A Tool to help with FR searches before posting.

1/8/03 | Bloody Sam Roberts

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Forgive me if this is viewed as a useless vanity posting. I don't believe it is.

I have discovered a way to search Free Republic for any word that is 3 letters or less.

As you may or may not know, the FR search function doesn't work on words that are less than 4 letters.

The way to do this is simple. First go to Google.
The word "site" followed by a colon enables you to restrict your search to a specific site. To do this, use the site:sampledomain.com syntax in the Google search box. For example, to find all threads relating to the NFL simply type this into the Google search box:

NFL site:www.freerepublic.com

Your search results will display a list of topics on FR relating to the NFL. This will be helpful in hunting down threads relating to SUV, FBI, etc...etc.

Happy Hunting!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Pingeroo.

Did you ever try this?

[Momaw Nadon]

Clever!

[perfect stranger]

Thank you. I was curious if that would be a way around the limitation, but never bothered to test the theory.

I will now and the first word would have to be "ZOT".

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Yes! ZOT! This'll be a good way to keep up on the fun ones!

[rs79bm]

Is this search "live" or does it just come up with an archive that Google has previously indexed.

[chnsmok]

It worked for nfl but not zot. drat.

[Timesink]

Google only caches a tiny, tiny subset of FR threads. It's good for an "isn't there ANYTHING?" desperation search, but you can be sure you're only getting about 1% of the actual matching threads when you run a search.

[dennisw]

For example, to find all threads relating to the NFL simply type this into the Google search box:

NFL site:www.freerepublic.com
_______________________________

You will not "find all threads" as you put it. You will find a few threads. For whatever reason most FreeRepublic threads are omitted by google

[k2blader]

Thanks! Helpful tip.

[livius]

Thank you. I've printed this out. I don't post original articles very much, and I don't know how often Google updates, but this was certainly an approach I'd never thought of before!

[GraniteStateConservative]

What we need is the ability to search replies. Many times I've posted political numbers-crunching information that I'd like to be able to retrieve in the future when it would apply again. Delphi groups has a nice advanced search feature-- search replies by poster to postee by time frame, for example.

[Copernicus]

In a somewhat different vein: how are people putting soto voce comments next to their handles?

Best regards,

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Hmmm. Bummer.

[Timesink]

You will not "find all threads" as you put it. You will find a few threads. For whatever reason most FreeRepublic threads are omitted by google.

It's because Google places more weight than anything else on how many OTHER sites link to a given page. There are millions upon millions of morons with Geocities websites that think they're providing a public service by providing a link to cnn.com, so it shows up at the very top of a search on "CNN". Conversely, very few FR threads are ever linked to from outside FR, and thus they never make it into the Google database. There's no conspiracy or anything.

[.30Carbine]

Bloody good thinking on your part, Sam Roberts.

Works for NRA, MMM, GOA...

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Easy

[Timesink]

In a somewhat different vein: how are people putting soto voce comments next to their handles?

Next time you type in a reply, notice the "Tag Line" box directly above the Word Wrap and Preview buttons. JohnRob just added it yesterday.

[Libertina]

When you post there is a NEW & fun box for a tag line. It will be on every ost unless you change it or delete it. Look under "Your Reply." :)

[jdontom]

*

Thanks..........