Using Google Search
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 9:42 pm
In response to a post I made about using the Google search function to search the Shopsmith Forum rather than using the Shopsmith Forum search function, I received a PM asking if I would explain how it is done. I don't consider myself an expert on such things, but here goes:
To understand how to build a boolean search using the Google search function, you first need to review this page which explains all the operators and connectors available on Goggle search: https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/136861?hl=en
Once you understand the various operators and connectors and how to use them, you can build a boolean search.
The key to searching only in the Shopsmith Forum (rather than the whole internet), is simply to type the following command in the Google search window:[INDENT]site:shopsmith.net/forums
[/INDENT]This command tells Google to search only within the specified site whose address follows the colon. And this command can be put at the start of or at the end of your search terms. Obviously it also works on every site on the internet that Google has visited and not just the Shopsmith Forum.
For example, suppose you wanted to find all threads on the Shopsmith Forum that talk about the 510 rip fence but not the 520. That search could be written as follows:[INDENT] site:shopsmith.net/forums "rip fence" 510 -520
[/INDENT]That tells Google to search only the Shopsmith Forum site and to return only those threads or parts thereof that: (1) have the exact phrase "rip fence" and (2) the word 510 and (3) which do not contain the word 520.
You might also just try the search site:shopsmith.net/forums "510 rip fence" but this would only bring back posts with the exact phrase "510 rip fence" and thus you might miss a post that began: "I have a problem with the rip fence on my 510."
That's the basic idea. Obviously the hardest part is understanding the operators and connectors and using them to put together a search that captures what you want and excludes stuff you don't want.
Hope this was helpful.
Al
To understand how to build a boolean search using the Google search function, you first need to review this page which explains all the operators and connectors available on Goggle search: https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/136861?hl=en
Once you understand the various operators and connectors and how to use them, you can build a boolean search.
The key to searching only in the Shopsmith Forum (rather than the whole internet), is simply to type the following command in the Google search window:[INDENT]site:shopsmith.net/forums
[/INDENT]This command tells Google to search only within the specified site whose address follows the colon. And this command can be put at the start of or at the end of your search terms. Obviously it also works on every site on the internet that Google has visited and not just the Shopsmith Forum.
For example, suppose you wanted to find all threads on the Shopsmith Forum that talk about the 510 rip fence but not the 520. That search could be written as follows:[INDENT] site:shopsmith.net/forums "rip fence" 510 -520
[/INDENT]That tells Google to search only the Shopsmith Forum site and to return only those threads or parts thereof that: (1) have the exact phrase "rip fence" and (2) the word 510 and (3) which do not contain the word 520.
You might also just try the search site:shopsmith.net/forums "510 rip fence" but this would only bring back posts with the exact phrase "510 rip fence" and thus you might miss a post that began: "I have a problem with the rip fence on my 510."
That's the basic idea. Obviously the hardest part is understanding the operators and connectors and using them to put together a search that captures what you want and excludes stuff you don't want.
Hope this was helpful.
Al