FUNDAMENTAL COMPUTER SKILLS FOR GENEALOGISTS September 2016 Scope
FUNDAMENTAL COMPUTER SKILLS FOR GENEALOGISTS September, 2016
Scope of Program Internet Searches and Related Resources �Computer Files and Folders �Scanning Images and Documents �
Internet Searches � Internet Search Engines � Google � Bing � Yahoo � Duck Go Google Resources � Google Drive � Google Maps and Google Earth � Google Books � Google Translate
Google Search Results Screen
Operators � AND � The AND operator links words together so that any website in your search results will contain all of the words that are connected by the AND operator. The use of this operator is inherent in all searches performed on Google so you do not need to type the word “AND” to use this operator. � “” � The “” operator is used to search for a phrase. You can enter multiple words enclosed in quotation marks and Google will search for websites that have that exact same combination of words in the same order. For example, “Gustavus Adolphus Elbow” will return any websites that contain the three words Gustavus Adolphus Elbow in this order in a website.
Operators � � � The – operator is used to exclude websites that contain certain words. For example, elbow –macaroni will return websites that contain the word elbow but exclude any of these pages that include the word macaroni. This will keep any pages with recipes that include elbow macaroni from appearing in the search results. OR � The OR operator is used to retrieve search results that meet multiple search criteria without having to do multiple separate searches. For example, elbow –macaroni “family tree” OR census will return all websites that contain the word elbow, do not contain the word macaroni and contain the phrase “family tree” and websites that contain the word elbow, do not contain the word macaroni, and contain the word census.
Operators � * � The * operator is used as a placeholder for any unknown term, often called a wildcard. For example, “the * jumped over the moon” will return “the cow jumped over the moon”, “the frog jumped over the moon”, “the capybara jumped over the moon”.
Other Google Features � Information about A Website � If you want to get additional information about a website, use the term “info: ” before the website address. For example, if you enter info: www. rootsweb. ancestry. com/~fljgstb/ you will get a list of all sites that link to the JGSTB website. This includes the following type of information: � Google’s cache of the website � Web pages that are similar � Web pages that link to the website � Web pages the website links to � Web pages that contain the website address
Other Google Features � Search for Information within A Website � If you want to search for something within a website, use the keyword “site: ” followed by the website you want to search within after your search criteria. For example, if you want to search for cemetery records within the Ancestry. com website you would enter cemetery site: www. ancestry. com
Other Google Features � Previous Versions of A Website � If you want to see what a website the previous time Google visited the website, use the keyword “cache: ”. For example, if you want to see what the JGSTB site looked like the previous time the Google search engine visited it, you would enter cache: www. rootsweb. ancestry. com/~fljgstb/. � Note, depending on the timing of the previous Google visit and when the site was last updated, you may or may not see a difference.
Google Advanced Search � Google offers an advanced search page which provides access to many of the features described above in a format that can be easier to use. To access it, click the settings drop down and select “Advanced search”.
Google Advanced Search
Filter Search Results Google provides many ways to narrow down your search results. � https: //support. google. com/websearch/answer/142143? hl =en&ref_topic=3081620 � You have likely noticed or used the obvious methods: �
Filter Results � Select a type of search result, in this case I selected Images. Then select “Search Tools”.
Filter Results: Images � Click the ‘Search Tools’ button and you will be presented with parameters specific to the type of result you selected. For images, you will have the following options:
Google Search Resources Google Search Operators � https: //support. google. com/websearch/answ er/2466433? hl=en&ref_topic=3081620 � Google Advanced Search � https: //www. google. com/advanced_search � Filter Search Results � https: //support. google. com/websearch/answ er/142143? hl=en&ref_topic=3081620 �
Other Google Resources Google Drive google. com/drive � Space in Google’s cloud � Connected to Gmail account � 15 GB free � Accessible as long you have an internet connection � Shareable with others � Google Maps and Google Earth maps. google. com; earth. google. com � Maps available through Google website � Earth is a downloadable program � Plugins such as places of worship, historical map overlays, and crowdsourced info, i. e. wiki �
Other Google Resources Google Books books. google. com � Can search full-text book library � Can save a list in a personal “library” � Can purchase e. Books � Google Translate translate. google. com � 103 languages � Bi-directional � Good for genealogy research to translate terms on documents �
Computer Storage Organization strategy and concept on computer � External Storage � External Hard Drives � Cloud � Backup Strategy �
Applied to Computers Your computer hard drive is the file cabinet � In this “file cabinet” you can put folders � In any folder you can put more folders � In any folder you can put files � A file represents the following: � � Typed document � Picture � Recording � Many others
Folders versus Files � � You can distinguish between folders and files by the icon that represents them Files also have a suffix that indicates the type of file and links to one or more programs that can use the file
Accessing. Files and Folders � How do you get to folders and files? � My Computer � My Documents � Windows Explorer
Creating Files and Folders Create a Folder � Create a Document � � Right-Click ‘New’ � Through a program
Working with Folders and Files Copy � Move � Rename � Delete �
External Storage External Hard Drive Mobile, small size � Can share � Many sizes � Decreasing in prices � Can encrypt � Can lose � Cloud Storage Public and Personal cloud options � Some is free � Accessible from internet connection � Can share and control access � Security concerns �
Backup Strategy Have one!!! Plan ahead!!! � Mechanical failure � Loss of Backup Device (theft, destruction in fire or flood) � Multiple backups: at home and on another site � Do it your self or use � Do it yourself � Have someone do it for you: cloud service � Data recovery: worst case scenario and is expensive � External hard drive, flash drive, DVD � Regular Maintenance �
Scanning Images � Any physical piece of paper can be scanned � Document � Newspaper � Picture Article
What You Need Computer � Scanner � Piece of Paper �
Types of Scanners � Flat-Bed � Good for larger images � Good for high quality images � One document at a time � Sheet-Fed Upright � Good for large volume � Easier to use � Image quality not as good � Specialty � Photo � Slides
Considerations for Use � Need to have a plan for image organization � Can � use scanner software Need to have a plan for file naming � Can use scanner software
What To Do With Images Link to genealogy software � Replace paper files � Email pictures � Post pictures and genealogy documents to a genealogy website �
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