (provided in a separate file in Mozilla and part of the resource fork in Sherlock).
Sherlock 3 channelsedit
The Sherlock 3 search plug-in was a web application, which was downloaded on the fly from a server to ensure the most current version. As information on the internet is subject to change so quickly, this was one way for Apple to guarantee the up-to-date version. A channel consisted of a web directory with an index. This usually pointed to a sub-directory (usually called "Channel") which contained the code XML, any Script XML, and localized lproj directories (nib file and Localized Text Resources as a plist).
Advocates of Watson made by Karelia Software, LLC claim that Apple copied their product without permission, compensation, or attribution in producing Sherlock 3.[citation needed] Some disagree with this claim, stating that Sherlock 3 was the natural evolution of Sherlock 2, and that Watson was obviously meant to have some relation to Sherlock by its very name.[citation needed]
The phenomenon of Apple releasing a feature that supplants or obviates third-party software is so well known that being Sherlocked has become an accepted term used within the Mac and iOS developer community.[2][3][4]
Sherlock was replaced by Spotlight in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger for hard drive searches, and replaced by Dashboard for other functionality, but remained as a stand-alone program with its channels. It was completely removed in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Sherlock software news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Sherlock named after fictional detective Sherlock Holmes was a file and web search tool created by Apple Inc for the PowerPC based classic Mac OS introduced with Mac OS 8 as an extension of the Mac OS Finder s file searching capabilities Like its predecessor System 7 5 s totally revamped Find File app adapted by Bill Monk from his Find Pro shareware find program 1 Sherlock searched for local files and file contents using the same basic indexing code and search logic found in AppleSearch Sherlock extended the system by enabling the user to search for items through the World Wide Web through a set of plug ins which employed existing web search engines These plug ins were written as plain text files so that it was a simple task for a user to write a Sherlock plug in SherlockSherlock 3 6 Movies channelDeveloper s Apple Inc Final release3 6 2 179 Operating systemMac OS 8 9 X prior to Snow Leopard TypeFile managerSearch engineWebsitewww apple com lae sherlock Sherlock was replaced by Spotlight and Dashboard in Mac OS X 10 4 Tiger although Apple continued to include it with the default installation Since most of the standard plug ins for Sherlock provided by Apple itself no longer function it was officially retired and removed in the release of Mac OS X 10 5 Leopard in 2007 Contents 1 Data 2 Sherlock 3 channels 3 Current status 4 Sherlocked as a term 5 Versions 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksData editThe Sherlock 2 search plug in was an SGML document and was typically given the src file extension The Sherlock plug in was composed of three parts identified by their element names lt search gt lt input gt and lt interpret gt tags These elements allowed Sherlock to respectively identify a search engine s web page and the parts that are relevant to searching as well as returning the results of the search There was also a facility for defining how a Sherlock plug in could update itself Sherlock search plug ins could also be used with minor modifications in Mozilla s browser suites These plug ins were appropriately enough known as Mycroft project plug ins named after Mycroft Holmes Sherlock Holmes older brother Among some of the changes made in the Sherlock file format were the separation of the automatic update element which formed part of the lt search gt element and the icon provided in a separate file in Mozilla and part of the resource fork in Sherlock Sherlock 3 channels editThe Sherlock 3 search plug in was a web application which was downloaded on the fly from a server to ensure the most current version As information on the internet is subject to change so quickly this was one way for Apple to guarantee the up to date version A channel consisted of a web directory with an index This usually pointed to a sub directory usually called Channel which contained the code XML any Script XML and localized lproj directories nib file and Localized Text Resources as a plist The channels included by default were Internet Pictures Stocks Movies eBay Flights Dictionary Translation AppleCareCurrent status editAs Sherlock was never released as a Universal binary it is not compatible with Mac OS X versions after Mac OS X 10 6 Snow Leopard and couldn t be launched on Intel Macs without Rosetta Sherlocked as a term editAdvocates of Watson made by Karelia Software LLC claim that Apple copied their product without permission compensation or attribution in producing Sherlock 3 citation needed Some disagree with this claim stating that Sherlock 3 was the natural evolution of Sherlock 2 and that Watson was obviously meant to have some relation to Sherlock by its very name citation needed The phenomenon of Apple releasing a feature that supplants or obviates third party software is so well known that being Sherlocked has become an accepted term used within the Mac and iOS developer community 2 3 4 Versions editSherlock introduced in Mac OS 8 5 Sherlock 2 shipped with Mac OS 9 new interface more plug ins Sherlock 3 shipped with Mac OS X 10 2 runs only in Mac OS X Sherlock was replaced by Spotlight in Mac OS X 10 4 Tiger for hard drive searches and replaced by Dashboard for other functionality but remained as a stand alone program with its channels It was completely removed in Mac OS X 10 5 Leopard See also editOpenSearchReferences edit Judson Jeremy 1996 The Macintosh Bible 6th Edition Peachpit Press Arment Marco Sherlocking Myself Just Fine Over Here Retrieved September 6 2014 Tsai Michael The Indie Life You ve been sherlocked The Economist July 13 2012 ISSN 0013 0613 Retrieved June 6 2019 External links editApple Sherlock 3 Channel Development Karelia Watson FAQ See What is the relationship between Watson and the new Sherlock 3 Karelia Developing Tools for Watson See How does Watson s plug in architecture compare to Sherlock 3 MyCroft Project opensearch amp sherlock search engine plug ins Gnome https wiki developer mozilla org en US docs Web API Window sidebar Adding search engines from Web pages revision 1525363 Installing Sherlock plugins https web archive org web 20090301182153 http developer apple com macosx sherlock Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sherlock software amp oldid 1185913721, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
