- PART I: SEARCH BASICS
- CHAPTER 1, Search Engines and How They Work
- CHAPTER 2, Unique Keywords
- CHAPTER 3, Basic Search Tools
- CHAPTER 4, Tips and Techinques
- PART II: THE BIG SIX SEARCH ENGINES
- CHAPTER 5, AltaVista
AltaVista is a favorite of professional because of its large database, powerful search features, and search customization options.
allows full boolean and case-sensitive searching.
developed in 1995 at DEC and has more patents than anyone.Uses a spider known as scooter, roams the web and searches 10,000,000 pages a day. it is supplemented by web site creators using the "submit a site' link on the home page.
The spider is good for finding new pages but fails weeding out dead ones. Search engine showdown ranked AltaVista worst in this area. AltaVista can also be found at www.av.com. For an ad free pure search version go to www.ragingsearch.com.
Use a phrase or a combination of phrases and keywords for better results.
remember lower-case search finds both upper and lower case items. Any upper-case use will preform an upper-case search only.
Webmasters and creators use a link search to find out who is sending traffic to their web sites.
for tips and a tutorial click on help on the advanced search form.Alta Vista Company,
Palo Alto, Ca.
650-320-7700 fax650-320-7720
www.altavista.com- The AltaVista Home Page
Basic search form - use qoutes to enclose your phrase
and + to include and - to exclude keywords.
Power Search - is accessed with the "more search
options" link and allows more sophisticated query.
Advanced Search - allows use of full boolean operators
AND, OR, AND NOT, NEAR, Parentheses
Web directory - the web directory on the home page
allows a even better search. You select a topic and either
browse it or refine your search to that topic.
It is provided by Looksmart. phrase searching, +/- and
boolean operators are not allowed on directory search.
Other search-related tools - under fast finds look at maps,
yellow pages, and people finder.
AltaVista can also be found at www.av.com.
For an ad free pure search version go to
www.ragingsearch.com. - Searching with AltaVista
table 5.1 shows the AltaVista quick reference guide
To enter a basic Search query:
To make your search case-sensitive:
To limit your search to a particular language:
To view your search results: - Improving Results with field search
- Improving Results with Field Search
table 5.2 shows the AltaVista field search
quick reference guide
To seacrh Web page titles:
To limit your search by Internet domain:
To limit your search by country:
To limit your search by hostname:
To search for embedded links: -
Using Advanced Search
table 5.3 shows the AltaVista Advanced Search
quick reference guide
- Customizing AltaVista
- The AltaVista Home Page
- CHAPTER 6, Google
- CHAPTER 7, HotBot
- CHAPTER 8, Lycos
- CHAPTER 9, Northern Light
- CHAPTER 10,Yahoo
- PART III: OTHER GENERAL-PURPOSE SEARCH ENGINES
- CHAPTER 11, AOL Search
- CHAPTER 12, Excite
- CHAPTER 13, MSN Search
- CHAPTER 14, NetscapeSearch
- PART IV: SPECIALIZED SEARCH ENGINES
- CHAPTER 15, Deja for Newsgroups Searches
- CHAPTER 16, Topica for Mailing list Searches
- CHAPTER 17, Argus Clearing House
- CHAPTER 18, Infospace People-finding Tools
- CHAPTER 19, Zip2 for Business Searches
- CHAPTER 20, Other Search Tools from A to Z
- APPENDIX A: SEARCH ENGINES QUICK REFERENCE
- APPENDIX B: INTERNET DOMAINS and COUNTRY CODES
- APPENDIX C: USENET NEWSGROUP HIERARCHIES
- APPENDIX D: WEB SEARCHER'S TOOLKIT
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