Guest guest Posted May 9, 2005 Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 Apple's new OS has a search engine called spotlight. While not documented, spotlight can easily do boolean type searches. It can also limit searches to selected folders. Since spotlight indexes ALL the content and metatags, not just file names and dates, the searches are as accurate as google. (BTW, google desktop may also do the same thing on a PC, but I haven't figured out how to limit searches to a selected folder - if someone knows. please tell us.) One thing I experimented with is searching monographs. I typed command-F to open spotlight and then select " others " from the folders and drives bar. I then drag a folder that contains 300 or so herb monographs (each in its own html file) into this window and leave only that box checked. Don't ask me for the data. It belongs to someone else and I am making fair use of it for personal purposes on my own computer. I then select " contents " from the drop down menu. Boolean operators: A space between words functions as AND A vertical line (upper case above the return key on mac) between words functions as OR (ex: liver|spleen = liver OR spleen) A minus sign functions as NOT (-deficiency) = OMIT RESULTS WITH DEFICIENCY --- parentheses required here I think Do not use spaces between terms unless you mean to use the operator AND Compound example: liver|spleen abdomen(-deficiency) This would mean liver OR spleen AND abdomen NOT deficiency I have not yet figured out the NEAR and EXACT PHRASE operator hacks, but I am pretty sure they exist. This type of search is clearly less powerful than a full boolean search, as in RMHI's herbal tutor as 1. it does not allow for multiple fields to be searched simultaneously in a table 2. It does not rank relevance or show matching text or allow for easy comparison of content However it is quite easy to use and free, as simple as google and as fast. The results are displayed in a familiar format and the average user can readily construct very useful searches. Definitely not the gold standard of searching, but leaps and bounds above simple text searches. Not only can this be used for existing databases that are set up as individual files, but forms a template for easily setting up new ones. For example, a set of files, one for each clause of the SHL with each file hyperlinked to extensive classical commentary and formula details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2005 Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 KOOL! I¹m getting Tiger this week. Thanks for the info. Cara > Apple's new OS has a search engine called spotlight. While not > documented, spotlight can easily do boolean type searches. > > It can also limit searches to selected folders. Since spotlight > indexes ALL the content and metatags, not just file names and dates, > the searches are as accurate as google. (BTW, google desktop may > also do the same thing on a PC, but I haven't figured out how to > limit searches to a selected folder - if someone knows. please tell us.) > > One thing I experimented with is searching monographs. > > I typed command-F to open spotlight and then select " others " from the > folders and drives bar. > > I then drag a folder that contains 300 or so herb monographs (each in > its own html file) into this window and leave only that box checked. > Don't ask me for the data. It belongs to someone else and I am > making fair use of it for personal purposes on my own computer. > > I then select " contents " from the drop down menu. > > Boolean operators: > > A space between words functions as AND > > A vertical line (upper case above the return key on mac) between > words functions as OR (ex: liver|spleen = liver OR spleen) > > A minus sign functions as NOT (-deficiency) = OMIT RESULTS WITH > DEFICIENCY --- parentheses required here I think > > Do not use spaces between terms unless you mean to use the operator AND > > > Compound example: > liver|spleen abdomen(-deficiency) > > This would mean liver OR spleen AND abdomen NOT deficiency > > I have not yet figured out the NEAR and EXACT PHRASE operator hacks, > but I am pretty sure they exist. > > > This type of search is clearly less powerful than a full boolean > search, as in RMHI's herbal tutor as > > 1. it does not allow for multiple fields to be searched > simultaneously in a table > > 2. It does not rank relevance or show matching text or allow for > easy comparison of content > > However it is quite easy to use and free, as simple as google and as > fast. The results are displayed in a familiar format and the average > user can readily construct very useful searches. Definitely not the > gold standard of searching, but leaps and bounds above simple text > searches. Not only can this be used for existing databases that are > set up as individual files, but forms a template for easily setting > up new ones. For example, a set of files, one for each clause of the > SHL with each file hyperlinked to extensive classical commentary and > formula details. > > > > > Chinese Herbal Medicine offers various professional services, including board > approved continuing education classes, an annual conference and a free > discussion forum in Chinese Herbal Medicine. > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2005 Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 > > > On Behalf Of > It can also limit searches to selected folders. Since spotlight > indexes ALL the content and metatags, not just file names and dates, > the searches are as accurate as google. (BTW, google desktop may > also do the same thing on a PC, but I haven't figured out how to > limit searches to a selected folder - if someone knows. please tell us.) [Jason] Windows basic search feature / function can search specific folders (or a word / phrase within a file)... but I personally do all my searches through paperport - which can allow you to search within documents, (PDF, word et al...) or title / keywords or whatever very accurately... (it OCR's all PDF files etc...) -Jason > > One thing I experimented with is searching monographs. > > I typed command-F to open spotlight and then select " others " from the > folders and drives bar. > > I then drag a folder that contains 300 or so herb monographs (each in > its own html file) into this window and leave only that box checked. > Don't ask me for the data. It belongs to someone else and I am > making fair use of it for personal purposes on my own computer. > > I then select " contents " from the drop down menu. > > Boolean operators: > > A space between words functions as AND > > A vertical line (upper case above the return key on mac) between > words functions as OR (ex: liver|spleen = liver OR spleen) > > A minus sign functions as NOT (-deficiency) = OMIT RESULTS WITH > DEFICIENCY --- parentheses required here I think > > Do not use spaces between terms unless you mean to use the operator AND > > > Compound example: > liver|spleen abdomen(-deficiency) > > This would mean liver OR spleen AND abdomen NOT deficiency > > I have not yet figured out the NEAR and EXACT PHRASE operator hacks, > but I am pretty sure they exist. > > > This type of search is clearly less powerful than a full boolean > search, as in RMHI's herbal tutor as > > 1. it does not allow for multiple fields to be searched > simultaneously in a table > > 2. It does not rank relevance or show matching text or allow for > easy comparison of content > > However it is quite easy to use and free, as simple as google and as > fast. The results are displayed in a familiar format and the average > user can readily construct very useful searches. Definitely not the > gold standard of searching, but leaps and bounds above simple text > searches. Not only can this be used for existing databases that are > set up as individual files, but forms a template for easily setting > up new ones. For example, a set of files, one for each clause of the > SHL with each file hyperlinked to extensive classical commentary and > formula details. > > > > > > Chinese Herbal Medicine offers various professional services, including > board approved continuing education classes, an annual conference and a > free discussion forum in Chinese Herbal Medicine. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.