Advanced Internet searching tips: Boolean searches

Whichever search engine you use, these tips will help you find what you're looking for-whether you're using Microsoft? Internet Explorer 6 or other Web browser software.

· General searching

· Searching using Microsoft Internet Explorer 6

General searching

Use more than one search engine

No search engine indexes all Web sites and Web pages. So if your first search doesn't produce the results you want, try searching with at least one other search engine.

Read the About page

Many search engines have a link that leads to detailed information about how the search engine compiles and searches through information, and how to get the best results from it. Reading this page can save you a lot of time and headaches. Also, visit search engine home page links with names like How To, Search Help, and Advanced Search for searching tips.

Get targeted results by being specific

The more specific your search word, the more targeted your search results will be. If you search for the words Labrador retriever, for example, rather than the word dog, your search will yield fewer sites but they will be targeted to the type of dog that interests you.

Get more results by being general

If your search word is too specific, your search may yield few or no results. To get more results, try searching for a related word that is more general.

Define your search using Boolean operators

The major search engines let you select whether to search for the exact phrase you typed, all the words in the phrase but not necessarily together, any of the words in a phrase, and so on. A few search engines do not give you such options. In this case, you can define the search yourself by adding one or more words or symbols to your search topic.

· AND. To search for two or more terms on the same page: Type the word AND between the terms (example: sea AND kayak). Or put a plus sign right before the second term (example: sea +kayak).

· OR. To search for either of two (or more) terms on the same page: Type the word OR between the terms (example: kayak OR canoe).

· AND NOT. To search for pages that include the first term and not the second: Type the words AND NOT between the terms (example: kayak AND NOT whitewater). Or put a minus sign right before the second term (example: kayak -whitewater).

· "". To search for an exact phrase: Enclose the phrase in quotation marks (example: "sea kayak rental").

· (). To group parts of your search: Enclose them in parentheses. For example, type kayak AND (gear OR equipment). This returns pages with both the words kayak and gear or both the words kayak and equipment.

· *. To search for various forms of a word: Add an asterisk to the end of the word (example: kayak*). This returns pages with the words kayak, kayaks, kayaked, kayaking, and so on.

Sites to visit

· Boolean Searching on the Internet—a quick study from the University of Albany

· Help for Searching Using Boolean Operators

Searching using Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 with Windows® XP

Search the Internet with a search engine

1. On the toolbar, click the Search button. By default, the Search Companion will appear in a separate pane on the left side. Type your search question in the box underneath What are you looking for?. Top results will appear using the MSN search engine in the right pane.

2. Click any link to open the associated Web page in the right pane of your Internet Explorer 6 window.

3. To change the default search engine, click Change Preferences, then click Change Internet search behavior.

4. Highlight a different search engine to use from the list available, and click OK.

Classic search

1. To search in a more traditional way, without using the companion or natural questions, click Change Preferences, then click Change Internet search behavior, click the button next to With Classic Internet search, and click OK.

2. The next time you open Internet Explorer, your new settings for search will appear.

3. In the appropriate text box, type the word or phrase you're looking for, and then click Search, Submit, or Go Get It, depending on the search engine. The search results appear in the list within the Search bar.

4. Click any link to open the associated Web page in the right pane of your Internet Explorer 6 window.

5. Any time you want to pursue another link from the search results, click it. The new Web page will open in the right pane.

6. To hide the Search bar, click the Search button on the toolbar again.

Search the Internet from the Address bar

1. In the Address bar, type a word or phrase you want to find and click Go.

2. Internet Explorer 6 will automatically take you to the most likely site.

Note: This AutoSearch feature uses only one search service to find information.

Search for text on the current Web page

1. On the Edit menu, click Find (on this page).

2. Type the text you want to find.

3. Change any settings as needed.

4. Click Find Next.

Find a Web site when a URL doesn't work

If the uniform resource locator (URL), or Web address, that you type in the Address bar or click in a Web page doesn't work, try this to correct the address:

1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.

2. Click the Advanced tab.

3. Scroll to Search from the Address bar. Under When searching,

o If you want Internet Explorer to show you results, click the radio button next to Display results and go to the most likely site or Just display the results in the main window.

o If you want Internet Explorer to choose the best match without asking first, click Just go to the most likely site.

o If you don't want Internet Explorer to search for a similar address, click Do not search from the Address bar.

4. Click Apply and click OK.

Sites to visit

· Download Internet Explorer 6