api to hand search to running limewire instance?
 

On most desktops, there is an API to send a URI to the user's default web browser, which either opens a new browser with that URI or an running instance of the browser opens that URI. Is there a way to do this with Limewire, and thereby write a small app that constructs search parameters before handing the search off to Limewire for the actual gnutella interface?

What you are describing sounds like a gnutella "magnet link" to me - a URI that specifies a gnutella search. Google for more info.

Magnet URI's

Magnet URI examples