Searching subsim- alternative method

[swdw]

I know there are those who already know this, so forgive me if this is old news for you. But for those who don't-

Ever get frustrated with your search results on subsim? Because you are basically using a database query engine, it's difficult to narrow things down.

So here's an alternative:

Go to Google
Click on advanced search.
In here you can tell google to only search subsim. Here's a pic

http://www.kickinbak.com/posts/google1.png

You have lots of options for entering terms you are searching for.

I've used this and it even returns results from the archives!

If you get too many results, go to the bottom of the page, and click on the Search within results link. You can use this feature several times in a row to keep narrowing your results.

http://www.kickinbak.com/posts/google2.png

Anyway- there's your alternative when the site search won't seem to give you what you need.

Good hunting... err I mean searching

[SteamWake]

Glad that works out for you and I hope it helps others.

You do know that subsim has an advanced search function as well right ?

It has served me pretty well so far.

[swdw]

Was linking to this and made me realize I should explain why I posted this.

Steamwake is correct about the advanced version and the first method I use is going to the advanced search. However, the engine behind the search is only moderately effective.

I actually did a couple of tests where I started looking for some rather obscure stuff and tried the advanced search and the google search. Google actually returned better results. The search withn results function is priceless.

Probably 9 out of 10 times I can find stuff using the built in advanced search, but then there's that one time that no combination of terms and parameters gives an adequate result. In those cases, google has come through for me.

I posted this because it's nice to have another alternative.

Neal can control many things with the forum software, but the how database search function utilizes submitted terms aren't one of them. That's built into the forum software.

SO if you hit a wall with the built in search, give this a try.

[Platapus]

Excellent tip. Anything that makes finding all the great information on this site easier is a good thing :)

[EnsignCrow]

00 Google Advanced Search

Thanks, so then the above is how I bookmarked it into Firefox: alphabetizing puts it at top of list... :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

Excellent find!:rock: I'll remember that one.

Glad that works out for you and I hope it helps others.

You do know that subsim has an advanced search function as well right ?

It has served me pretty well so far.
Advanced Search still doesn't cover three-letter words, which makes it pretty useless to me so far. Also, I've lost count of the times it came back with "No results found", when I knew what I was looking for, just not where. But five or six more tries sometimes got it.