Research pane missing

[katfen]

I have Windows 7, Internet Explorer 8 and office 2010.  I have the research feature in Office but do not have the Research pane on my internet explorer toolbar. I have tried to manage add-ons and it is not listed as an add-on. How can I get it?

[soybean]

You mean the search box in which you would enter a search word or phrase for an Internet search, right?  It normally appears to the right of the web address box.  Is your web address box displayed?  How much width of your browser window does it use when your browser window is maximized?  What do you see at the right of the web address box?

[katfen]

It's not the regular search bar.  There is a right arrow chevron next to the help ?. When I click on it, it should bring up a research heading that you can use to search reference books, dictionaries, etc.. All I have is One-Note and Blog this. Which I manage add-ons, research isn't even in the add-ons category

[soybean]

Which I manage add-ons, research isn't even in the add-ons category

"research" doesn't appear in the screen for Manage Add-ons in my IE8 either.  What does appear there is "Search Providers", on the left side of the Manage Add-ons panel, under "Add-on Types".   Do you see "Search Providers" in your Manage Add-ons panel?
 

[katfen]

Yes, I have search providers, yahoo, bing and ask are the options. I think I am missing a file or something or maybe the research function isn't a part in IE 8.

[soybean]

"research function" wasn't part of IE7 either, so I don't know where you're getting the notion of a "research function".  You have the search box which, obviously, would be used to research a topic.  If you want to add to yahoo, bing and ask, click on the the drop down arrow next to the search box and select "Find More Providers".  This will open a web page from which you can select additional search providers.  To add any of them, click on the "Add to Internet Explorer" button on that page.

[katfen]

I am taking a computer class and one of the assignments was to use the research function. I am just going to assume I don't have it and can't get it. Thanks for your help.

[soybean]

Well, I suspect there's some confusion in terminology here.  I suspect the "research function" is actually the search box that's a standard feature in IE and other browsers.  Or, it means the technique or method of doing effective research on the Internet rather than a browser feature. 

By the way, here's a reference you might find helpful in your class: http://www.internettutorials.net/boolean.asp

[BC_Programmer]

Research Pane:

View->Explorer Bars->Choose "Research".

[soybean]

Well, heck, I completely missed the target here.