PDF file search engine, global extent
Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 12:49 pm
I stumbled into this site yesterday and have not completed scoping out its features. Its front portal is at http://findpdf.net/index.htm
There is a single line there for inputting a search word. However, after inputting a word, the site produces a different screen which starts with search feature with two lines, one for searching files as a whole and the other for searching within a file. Since the search capacity is said to be powered by Google, I tried using a term typed within quotation marks. The search term did show in the initial results but there were also plenty of non-relevant results as well. For instance, typing "St Patrick's" and Clare resulted in files containing St. Patrick's items and also St. Clare. (I used St. Patrick because early RC cemeteries in the U.S. were often named that.)
While the search engine may be a bit baffling, perusing the results can bring a surprise or two. You may see anything from family histories put into final form by a descendant, to professionally-researched academic papers. Historical materials can also appear, as images of the original document. I call this search engine global in extent although all my results were in English, because I saw
family histories from remote locations such as New Zealand.
I did a lot of quick reviewing of files after doing the download process. Note that "download" for this site means that the file appears on your computer screen for reading only; the file is not saved to your hard drive. I have not tried saving any files to the site's "PDF Box."
Try the most specific word or phrase you have on hand for your desired subject matter, and then use a broader reference if the search engine does not bring back enough results. There are dozens of Irish genealogy guidance materials, even some produced by a hotel chain and an Irish embassy. There are cemetery transcriptions that I have not seen elsewhere, and "necrology" also has interesting results. The search engine apparently brings back a simple added "s" plural if you type a word in the singular.
Other than that, do some exploring on your own. I show below examples of search returns and the start of one article. In a separate posting, I will show a search return for a Westropp article on a topic deserving a mention on its own.
Sharon Carberry
There is a single line there for inputting a search word. However, after inputting a word, the site produces a different screen which starts with search feature with two lines, one for searching files as a whole and the other for searching within a file. Since the search capacity is said to be powered by Google, I tried using a term typed within quotation marks. The search term did show in the initial results but there were also plenty of non-relevant results as well. For instance, typing "St Patrick's" and Clare resulted in files containing St. Patrick's items and also St. Clare. (I used St. Patrick because early RC cemeteries in the U.S. were often named that.)
While the search engine may be a bit baffling, perusing the results can bring a surprise or two. You may see anything from family histories put into final form by a descendant, to professionally-researched academic papers. Historical materials can also appear, as images of the original document. I call this search engine global in extent although all my results were in English, because I saw
family histories from remote locations such as New Zealand.
I did a lot of quick reviewing of files after doing the download process. Note that "download" for this site means that the file appears on your computer screen for reading only; the file is not saved to your hard drive. I have not tried saving any files to the site's "PDF Box."
Try the most specific word or phrase you have on hand for your desired subject matter, and then use a broader reference if the search engine does not bring back enough results. There are dozens of Irish genealogy guidance materials, even some produced by a hotel chain and an Irish embassy. There are cemetery transcriptions that I have not seen elsewhere, and "necrology" also has interesting results. The search engine apparently brings back a simple added "s" plural if you type a word in the singular.
Other than that, do some exploring on your own. I show below examples of search returns and the start of one article. In a separate posting, I will show a search return for a Westropp article on a topic deserving a mention on its own.
Sharon Carberry
- NSW img deposit journals.jpg (23.12 KiB) Viewed 4450 times
- Tuohy, Clonusker, Scariff miltry statement.jpg (16.02 KiB) Viewed 4450 times
- Patterson of Feakle article.jpg (73.58 KiB) Viewed 4450 times