'Net Gains

Many of best research tools are free on Internet

JEFF PORTER
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Lots of guys want expensive tools. It helps hardware stores stay in business.
But on the Internet some of the best tools -- that is, research tools -- are free. Don't get me wrong. Those brick-and-mortar libraries and universities are invaluable for research tools. Public records, many kept on paper and not available online, are vital.
But the Internet is often a great starting point. Here are a few research tools for everyone:

If there are World Wide Web sites you check every day, try QuickBrowse. It's a time saver. Using QuickBrowse, you set up an automatic search of specific Web pages. Then QuickBrowse does the rest. It will go find those pages for you, and it will either e-mail them to you or, if you prefer, allow you to log in on the QuickBrowse site and peruse the pages by using your browser.
My typical day at work begins with checking e-mail from outside the office, checking electronic messages in-house and then using QuickBrowse -- I like using the browser method -- to peruse the Web sites I visit every day.
QuickBrowse could be a little handier, but it's certainly easier than clicking through a list every day. Best of all, while QuickBrowse is going out and snatching those pages, I have just enough time to get a cup of coffee. Actually that's the second-best part. The best part is that QuickBrowse is free.

Everyone knows about search engines -- you would think. But the truth is, most Web users either don't know or don't take the time to use search engines most effectively.
Which one is best? There's no single answer to that question. At one time, I leaned heavily on meta-search sites such as Dogpile, InferenceFind, Profusion or Google. And they have their uses. But lately I'm relying on AltaVista mostly. It's got a great advanced search function that's not all that hard but can really fine-tune your search. It's no fun to get a half-million hits on a search when you're trying to hurry; AltaVista's advanced search techniques can change that.
Lycos has added an interesting feature. Follow simple instructions, and you can start using Lycos' SeeMore. Using that feature, simply right-button click on a word or phrase on the Web, and SeeMore can go find out more information on that topic. For example, if you right-click on the name "Stephen King," a SeeMore window will automatically pop up with content on King including Web links, the latest news and headlines, photographs and a biographical sketch, and a list of a books with option to buy them.
Should everyone use AltaVista or Lycos every time? Not necessarily. Try a few and discover which search engine works best for you. One good piece of advice: Read the help information. At the search engine site of your choice, you can probably see a link that simply says "Help" or "Search tips." Click on that and you can (a) be bored for a little while reading dry directions and (b) save time later by focusing your searches.

A company called FerretSoft offers free software that's actually helpful. Of course, if you want the really fantastic version, you pay a reasonable price. But the freebies are pretty good.
So why do you want a Ferret? All the software is geared to let you find information on the Internet. For example, if you're trying to find someone's e-mail address, you can use EmailFerret. It queries several Web-based e-mail directories. You can even add the addresses to your address book for most e-mail applications automatically. With the explosion of free Web-based e-mail services, more and more e-mail addresses are out there. The other day, I used EmailFerret to run an experiment: I sought e-mail addresses for Fox Mulder -- a character on the Fox network X-Files series. Even though the man doesn't exist in real life, he has more than 500 e-mail addresses. His father, who also doesn't exist in real life, would be proud.
Then there's FileFerret. You type in a file name you're seeking, then FileFerret searches both Web-based file databases and the Archie protocol databases for shareware, public domain software and other files. The files can then be downloaded by using built-in file transfer protocol. This almost sounds like stealing, but those files are available on the Internet for the world to see or at least for those who know how to find them.
The company also offers such products as WebFerret, InfoFerrett and NewsFerrett, all designed to search the Internet for the information you're seeking. You can save the results for later reference.
So if Fox Mulder were really alive, he might say that the truth is out there on the Internet. And these tools might help you find it faster.

Contact Jeff Porter at jporter@ardemgaz.com or at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock 72203.

This article was published on Monday, October 4, 1999

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