Five Google Tricks

[intelliot]

Everyone knows that Google lets you search the Web in a hurry. But Google offers search features and tricks most people aren't aware of.

* Google lets you search for a range of numbers -- a surprisingly handy feature if you're looking for prices, dates, or product features. Here's how it works: If you type two periods between the numbers at either end of a range (1970..1990), Google shows you results with every number in between. For example, if you want to find references to boxers in the first half of the 20th century, try 1900..1950 boxers. Google gives you pages mentioning boxers during that entire span of years. This trick is great for prices ($50..75 Tiffany) and other types of numbers, too, like 45..55 MPG Honda, or 400..600 thread count.

* Google is a national Yellow Pages. If you type in your search terms along with a name and state or zip code, Google offers you "Local Results" -- listings of relevant businesses in the area you've asked for. For example, if you want to send flowers to your cousin in Boise, Idaho, type florist Boise, ID to get a handy list of businesses -- along with their addresses and phone numbers -- that'll deliver a bouquet in Boise.

* Google is a calculator. If you type in 2*2=, the blank search box is smart enough to know that you want to perform some math rather than run a search. (If you actually want to search for instances of the equation itself, then put it in quotes, like this: "2*2=."). The Google calculator can do very complex calculations, and it can also perform unit conversions, like "How many acres in 13 hectares?" or "5 kilometers in miles." You never have to wonder again how many teaspoons are in a cup.

* When you have a question, type in the answer you want to find, rather than the question. For example, if you want to find out who the original drummer for the Beatles was, try "original drummer for the Beatles." If you type your query in the form of a question -- who was the original drummer for the Beatles? -- Google matches your search terms and shows you pages with that question, but not necessarily with the answer.

* If you're a Webmaster and you've accidentally deleted a page from your site, Google may be able to help you retrieve the code. Run a search that'll find the page you lost, and then in your results listing, click the "Cached" link to see a copy of the page when Google last recorded it. (Google keeps a snapshot of all the pages it tracks.) Right click the cached page itself (on a Mac, Ctrl-click) to get a menu with an option to View Page Source or View Source. Voila! Google delivers your original code and saves your bacon.

[Andylkl]

Originally Posted by intelliot

* Google is a calculator. If you type in 2*2=, the blank search box is smart enough to know that you want to perform some math rather than run a search. (If you actually want to search for instances of the equation itself, then put it in quotes, like this: "2*2=."). The Google calculator can do very complex calculations, and it can also perform unit conversions, like "How many acres in 13 hectares?" or "5 kilometers in miles." You never have to wonder again how many teaspoons are in a cup.

And not to mention Google's answer in the calculator for answer to life, the universe and everything (without quotes) is 42, which is a reference to the book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. =)

[intelliot]

Originally Posted by Andylkl

And not to mention Google's answer in the calculator for answer to life, the universe and everything (without quotes) is 42, which is a reference to the book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. =)

I never knew that. Very cool! I have Douglas Adams' book, but never finished reading the whole thing.

[oblivious]

The calculator is really good because it can do trig funtions and stuff... I don't know about calculus, but try putting in cos(*), sin(*), tan(*), etc. or you can type 'pi' for 3.1416.... It is really helpful... now to try out the calc functions!

Actually, I found a list of functions you can use. Click HERE to check them out!

[Anonymous]

thoese are some good tips thanks

[nebbie2004]

Here is a little basic information that everyone needs to have regarding Google.

Download toolbar.google.com for Page Rank information and a quick search bar for IE.

Here are search features for Google, use these in the search bar:

link:url shows which pages link to url

related:url shows whats related

site:domain limits results to the domain

allinurl: shows only pages with all terms in the url.

inurl: like allinurl but only for the next query word.

allintitle: shows only results with terms in title.

intitle: similar to allintitle, but only for the next word. "intitle:webdevforums google" finds only pages with webdevforums in the title, and google anywhere on the page.

cache:url shows the Google version of the url

info:url will show a page containing links to related searches, backlinks, and pages containing the url.

spell: will spell check your query and search for it.

stocks: will lookup the search query in a stock index.

filetype: will restrict searches to that filetype. "-filetype:doc" to remove Microsoft word files.

daterange: is supported in Julian date format only. 2452384 is an example of a Julian date.

maps: If you enter a street address, a link to Yahoo Maps and to MapBlast will be presented.

phone: enter anything that looks like a phone number to have a name and address displayed. Same is true for something that looks like an address (include a name and zip code)

site:www.somesite.net "+www.somesite.+net"
(tells you how many pages of your site are indexed by google)

allintext: searches only within text of pages, but not in the links or page title

allinlinks: searches only within links, not text or title

[dontblink]

Thanks! I had no idea about those. But seriously, why would you use google as a calculator? IMO, that's just a waste of a programmer's time.

[intelliot]

IMO, the Google calculator is excellent for converting between obscure units of measurement.

Quick, how many cups are in 23 ounces? There is no faster way than Google: http://www.google.com/search?q=23+ounces+in+cups
Especially if you have Google in your toolbar.

Works for computer stuff too, like hexadecimal, binary, etc.

[topdawg]

I use the calculator quite often, any idea if google has (or will have) a currency converter? USD to CAD etc?

[Anonymous]

Originally Posted by intelliot

IMO, the Google calculator is excellent for converting between obscure units of measurement.

Quick, how many cups are in 23 ounces? There is no faster way than Google: http://www.google.com/search?q=23+ounces+in+cups
Especially if you have Google in your toolbar.

Works for computer stuff too, like hexadecimal, binary, etc.

this works for conversions as well, lets say you wanted to change from mile to kilometers you can do that too, or feet to centimeters..you can just types something like "45 miles to kilometers"