解:?$(1)$?由?$y=x-3$?得?$A(3,$??$0)、$??$B(0,$??$-3)$?
∵拋物線經(jīng)過點(diǎn)?$(3,$??$0)、$??$(-1,$??$0)$?
∴設(shè)拋物線為?$y=a(x-3)(x+1)$?
將點(diǎn)?$C(0,$??$-3)$?代入得?$a=1$?
∴拋物線的函數(shù)表達(dá)式為?$y=(x-3)(x+1),$?即?$y=x^2-2x-3$?
?$(2)$?設(shè)點(diǎn)?$D$?坐標(biāo)為?$(m,$??$m-3),$?則點(diǎn)?$E$?坐標(biāo)為?$(m,$??$\mathrm {m^2}-2m-3)$?
?$DE=m-3-(\mathrm {m^2}-2m-3)=-\mathrm {m^2}+3m=-(m-\frac 32)^2+\frac 94$?
∴?$DE$?的長度最大值為?$\frac 94$?