The AltaVista Search Revolution: How to Find Anything on the Internet - Softcover

During its time on the Web, the AltaVista search engine has undergone several revisions and continues to evolve. Though it faces competition from a number of worthy competitors, it's fair to say that AltaVista ranks as the most feature-rich general-purpose Web search tool. This book helps you get the most out of AltaVista's power, using tables and examples to show you how to get what you need.

The authors first explain how to do basic searches, then move on to more advanced searches with Boolean operators and AltaVista's special parameters. Chapters detail how to do such things as search Usenet newsgroups and how to translate hits into other languages. If, for instance, you want to limit a search to Australian pages, this guide details the procedure. A lengthy alphabetical chapter lists searches for particular targets and, in doing so, illustrates some unusual search strategies.

Those who publish their own Web sites will appreciate the chapter that reveals how AltaVista ranks the sites it indexes. Many of the engine's ranking algorithms are secret (and remain so), but many others are public and receive satisfactory coverage. An entertaining appendix lists the words most frequently used in Web pages (the is the big winner) and an Excite-like list of the most searched-for words (though apparently with the raunchiness edited out). --David Wall

Experience the revolutionary search powers of AltaVista! AltaVista Search is the world's most popular Internet search tool. With access to the largest Web index in the world, it serves over 32 million search requests per workday! Now with this second edition of the award-winning, best-selling, officially endorsed The AltaVista Search Revolution, you'll learn how to master AltaVista's exciting search technologies and get connected to information - fast! Using step-by-step search examples and expert tips, learn to make your Internet searches even more precise and bring a steady flow of traffic to your own Web site. AltaVista is fast, powerful, and simple to use. Find anything on the Internet using precise and accurate searches - ideal for library/academic use; Master AltaVista Search's new interface and learn about its new features; Get your Web site picked up by AltaVista Search - tips from Web masters reveal how; Learn the fascinating inside story of how AltaVista Search came to be, and how it has expanded around the world.