MetaCrawler
Below are two reformatted query submission forms for the
Metacrawler Parallel
Web Search Service.
The first form allows you to perform a Fast
Search. The default setting for a Fast Search is search
for an exact match, but you can change the value to force
Metacrawler to search for any of the words you typed
into the text-entry field or to submit your query as a phrase.
The second form allows you take full adavantage of
Metacrawler's sophisticated software by refining
your search criteria.
Metacrawler Query Syntax
To increase the quality of your results, you may wish to utilize the special
syntax understood by the Metacrawler. Embedding the following symbols in
your search string when executing either a simple or a complex search
allows the expression of complex search parameters.
- QUOTATION MARKS/DOUBLE QUOTES: " ... "
- MetaCrawler uses quotation marks/double quotes to mark a collection of
words as a phrase. Words in a phrase will only count as hits if
they appear relatively close together. Multiple phrases can appear in
one search string, as in the following example:
"Monty Python" "Flying Circus"
- THE PLUS SIGN: +
- A plus sign to designates a word that must be present in the
document. To search for information about Windows 95 and exclude references to
Windows 3.x, for example, you would type:
Windows +95
- THE MINUS SIGN: -
- A minus sign designates a word that must not be present in
the document. To search for informattion about Windows and exclude
references to Windows 95, for example, you would type:
Windows -95
- More Examples of Metacrawler Search Syntax
+blind -venetian -melon -lemon -jefferson -taste -test -date
"+Phil +Zimmerman" PGP -RIPEM "Pretty Good Privacy"
"+Erik Warren +Selberg" -speed
- Note that the following do not work:
+"Erik Selberg"
Erik AND Selberg
Erik-Selberg
Erik + Selberg
- for further assistance on formatting Metacrawler queries, consult:
press the left-arrow to return to the previous page or choose: