Using the $EXP_NAME category

In the $EXP_NAME category, you can search all of the major Internet search engines at the same time. You can also save frequently used search queries so you can access them again easily.

Topics

To search in the Web Search category
To improve your search results
To use a search engine's unique syntax
To repeat a recent search
To save a search query for easy retrieval
To use a saved search query
To change a saved search query

To search in the Web Search category:
1. Type the search text in the Search For box.
The search text can be a phrase or a series of words that you want to match. Use commas to separate keywords and phrases. Here are some examples:
low price, computer, bay area
real estate, Orange County, California
marine fish tank, clownfish
snow conditions, Utah
Yellowstone National Park, map
2. In the Search Options list, choose the type of search you want to perform.
  • Choose "All the words and/or phrases" to search for pages that contain all the terms you typed in the Search For box.
  • Choose "Any of the words and/or phrases" to search for pages that contain any one of the terms you typed in the Search For box.
A third search option, "Each engine's default search mode," lets you search using the unique search syntax of a particular search engine. For more information, see To use a search engine's unique syntax.
3. In the Where to Search list, select which search sources the category will search.
To see brief descriptions of the available search sources, click the Info button.
4. To switch to a different Search Mode, select:
bullet.gif (98 bytes) Speed to return results as soon as they are found on the first page. Results on subsequent pages are ranked by relevance.
bullet.gif (98 bytes) Relevance to return results ranked by how they related to the query searched.
5. Click the Search button.
The Results List page appears. (If you don't see any results, follow the on-screen instructions to modify your search. You can click the Search tab to return to the Web Search category's Search page and refine your search.)
To improve your search results:

If your search returned too many or too few results, or the wrong results, try using these tips to improve your search.

To narrow a search that returned too many results:
bullet.gif (98 bytes) In the Search Options List, choose "All the words and/or phrases," and try the search again.
bullet.gif (98 bytes) Separate keywords and phrases with commas. For example, change home run records to home run, records.
bullet.gif (98 bytes) Add more precise words or phrases to your search text. For example, change home run, records to home run, records, baseball.
bullet.gif (98 bytes) Capitalize when appropriate. Search terms in lowercase can match words in any case; otherwise, an exact case match is often used.
To expand a search that returned too few results:
bullet.gif (98 bytes) In the Search Options List, choose "Any of the words and/or phrases," and try the search again.
bullet.gif (98 bytes) Separate keywords and phrases with commas, if you haven't done so. For example, change home games Bulls to home games, Bulls.
bullet.gif (98 bytes) Try using synonyms and variations of words. For example, type CDROM, CD-ROM, cd rom.
bullet.gif (98 bytes) Use the correct spelling.
bullet.gif (98 bytes) Use lowercase. Search terms in lowercase will match words in any case; otherwise, an exact case match is used.
To use a search engine's unique syntax:

If you are familiar with the search syntax required by a particular search engine, you can use the syntax to format your search query.

1. In the Where to Search list, select only the one source (or search engine) that you want to search on -- for example, Infoseek.
If you select more than one source (or search engine), and they don't use the same syntax, your search results may not be very good. However, many search engines do use the same search operators (such as the plus sign, minus sign, and quotation marks). For more information on which search engines use the same operators, see the HTML document at the following URL: http://www.searchenginewatch.com/facts/powersearch.html
2. From the Search Options list, choose "Each engine's default search mode."
3. Type your query in the Search For box. For example, the query for a search on Infoseek might look like this: +"small dogs" -Chihuahua
4. Click the Search button.

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