Google Tricks

[LegareColeman]

I couldn't find a perfect home for this, so I am putting it here.

Google Tricks

Google.com is famous as a search engine and it's full of tricks. Here are a few new tricks you may bit have seen yet.

Google does calculations. For example, to find out how many times the number 8 goes into the number 720, just type 720/8 in the search box and press the Enter key to get the results. You can use the standard + and - keys to add or subtract. Use the / key to divide and the * to multiply.

You can also use Google to convert measurements. For example, type "100 meters in feet" (without the quotes) and press the Enter key for the results.

Use a dash to eliminate a word you don't want in your search results. For example, if you were looking for a Hilton hotel and not the Paris Hilton, you'd type Hilton-Paris as your search criteria.

Place quotes around your search query terms to direct Google to search for the terms together. For example, "George Bush

[viking33]

There are some good tips in there, Legare.

I have tried the language preferences option any number of times but can't get it to "stick".
After changing and saving the preferences, Google is supposed to set a new cookie with the prefs. I have let it do that but after a while, if I check the preferences again, it's back to default. Contacted Google and they were the ones who mentioned the cookie but could not come up with any other reasons for it not sticking. Oh well.

[asimpkins]

Google can also search phone numbers. Enter a phone number in the format (xxx) yyy-zzzz, and it will find references to the area code, prefix and number. Enclose the entire number in quotes and it will just find references to the number.

[JohnGray]

That would be USA phone numbers, I presume? The rest of the world has different number formats.

John

[Bowlie]

... and the zip code thingy too. CH-1277 just returns something really boring to do with Chapter 1277 of something <img src=/S/yawn.gif border=0 alt=yawn width=15 height=15>

putting in my phone number 41 - 22 - 367 - 1 <img src=/w3timages/censored.gif alt=censored border=0> gets me -1,432

[asimpkins]

It's for phone numbers in the North American Numbering Plan, which is the US, its territories, Canada and the Carribbean (http://www.nanpa.com). I have tried some overseas numbers, but without success.

[bigaldoc]

This would probably be a good place to cross reference <!profile=unkamunka>unkamunka<!/profile>'s Star Post suggestion (<!post=this post,411859>this post<!/post>) for searching the Microsoft site.

[Phil Rabichow]

Thanks for this, Legare. I learned a few new tricks. But I can tell you weren't a Beverly Hills 9<font color=red>0</font color=red>210 fan. <img src=/S/grin.gif border=0 alt=grin width=15 height=15> 91210 is in Glendale. <img src=/S/anigrin.gif border=0 alt=anigrin width=19 height=19>

[LegareColeman]

Just wanted to see if you were on your toes. <img src=/S/wink.gif border=0 alt=wink width=15 height=15>

[Phil Rabichow]

<hr>Just wanted to see if you were on your toes.<hr>

Well, obviously I wasn't. When you said:

>>For example, type 91210+kitchen cabinets to produce a list of cabinetmakers in Beverly Hills. This works really well if you are looking for a restaurant.<<

I should have said, "Why would searching for cabinet makers in Glendale help you find a restaurant in Beverly Hills"? Another opportunity I let slip by. <img src=/S/innocent.gif border=0 alt=innocent width=20 height=20>

[LegareColeman]

<img src=/S/yep.gif border=0 alt=yep width=15 height=15>

[patgeorge]

I was pleased to find that it works just as well with european spelling metres! Typing in my UK post-code (zip to Americans) EX15 1JP did indeed produce the road in which I live, together with some other use ful data about the EX15 postal area.

Pat George