Database Digest
Google – www.google.com
For this issue of the Database Digest we are highlighting
a general search engine that is very popular with many of
our library users – Google. This user-friendly resource
provides easy access to over 2 billion web pages, its Advanced
Search features that make it so valuable to users. Let’s
take a look at some of those features.
[Note: all information in this Database Digest, and more,
can be found at “Google Special Search Features”
http://www.google.com/help/features.html]
Catalog Search (BETA)
Google’s Catalog Search includes the full content of
hundreds of mail-order catalogs. Suggested viewing is with
a broadband Internet connection.
PhoneBook
To find listings for a US business, type the business name
into the Google search box, along with the city and state.
Or type the business name and zip code. Entering the phone
number with area code will also return a complete business
listing.
To find listings for a US residence, type any of the following
combinations into the Google search box:
first name (or first initial), last name, city (state is optional)
first name (or first initial), last name, state
first name (or first initial), last name, area code
first name (or first initial), last name, zip code
phone number, including area code
last name, city, state
last name, zip code
Cached Links
Google takes a snapshot of each page examined as it crawls
the web and caches these as a back-up in case the original
page is unavailable. If you click on the "Cached"
link, you will see the web page as it looked when it was indexed.
The cached content is the content Google uses to judge whether
this page is a relevant match for your query. Terms that match
your query are highlighted on the cached version to make it
easier for you to see why your page is relevant.
Web Page Translation
Using machine translation technology, this feature is currently
available for pages published in Italian, French, Spanish,
German, and Portuguese. If your search has non-English results,
there will be a link to a version of that page translated
into English.
Expanded File Type search
Google has expanded the number of non-HTML file types it
can search. In addition to PDF documents, it searches Microsoft
Office, PostScript, Corel WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3, and many
more.
Find out who links to you
The query link:siteURL shows you all the pages that point
to that URL. For example, link:www.gwumc.edu/library will
show you all the pages that point to Himmelfarb Library’s
home page. You cannot combine a link: search with a regular
Keyword search.
I’m Feeling Lucky
The "I'm Feeling Lucky™" button takes you
directly to the first web page Google returned for your query.
You will not see the other search results at all. An "I'm
Feeling Lucky" search means you spend less time searching
for web pages and more time looking at them.
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