Tips for searching this website

SoundsLogical.com uses "Excite for Web Servers", a sophisticated concept-based searching engine. Even though the search engine is advanced, you may perform searches without using a complicated query language. This page will help you to choose the queries that will give you the best results.

Query Basics

A query is simply a description of the required information. Unlike Boolean systems that search for just those documents containing all the words in your query, the search engine will search for documents that are a best match for the words in your query. It will also search for documents containing the same concepts that your query describes, so may even bring back articles that don't mention any of the actual words in your original query.

The bottom line is that your query -- your description of the information sought -- can be as detailed as you like. Don't worry about providing too many words; the more words, the better. Additional words in your query will help the search engine figure out what concepts you're really interested in. On the other hand, it will do a pretty good job of figuring out what documents are interesting to you even if your query is vague.

For example, let's say you're searching for documents about WaveWarp's digital filters. A good starting point would be

        WaveWarp digital filters

If you have a question about a particular type of filter, for example an FIR filter, you might choose a query like

        WaveWarp FIR digital filters

Advanced Query Tips

Here are some suggestions for getting the best results out of the search engine.

Use More Words
The easiest way to narrow your search -- and the first thing you should try ! -- is to simply use more words in your query. The greater the detail you provide, the better the search engine is able to find precisely what you're looking for.

Use + to Require Words
Put a plus sign (+) in front of a search word (without a space !) and the search engine will make sure that ALL of the documents it returns contain the word.

 Example search:    WaveWarp FIR +filters 

Use - to Exclude Words
Put a minus sign (-) in front of a search word (without a space) and the search engine will make sure that NONE of the documents it returns contain the word.

 Example search:    WaveWarp filters -FIR -lowpass

Use AND, OR, NOT, AND NOT, ( )
The search engine supports full Boolean operators and syntax. You c an use the AND, OR, NOT, and AND NOT operators, and parentheses ( ) for grouping.

 Example search:    WaveWarp filters AND (lowpass OR highpass)