Want to bridge web-based data sources with Windows 7? With the next iteration of Windows, Microsoft supports bridging Windows Explorer with Internet services, and is providing the resources necessary for developers to implement Federated Search. Windows 7 Federated Search Provider Implementer's Guide is now available for download, offering guidance on how to take advantage of Windows OpenSearch for web services to be made available in Windows 7's Windows Explorer via federated search.

“Windows 7 introduces support for search federation to remote data stores using OpenSearch technologies that enable users to access and interact with their remote data from within Windows Explorer,” Microsoft explains in the document. “Federated search enables users to search remote data sources from within Windows Explorer. Remote data sources make themselves searchable with a simple web front end that exposes their search capabilities. In fact, some data sources may already support the minimum requirements for search federation.”

RSS 2.0, 1.0, 0.91 and 0.92, as well as Atom 0.3/1.0 and MediaRSS, are some of the supported standards that will play nice with Windows 7 federated search Microsoft informs. In addition, the next version of Windows also comes with support for OpenSearch 1.1, NTLM, Kerberos, and Basic (only over https). The software giant pointed out that there were three simple steps that developers of web services needed to follow in order to ensure that their content would find its way into Windows 7.

“Enable the data store to be searched from Windows using OpenSearch with RSS or Atom output. Create .osdx files that describe how to connect to the web service and how to map any custom elements in your RSS or Atom XML. Deploy the search connectors to Windows client machines using the .osdx files,” the Redmond company explained.

32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 (Release Candidate) RC Build 7100.0.090421-1700 is available for download here.