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Boolify Simplifies Advanced Search
Posted by Adam Pash at 7:00 AM on May 1, 2008
Web site Boolify makes advanced web searches easy through a simple drag-and-drop interface. Intended as an educational tool, Boolify teaches users how to create boolean searches in Google using operators like OR and NOT (-) to get very specific search results. Boolean searching isn't new by any means, but if you've never gotten the hang of it or you just prefer a more visual approach, Boolify is worth a look. If you're way past this, then our top 10 obscure Google search tricks may be more up your alley.
Tags: search engines | search techniques | web search
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
pdok
Posted 8:35 AM 1/5/08
Neat idea. Now if they had one for building SQL queries, or the like, I'm in. I'm not in SQL much, and when I have to be, I'm usually brute forcing my way through it. Or cutting/pasting from Access.
pdok
JiveMasterT
Posted 8:34 AM 1/5/08
This is actually kinda neat. Not sure how much I'd use it but it's pretty cool regardless.
JiveMasterT
blindwatchmaker
Posted 10:00 AM 1/5/08
I tried using this website, and it seems very confusing and arbitrary. The nesting structure is not at all clear. And I don't understand why AND blocks are shaped differently from NOTs and ORs.
blindwatchmaker
Lazarus
Posted 11:26 AM 1/5/08
@blindwatchmaker: My guess would be, because NOT and OR are exclusive operator terms. "A" OR "B" = Either one NOT the other. Where AND is an inclusive operator term.
Lazarus
elsifer
Posted 12:26 AM 2/5/08
@Lazarus: That makes no sense. "A" or "B" = If any are true, the statement is true. The only time the statement would be false is if both sides are false.
elsifer
Dex
Posted 12:53 AM 2/5/08
@Lazarus: You're thinking of XOR, which I'm not sure would actually be useful in 99% of searches.
Dex
elsifer
Posted 2:01 AM 2/5/08
I know why the AND is shaped differently - because it's only allowed to attach to a keyword/phrase. Works for me.
elsifer
Toptiger5
Posted 4:20 PM 2/5/08
It's OK, but sometimes when you place those pieces, they detach from each other, and think they're still stuck together... :-S
Toptiger5
HoneyEpidaurus
Posted 6:12 AM 3/5/08
Comment on Boolify Simplifies Advanced Search Detachment depends on the browser. It's a Safari thing at the moment. We're still developing (that's why its in beta!) but please keep tuned for fixes as the come -- in the meantime, your feedback is really, really important to making it a better tool! Cheers, -- Dave / PLML
HoneyEpidaurus