Indy Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 (edited) Unlike the past...today the first step in research is Google IT Passing along information for the benefit of others. I never ever Google using the basic search engine. Instead I use Google Advanced Search offering several options to refine searches and save time. Google Advanced Search: Click Here When using the above (after entering a search) you decide you would like to search by image...just click on "Images" on the far left column Google Advanced Search also has an option to enter a website you would like to search for information and images. You will notice ... "Search within a site or domain" at the bottom Simply copy and paste the website's home address into this block then your ready to search ONLY that website. The Fossil Forum's home page is: thefossilforum.com Here is the link to search ONLY The Fossil Forum...for those who might like to save it in favorites or as a shortcut to desktop Here it is: Click Here Here is a fun demo...Searching ONLY The Fossil Forum for the exact phrase Have a nice day ... Click Here Try out the above link again and when the page opens... Click on "Images" on the far left column. You will then see all the images Google archived associated with pages where "Have a nice day" was mentioned. The Fossil Forum has TONS of discussions and archived images on most any subject you can think of (joking). If your considering a post on a specific subject or wish to inquire about a specific topic...Try searching to see if you can find the information and or images on previous posts. Finding information and images on other posts is good references to point to in discussions. Now of course, there are several other search engines and even search engines totally focused on specific type searches. IE Google Book Search: Click Here Google Scholar Search: Click Here Ending with a fun thing....Many of our images archived by Google can be viewed by clicking on this link Click Here I'm not going to go on and on listing more search aids... Other members hopefully will join in the discussion sharing these as well other "tricks and shortcuts" to find information, images, and references. Barry PS: If you have found the information beneficial...Please leave a Reply Edited August 30, 2011 by Indy Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ammojoe Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Very interesting post Indy, thank you. I didn't think to use Google in all those different ways. Another way that Google can be useful to Paleontologists is by the Image search, which allows you to find images that aren't copyrighted, therefore able to be used on a website, for instance. Google Advanced Image Search If you scroll down, and then click on 'Usage Rights', you can select the options you require. Joe Kind regards, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xonenine Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 terrific tips, both of you, thanks!!! "Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile." Lepidus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Puttin' the "e" in research! A lot of what I do along these lines starts with a "Hail Mary" for broad results, which usually generates leads that I can follow up on with a more focused search. Serendipity is my co-pilot. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted August 29, 2011 Author Share Posted August 29, 2011 Google is not the only search engine on the block. The focus of the discussion was not meant to recommend one search engine over another but to illustrate advantages of "Advanced" searches. Do and "Advanced" search using he exact phrase "Search engines" and test drive several...Find the ones you like, keeping in mind the advantages of Advanced Searches. We all have our individual personal preferences I guess that why they call these "Personal" computers. Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locke Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) A little-known feature, Google will define words and short phrases for you. This is more a general tip but also quite useful when reading the forum here and coming across posts full of those big scientific words. The syntax is to prefix your search with "define:" For example, I came across an unfamiliar term the other day: gymnosperm. I wanted quick cursory knowledge of what it is, so I went to Google and typed "define:gymnosperm" and voila! No need to click through results, the answer is bold, first and foremost. It's also helpful in general with any words or phrases you want to quickly look up. Edited August 30, 2011 by Locke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted August 30, 2011 Author Share Posted August 30, 2011 A little-known feature, Google will define words and short phrases for you. This is more a general tip but also quite useful when reading the forum here and coming across posts full of those big scientific words. The syntax is to prefix your search with "define:" For example, I came across an unfamiliar term the other day: gymnosperm. I wanted quick cursory knowledge of what it is, so I went to Google and typed "define:gymnosperm" and voila! No need to click through results, the answer is bold, first and foremost. It's also helpful in general with any words or phrases you want to quickly look up. Thanks for pointing out this feature... I utilize this feature everyday! Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Good job, Barry! http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted August 30, 2011 Author Share Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) Very interesting post Indy, thank you. I didn't think to use Google in all those different ways. Another way that Google can be useful to Paleontologists is by the Image search, which allows you to find images that aren't copyrighted, therefore able to be used on a website, for instance. Google Advanced Image Search Joe Click on "More keyword options" just below the search box and the following additional search options will be available this exact wording or phrase: one or more of these words: Note: Google archives images that appear on pages where the words or phrase "text" appears. This is why you may see some images that are not expected. PS: If you have found information on this thread beneficial... Please leave a Reply . Edited August 30, 2011 by Indy Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 (edited) The focus of this thread is the "Obvious" many advantages of using "Advanced Search" options. Google is not the only search engine in the world and many prefer others that have "Advanced Search Options" Great!! Which search engine one uses is all about "personal preference" Many of us use a number of search engines depending on variables. What if I only want to search our forum and I only want to find posts which have the word Pennsylvanian in the Title? What if I want to find key words or phrases used in a title or discussions ONLY in the General Fossil Discussion forum...OR maybe I only want to search the Members Galleries. Maybe I only want to search for specific information posted in the Fossil Photography forum. In other words..."Refined" searches not offered by Google or other search engines Well...In that case I will turn to The Fossil Forum's "Advanced" Search engine Arrow points the icon to click on. The Fossil Forum's Advanced Search Engine Click Here NOTE: Just below the "Find Words" box Tip: Search for a specific phrase by "enclosing it in quotes" My first choice is Google Advanced Search (Our forum only) However, when I need to refine my searches even further... I click on TFF's "Advanced" search engine Poke around and explore to find more refined search options It just "blows my mind" when thinking about all the Paleo topics archived on TFF (somewhere)...Unbelievable and Fantastic resource for images and information...However, its only of value IF you can find what your looking for...It's probably here somewhere...But where? The Fossil Forum Here's some interesting stats (as of this moment) Fossil ID: 221 pages - 6,609 topics - 53,661 replies General Fossil Discussion: 85 pages - 2,536 topics - 29,618 replies Fossil Hunting Trips: 135 pages - 4,046 topics - 52,002 replies Questions & Answers: 39 pages - 1,146 topics - 9,801 replies Member Collections: 58 pages - 1,736 topics - 24,750 replies Fossil News: 33 pages - 980 topics - 4,344 replies Help and Suggestions: 15 pages - 424 topics - 3,451 replies Wondering if others will reply and expand on the above and or offer additional helpful Internet search suggestions Edited January 4, 2012 by Indy Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracer Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 i use a divining rod and optivisor but my processes have evolved over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erose Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Barry, You got stock in that company or something? But thanks for the helpful tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 Barry, You got stock in that company or something? But thanks for the helpful tips. Are you referring to Google or The Fossil Forum? I know the Topic of this thread points to just one search engine but that's only because of its popularity...This thread is "wide open" for other suggestions...The goal is finding what we are searching for What car we drive to the library (to me) really doesn't make any difference Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Thanks for the tips. With Google, at least you can get around the silly no-3-letter-search-term rule. (Eg. Google helps egg specialists, GMR hunters, etc.....) Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfergirlatx Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 What a helpful topic Indy! I know since I have taken your advice and started using Google Advanced my research has been so much easier and I get the exact results and not all the useless jargon. Thank you Dr. Indy Jones for making my life so much easier with this helpful search engine tool! Kim "The road to success is always under construction." Author Unknown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the tatter Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Thanks, Indy :Bananasaur: Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen, and thinking what nobody has thought. Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Thanks for the tips and reminders. An image search in Google typically returns a mess of unrelated links. When coupled with domain = thefossilforum.com, it is much better, particularly when searching for specific genera. Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missourian Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Also, try searching for a subject of interest with file type = .PDF. I've found some interesting papers that way. Context is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Thanks for the tips. With Google, at least you can get around the silly no-3-letter-search-term rule. (Eg. Google helps egg specialists, GMR hunters, etc.....) AMEN! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cris Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 The no 3 letter search thing annoyed me a little in the past also. I just found the way to modify that, so nobody should have that problem anymore. The limit went from nothing less than 4 to nothing less than 2. Remember, like Indy mentioned above, searching for something like conus adversarius will return results for conus and adversarius. If you enclose the search in quotation marks, i.e. "conus adversarius", it will only search for those two words together in that order. I find quotation marks very useful to use when searching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roanoker Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Be sure to look at the Google doodle for today. It celebrates Nicolas Steno, one of the founders of modern stratigraphy and geology. He liked fossils, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indy Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 Just noticed on the "Basic" Google Search engine page... they dropped the link for Advanced Search option. The link used to appear beside the search box. Was helpful to alert users that they have an Advanced Search Engine. Maybe removing the link was an oversight and it will be added back soon Advanced Search Link Flash from the Past (Show Us Your Fossils)MAPS Fossil Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Thanks Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
non-remanié Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 google also does quick and easy unit conversions. try something like "55ft to m" and you will find out how many meters are in 55ft. you can use a variety of syntax, eg "55ft = ? m" also works. lots of units work you just need to use the official abbreviations i think. ---Wie Wasser schleift den Stein, wir steigen und fallen--- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Google custom search can be found by clicking the 'More' button. KOF, Bill. Welcome to the forum, all new members www.ukfossils check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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