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Search_with_the_power_of_Boolean_operators
| Search with the power of Boolean operators
Every significant search engine is equipped with tools called
Boolean operators. Taking the time to learn how to use them can
drastically improve your search results for some types of
searches. Unfortunately most of us are completely unaware they
even exist.
An Example of the power of the Boolean tools is the use of the
word "and" in narrowing down your search area. It could actually
mean the difference in receiving 10,000 returned results and
only 100.
The Boolean tools are so powerful at doing what they do, a
number of search engines are automatically incorporating them
into their searches. In other words, if your using one of these
search e- sources to search for "maps,Africa" what your actually
searching for is "maps and Africa". This can be a good thing.
Without the "and" in your search in the above example your
results would include thousands of unwanted "map" sites. With
the inclusion of the "and" your results will only contain map
sites with Africa included.
At the same time if your unaware of the Boolean tools use of the
"and" in your search it can just as easily filter out results
that are 100% pertinent to your query.
An example of this would be a search string like " maps, Africa,
poverty," This could be a very legitimate search if you were
doing a paper on the areas of poverty in Africa. Unfortunately
if the search e-source your using is also automatically using
Boolean tools your search results will all have to contain the
words "maps and Africa and poverty" thus narrowing your results
down far beyond anything you really wanted. (see list of
automatic Bolean search e-sources at the end of this article)
What does all this really mean for you and your searches? Well
actually it means quite a bit. If your unaware of how the search
e- source is looking for your information you'll probably not
end up with all of the most pertinent information available.
If you are aware of the power of the Boolean tools your searches
will now be a much less painful experience. You'll spend far
less time searching, and you'll return far more relevant results.
"Automatic Boolean search engines are AltaVista, AOL Search,
Google, HotBot, Lycos, MSN Search, and Northern Light."
"Your Success Is Our Success"
jbp
About the author:
[ jim Peters is Manager of NSI "SOLUTIONS". NSI
specializes in custom website design,promotion, maintenance, domain
registration ,site
hosting ,site and graphic design, as well as e-commerce
packages for small to medium sized companies. In other words
"SOLUTIONS".]
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