[Libs-Or] Summary of responses to request for help with Google weirdness

Wed Nov 16 13:17:36 PST 2011

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/16/8840774-google-adds-verbatim-search-option

Interesting article about Google's dropping the + search operator in favor
of double quotation marks and a new "verbatim" search option.

-Trevor Medina

On Thu, Nov 3, 2011 at 7:43 PM, Hope Leman <hleman at samhealth.org> wrote:

> Hi, all. Here (finally--sorry for the delay) is the summary of responses
> on the weirdness in Google with the disappearance of the advanced features
> search link on the Google homepage. (But some people said they can still
> see it.)
>
> I just want to thank everybody for all the help. I asked two lists for
> help—the Oregon Library Association discussion list and MEDLIB, the
> discussion list of the Medical Library Association. Did I get help
> quickly—the responses were fast and furious. Whoa—did they flood in and
> where they helpful or what?
>
> When I went to work at the office (as opposed to encountering the problem
> at home on three different computers in Firefox) my work setup (IE7) had
> the same advanced features link just as it always has. At least one of the
> other respondents to my query reported that, “At my desk the FF page lacks
> the link, but the IE page has it, to the right of the search box.” So it
> seems to be a browser thing, mainly. But don’t quote me!
>
> Here are the comments I got—just a note that many of resemble one another
> in referring me to the gear box in Google; giving the link to the advanced
> page itself; and saying do a search and then look for the advanced features
> link at the bottom of the results. But I included them all so as to
> establish that those were the most common responses.
>
> I located Advanced Search using the "About Google" link at the bottom of
> the Google search page.  Under "Our Products", click "Web Search Features".
>  The Advanced Search link is at in the left panel of the Search Features
> screen -- well hidden!
>
> You'll also find that they've just recently eliminated their + feature
> that allowed you to prioritize words in your search... someone gave them
> the idea that people don't actually know what they're searching for.
>
> Also, if you haven't heard, Google doesn't let you use the + sign anymore
> to require words. That was a handy feature. Putting single words in quotes
> seems to still work.
>
> It's a silly place for them to put it, but you can access the advanced
> search page by clicking on the little gear icon in the top-right of the
> page. In Google Scholar, Scholar Preferences has moved there as well,
> which  had me stymied for a few minutes in the first instruction session I
> taught since the change.
>
> Sounds crazy, but I did the logical thing. I searched for Google Advanced
> Search and got this link
>
> http://www.google.im/advanced_search?hl=en
>
> I hope that helps :)
>
> Up in the right hand corner there is a little spoked wheel. When you hover
> over it, a cloud should appear that says, "Options," and when you click it,
> "Advanced Search" is one of the options.
>
> If you do a search, you will also see limiters appear on the left side of
> the results.
>
> If my display is the same as yours, it looks like they've moved the link
> for advanced search to the bottom of the page under the page numbers for
> the results.
>
> Also, if you haven't heard, Google doesn't let you use the + sign anymore
> to require words. That was a handy feature. Putting single words in quotes
> seems to still work.
>
> Also, at the bottom of the results screen after you do a search, there is
> an advanced search option.
>
> In the top right corner there is a little circle and if you put your
> cursor over it it will say options, click on it and then advanced search.
>
> It used to be on the front page! But, if you do a search on something,
> anything, and then scroll to the bottom of the results page you will see
> "Advanced Search" under the page number bar.
>
> Check under the gear at the upper right!
>
> After you perform your search, at the very bottom under the search results
> there is a link to the advanced search. I am also very frustrated with this
> new arrangement. Good luck!
>
> What browser were you using?  I show the Advanced search link to the right
> of the search box (above language tools). I'm looking at it in IE 7 right
> now (that's what we have at work), but at home I have the latest Firefox
> and I can check there.  But in the meantime, to help you with your issue
> now, the link to the advanced search page is:
>
> http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en
>
> Hope that helps!
>
> Run a search, any search......  Then look at the bottom of the results
> page for a link to "advanced search".
>
> Try clicking GOOGLE MORE on the top header. The drop down gives some
> options. At the bottom is an EVEN MORE option. Click on that. It should be
> in there.
>
> I recommend using Scholar instead. There is an advanced search option on
> the main Scholar page.
>
> I found it by googling ‘google advanced search’
> You might want to bookmark or favorite or whatever the address:
> http://www.google.im/advanced_search?hl=en
>
> …my guess is that Google wants to keep it as simple-looking as possible. I
> was also going to suggest that you can refine your search (in the left-hand
> frame) once you've already done your basic search. Those options allow you
> to narrow it down in different ways.
>
> In my opinion…Google is making it easier for basic users to perform
> searches, and harder for sophisticated users. And what happens is that the
> results are not quite as good as they were, say, a couple of years ago. I'm
> keeping my eye on you, Google!
>
> We discovered this "improvement" right before an instruction session a
> couple of weeks ago (rendering our handouts & online tutorials obsolete,
> of course!). There are two ways to access Advanced Search:
>
> 1. Click on the little settings option in the upper right corner of the
> Google screen (it looks like a little wheel). You'll see Advanced Search
> in the drop-down menu.
>
> 2. Or, conduct a keyword search. On the results screen, you will see an
> option to do an Advanced Search.
>
> I hope this helps!
>
> Yikes. I just checked it out, and I'm getting the same bare-bones search
> page as well. I haven't heard anything about this, so I'm hoping they are
> just tweaking it.
>
> Direct link - http://www.google.com/advanced_search
>
> Or use the homepage - enter any term.  It will pull up the search
> results, and at the bottom of the page is the link for advanced search.
>
> On the far upper right of Google's homepage is a "gear" type symbol that
> is actually a drop-down menu; there you will find Advanced Search.
>
> I had the exact same problem =It turned out to be some sort of security
> feature in my hospital IT settings.
>
> My IT guy had to go in, get it for me and put a link on my task bar.
>
> (goofy- but it works.)
>
> Under the icon that looks like a spoke in the upper right corner Google
> has put the Advanced Search. I hope this helps.
>
> Top right hand corner - it's the little wheel.  They moved Advanced Search
> and Search Settings under there.
>
> http://www.google.ca/advanced_search
>
> I googled "google advanced search".
>
> They may have removed the feature to "encourage" people to move to Google
> Chrome.
>
> …click on the gear icon in the upper right corner.
>
> http://www.google.com/advanced_search
>
> You can get to it by clicking the little gear (options) on the far right
> side of the black bar that appears at the top of the Google page.
>
> Freaked me out too.....do a search - then scroll to the bottom of the
> results - you will see it there.
>
> I just loaded Google and I see the link for the advanced search right
> where it always is--to the right of the search box. It opened when I
> clicked on the link.
>
> In order to find the "Advanced Search Tools", I had to first type in my
> search and then go down to the bottom of the first results page, where
> there was a link.
>
> I searched for google advanced search:
> http://www.google.ca/advanced_search
>
> I don't see it anywhere either and it looks slightly different than I
> remember.
>
> Try http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en
>
> Look under the Gear in the right corner
>
> http://www.google.ca/advanced_search
>
> Does this work for you?
>
> Check under the gear at the upper right
>
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