book

Google: The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition

by Sarah Milstein, J. D. Biersdorfer, Rael Dornfest, Matthew MacDonald

March 2006

Beginner to intermediate

466 pages

14h 55m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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Google: The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition
The Missing Credits
About the AuthorsAbout the Creative TeamAcknowledgementsThe Missing Manual Series
Introduction
A Little HistoryHow the Web Was Won: Google’s TechnologyHow the Ranking WorksComparing Google with Other SearchesAbout This BookAbout the OutlineThe Very BasicsAbout → These → ArrowsLate-Breaking NewsAbout MissingManuals.comSafari® Enabled
I. Searching with Google
1. Google 101
1.1. The Heart of Google: Basic Text Searches1.2. How to Get More out of Google1.2.1. Getting Specific1.2.2. To Quote a Phrase1.2.3. Searching Within Your Results1.2.4. And vs. Or1.2.5. Just Say No1.2.6. Just Say Yes1.2.7. Getting Lucky1.3. Two Important Google Quirks1.3.1. Wildcards1.3.2. The Ten-Word Limit1.3.2.1. Obscurity rules1.3.2.2. Playing the wildcard1.4. Interpreting Your Results1.4.1. Your Actual Results1.4.1.1. Page title1.4.1.2. Text from the site1.4.1.3. URL1.4.1.4. Size1.4.1.5. Date1.4.1.6. Cached1.4.1.7. Similar pages1.4.1.8. Indented results1.4.1.9. File format1.4.2. The Things You Didn’t Ask For1.4.2.1. The summary bar1.4.2.2. Sponsored Links1.4.2.3. Other things that can show up: news links and spelling suggestions1.4.3. The Stuff at the Bottom of the Results Page1.5. When Not to Use Google1.6. Nine Very Cool Google Tricks1.6.1. Definitions1.6.2. Calculator1.6.3. Phonebook1.6.4. Street Maps1.6.5. Stock Quotes1.6.6. Patents, Tracking IDs, and Other Numeric Goodies1.6.7. Weather1.6.8. Q&A1.6.9. Movies1.7. A Final Tip: Googling Google
2. Superior Searching
2.1. Have It Your Way: Setting Preferences2.1.1. Interface Language2.1.2. Search Language2.1.3. SafeSearch Filtering2.1.4. Number of Results2.1.5. Results Window2.2. Advanced Search2.2.1. Refining Your Search2.2.1.1. Query words2.2.1.2. Language2.2.1.3. File Format2.2.1.4. Date2.2.1.5. Specifying where on a page to search2.2.1.6. Domain2.2.1.7. SafeSearch2.2.2. Page-Specific Search2.2.2.1. Similar2.2.2.2. Links2.2.3. Topic-Specific Searches2.3. Advanced Search on Steroids2.4. Searching by Language and Country2.5. Searching by Town2.6. Getting Fancy with Syntax2.6.1. Searching Titles2.6.2. Searching Text2.6.3. Searching Anchors2.6.4. Searching Within Sites and Domains2.6.5. Searching URLs2.6.6. Who Links to Whom?2.6.7. Caching Up2.6.8. Daterange2.6.9. Searching by File Type2.6.10. Searching for Related Content2.6.11. Synonyms2.6.12. Most of the Kit and Caboodle2.7. Mixing Syntax2.7.1. How Not to Mix Syntax2.7.1.1. Canceling yourself out2.7.1.2. Doubling up2.7.1.3. Getting carried away2.7.2. How to Mix Syntax Correctly2.8. Anatomy of a Google URL2.8.1. Changing the Number of Results2.8.2. Changing the Interface Language2.8.3. Two More URL Tricks
II. Google Tools
3. Googling Further: Images, News, Maps, and More
3.1. Google Images3.1.1. Searching for Images3.1.1.1. Advanced Image Search3.1.2. Reading Your Images Results3.2. Google News3.2.1. Searching Google News3.2.1.1. Advanced News Search3.2.2. Browsing Google News3.2.3. Customizing Google News3.2.3.1. Adding your own news sections3.2.4. Getting the News Delivered3.3. Google Maps3.3.1. Using Google Maps3.3.1.1. Satellite view3.3.2. Getting Directions3.3.3. Using Local Search and Maps Together3.4. Google Directory3.4.1. When to Use the Directory3.4.2. Browsing the Directory3.4.3. Searching the Directory3.5. Google Print3.5.1. Searching for Books
4. Googling with Others: Groups and Answers
4.1. Google Groups4.1.1. When to Use Google Groups4.1.2. How Google Groups Are Organized4.1.3. How the Usenet Groups Are Organized4.1.4. Navigating Google Groups4.1.4.1. Browsing4.1.4.2. Searching4.1.4.3. Refining your search4.1.4.4. Advanced Groups search4.1.5. Posting Messages in Google Groups4.1.6. How to Create a Google Group4.2. Google Answers4.2.1. When to Use Google Answers4.2.2. Before You Ask a Question4.2.2.1. Searching Google Answers4.2.2.2. Browsing Google Answers4.2.3. Asking a Question4.2.4. While You Wait4.2.5. Getting an Answer4.2.5.1. Perfection4.2.5.2. You need to clarify things4.2.5.3. The researcher needs to clarify things4.2.5.4. You’re not satisfied4.2.5.5. People answer your question by posting comments4.2.5.6. Nothing happens4.2.6. Changing Your Account Settings
5. Shopping with Google
5.1. When to Use Froogle5.2. Finding Stuff with Froogle5.2.1. Searching5.2.2. Advanced Froogle Search5.2.3. Shopping Lists5.2.3.1. Froogle Wish Lists

6. The Google Toolbar
6.1. The Google Toolbar: Search Faster6.1.1. Installing the Google Toolbar6.1.2. Working with the Search Box6.1.3. The Two Toolbar Buttons You Can’t Get Rid Of6.1.3.1. Search6.1.3.2. Google menu6.1.4. The Optional Toolbar Buttons6.1.4.1. Search Site6.1.4.2. I’m Feeling Lucky6.1.4.3. Search Images, Search Groups, Search Directory, and Search Froogle6.1.4.4. Next and Previous results6.1.4.5. News6.1.4.6. PageRank6.1.4.7. Page Info menu6.1.4.8. Pop-up blocker6.1.4.9. SpellCheck6.1.4.10. AutoLink6.1.4.11. AutoFill6.1.4.12. Voting6.1.4.13. BlogThis!6.1.4.14. Options6.1.4.15. Up6.1.4.16. Highlight6.1.4.17. Word Find6.1.4.18. Search by Country6.1.4.19. WordTranslator6.2. Other Browsers with Google Features6.2.1. Safari6.2.1.1. Two additional Safari features6.2.2. Mozilla, Firefox, and Netscape6.2.2.1. Mozilla vs. Netscape6.2.2.2. Firefox6.2.2.3. The Googlebar6.2.3. Two More Browsers Worth Mentioning6.2.3.1. OmniWeb6.2.3.2. Opera
7. More Cool Google Tools
7.1. Alternative Search Boxes7.1.1. Browser Buttons7.1.2. Search Sidebars7.1.2.1. Internet Explorer for Windows7.1.2.2. Internet Explorer for Macintosh7.1.2.3. Netscape and Mozilla (Mac, Windows, and Linux)7.1.3. Searching from the Address Bar7.1.3.1. Internet Explorer for Windows7.1.3.2. Netscape and Mozilla (Mac, Windows, and Linux)7.2. Bookmarklets7.3. Google Desktop Search7.3.1. Installing Google Desktop Search7.3.2. Using Google Desktop Search7.3.2.1. Setting the Desktop Search Preferences7.3.2.2. A few words about privacy7.3.3. Disabling Google Desktop Search7.4. Google Deskbar7.4.1. Installing the Deskbar7.4.2. Searching via the Deskbar7.4.3. Customizing the Deskbar7.5. Experimental Google Tools7.5.1. Personalized Search7.5.2. Personalize Your Homepage7.5.3. My Search History7.5.3.1. Using your search history7.5.3.2. Removing specific searches from the history7.5.4. Google Suggest7.5.5. Google Video7.5.5.1. Using Google Video7.5.5.2. Watching via your Web browser7.5.5.3. Watching with the Google Video Player7.5.5.4. Watching Google Video on portable devices7.5.5.5. Uploading your own video7.5.6. Google Web Accelerator7.5.6.1. Running Google Web Accelerator7.5.7. Google Sets7.6. Google Wireless7.6.1. Can Your Device Get Online?7.6.2. Is Your Device Actually Online?7.6.3. Googling on the Fly7.6.3.1. Googling by PDA, Hiptop, or Smartphone7.6.3.2. Googling by mobile phone7.6.3.3. WAP surfing7.6.3.4. WAP Search Options7.6.4. Google Mobile Local Search7.6.5. Froogle on the Road7.7. Google SMS7.7.1. Sending Out an SMS7.7.1.1. Driving directions7.7.1.2. Movie listings7.7.1.3. Weather forecasts7.7.1.4. Local business listings7.7.1.5. Q&Amp;A7.7.1.6. Product prices7.7.1.7. Phone book listings7.7.1.8. Definitions
III. Google for Webmasters
8. Becoming a Search Result
8.1. Getting Your Site Ready for Google8.1.1. The Fundamental Steps8.1.1.1. Don’t hide indoors8.1.1.2. Appear stable8.1.1.3. Provide a clear path into your site8.1.1.4. Identify yourself clearly and concisely8.1.1.5. Don’t fence yourself in with an overabundance of frames8.1.1.6. Find and fix broken links8.1.1.7. Let Google in8.2. Getting Google’s Attention8.2.1. Introduce Yourself to Google8.2.2. Link Up I8.2.3. Link Up II8.3. Does Google Know You’re There?8.4. Rising in Google Results8.5. Getting Rid of Google8.5.1. Hiding from the Whole World8.5.2. Hiding from Google8.5.3. Removing Yourself from Google8.6. Adding Google Searches to Your Site8.6.1. Adding a Box for Searching the Web8.6.2. Adding a Box for Searching Your Site8.6.2.1. Customizing the SiteSearch box
9. Making Money with Google
9.1. Google AdSense9.1.1. Signing Up for Google AdSense9.1.2. Logging in to Your AdSense Account9.1.3. Building Your AdSense Ads and Adding Them to Your Pages9.1.4. Adding a Google Search Box to Your Pages9.1.5. Getting Paid9.1.6. Monitoring Your Performance9.1.6.1. Advanced performance report9.1.6.2. Payment History9.1.7. Honing Your Ads9.1.8. Referrals9.1.9. Getting Help9.2. Google AdWords9.2.1. Understanding AdWords Terminology9.2.2. Understanding the Costs9.2.3. Before You Sign Up9.2.3.1. Is it necessary?9.2.3.2. Is it worthwhile?9.2.3.3. The market research9.2.4. A Few Final Words of Warning9.2.5. Signing Up9.2.6. Managing AdWords9.2.6.1. Managing your Ad Groups9.2.6.2. Managing your ads and keywords9.2.7. Reporting9.2.8. Billing9.2.9. Getting Help
10. Google Analytics
10.1. How Google Analytics Works10.2. Setting Up Google Analytics10.2.1. Signing Up10.2.2. Setting Up Your Site for Tracking10.3. A Snapshot of Your Web Traffic10.3.1. The Executive Overview10.3.1.1. Visits and Pageviews10.3.1.2. Geo Map Overlay10.3.1.3. Visits by New and Returning10.3.1.4. Visits by Source10.3.2. Changing the Date Range10.3.3. Exporting the Data10.3.4. Printing a Report10.4. Assessing Your Site10.4.1. Your Most (and Least) Popular Pages10.4.2. More Content Performance Reports10.4.3. Fine-Tuning a Chart10.4.4. Drill-Down Analysis10.5. Goal Tracking10.5.1. Creating a Goal10.5.2. Reporting with Goals10.6. Understanding Your Visitors10.6.1. Where They Live and Who They Are10.6.2. New and Returning Visitors10.6.3. Browser Capabilities
IV. Gmail
11. Gmail
11.1. Welcome to Gmail11.1.1. Getting a Gmail Account11.1.2. A Peek in the Gmail Window11.2. Composing and Sending Messages11.2.1. Formatting a Message with Rich Text11.2.2. Adding File Attachments to Messages11.2.3. Using Picasa to Send Photos by Gmail11.2.4. Creating a Signature File11.2.5. Receiving and Reading Gmail11.2.6. Checking Your Gmail11.2.7. Reading Your Gmail Messages11.2.7.1. Conversation View11.2.7.2. Replying to messages, forwarding messages, and more options11.2.7.3. Downloading file attachments11.2.8. Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam11.3. Gmail Mailbox Management11.3.1. Archiving Messages11.3.2. Taking Actions with Messages11.3.3. Creating and Applying Message Labels11.3.4. Mail Filters11.3.5. Googling Your Gmail11.3.5.1. Power searching11.3.6. Deleting Messages Forever11.3.7. Printing Messages11.4. The Contacts List11.4.1. Manually Adding Contacts to Gmail11.4.2. Importing Contacts from Other Mail Programs11.4.2.1. Adding contacts from Eudora, Outlook, and Outlook Express11.4.2.2. Adding contacts from Yahoo Mail11.4.2.3. Adding contacts from Hotmail11.4.2.4. Adding contacts from AOL11.4.3. Troubleshooting Importing Errors with Contacts11.4.4. Editing and Deleting Gmail Contacts11.5. Adjusting Your Account Settings11.5.1. Mail Settings11.5.2. Labels11.5.3. Filters11.5.4. Forwarding and POP11.5.5. Account Settings11.6. Other Cool Gmail Tricks11.6.1. Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts11.6.2. Turning Gmail into a Web-Based File Server11.7. Three Other Ways of Reading Gmail11.7.1. Using Gmail with a Different Mail Program11.7.2. Auto-Forwarding Gmail Messages11.7.3. Using Gmail with a News Reader
V. Appendix
A. The Google Wide Web
A.1. Sites That Use GoogleA.2. Sites That Discuss GoogleA.3. Google on Google
Index
About the Authors
Colophon
Copyright

Content preview from Google: The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition

Chapter 4. Googling with Others: Groups and Answers

Most Google searches help you find text and pictures on pages anywhere on the Web. But two Google services, Groups and Answers, are actually sites hosted by Google, and they primarily help you connect with other people by providing forums for online conversations.

Google Groups lets you participate in or search through the archives of Web-based discussion groups—and if you find the conversations boring, you can even start your own discussion group and invite people all over the world to join you. Google Answers can help you bypass the discussions and find expert research on nearly every subject known to humankind.

Both services have a cyber-community feel, and this chapter reveals how to participate or how to read along without posting a peep yourself.

Google Groups

Back before the Web, when dinosaurs like the Commodore 64 roamed the Earth, the Internet had a cousin called Usenet. Like the Internet, Usenet was a decentralized global network of computers. But unlike the Internet, Usenet was designed solely to carry the traffic of a massive collection of text-based discussions, or newsgroups. The groups were organized by topic, and anyone could jump in at any time (the messages stayed online, like a bulletin board, as opposed to a live chat). Hundreds of thousands of people participated in newsgroups, making Usenet one of the first popular systems for online communication.

More than 20,000 groups are still active today, and about 100,000 ...

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Google: The Missing Manual, 2nd Edition

by Sarah Milstein, J. D. Biersdorfer, Rael Dornfest, Matthew MacDonald

Chapter 4. Googling with Others: Groups and Answers

Google Groups

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