Web Searching

PAGE (9 of 10)

Search Example: AltaVista

The Digital Equipment Corporation, (DEC), AltaVista Web site is one of the most powerful and popular search engines on the Net. This example will be a search conducted again on the same topic as in the previous example using AltaVista's Advanced Search Engine.

• To begin, open a new Web browser window.

   

• Go to AltaVista's Advanced Search Engine at

  http://www.altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/query?pg=aq?=web

• Click on the Help link at the bottom of the yellow panel and examine the search operators that AltaVista will accept. There are quite a few options available and knowing which ones to use and how they can be used will provide much power to your searches.

   

• Enter the terms to be searched in the search box:
  
  • zen AND motorcycles AND NOT internet

• Select whether to search the Web or Usenet

  

   

• Choose the language in which you want to locate documents.

  

   

• Submit your search by clicking on the blue Search button at the bottom right of the yellow panel.

   

• After the results return, if there are a number of irrelevant hits, refine the search.

  

   

• Designate which subjects to require or exclude.

• Results listings contain the link to the document, the first couple of lines, and the URL.