How do I find......

[Jagmandave]

.....stuff or links in a thread? I do know how to use the search function, and I also know that Google is my friend, but.....

I read a lot of threads on GJ - when I log in I go straight to the "New Posts" button and just start at the top - I don't read every one, but if it looks interesting or looks to be about something I've followed before I dive right in. I can spend hours this way and really enjoy reading many of our poster's stuff.

Now to the problem, there are often little tidbits, links or ideas I read about and usually only after I've clicked on several other threads I realize I'd like to save a particular link or idea, but now I can't find it, and on some threads that are many pages long I'm not even sure which thread it was in.

An example, I saw a link to a manufacturer that sold some aluminum wall hung storage bins for quart and gallon sized bottles - nicely made and a decent price. Today (a few days later) I find I have a use for some of them, but can't even begin to imagine what thread they were in, or even what section.

Is there a way to organize links so they can be found again later without saving each and everyone to favorites? In this case I wouldn't have saved it anyway as I didn't think I would ever use their product, but now.....how do I find it again? I don't even remember the name of the mfr (I'm getting older - give me a break! )

Any suggestions guys, now that it's lost in GJ forever?

 

[BirdRacer]

Look into the Evernote plugin for your browser, or a site like instapaper.com that lets you kinda stash pages to read later.

I agree, it gets overwhelming with a very active site like GJ. I have fallen in love with both of the above. Evernote is very powerful. You can save the URL, the actual page, or an article. With the latter 2, you can read the info later, even if the original post no longer exists.

 

[nolimits76]

When I run across a thread that has info I think will be useful in the feature, I use the Thread Tools feature at the top of the first post of a page. Then I subscribe to that thread. Normally I turn off email notifications as I typically don't want updated when someone contributes.

The only downside I see to this is if the thread grows to 1,500 posts or some crazy number, it becomes harder to find what you want.

Also, with Google, if you search properly you can limit your searches to GarageJournal only (or any other site for that fact). Below is a copy/paste of Google's instructions.

Garage Journal site specific search:
https://www.google.com/#q=site:garagejournal.com+aluminum+wall+hung+storage+bins

Search within a specific site

Precede your query with site: if you know you want your answer from within a specific site or type of site (.org, .edu). For example: site:edu or site:nytimes.com.

 

[Stuart in MN]

The advanced search function of this forum works well for me. Click on the search button at the top of the page and then click on advanced search. When the advanced search window pops up make sure to click on the box that searches for individual posts instead of threads.

One thing it doesn't do very well is search for words or terms that are three characters or less, the Google search method described above works better for that. And, of course any search depends on your ability to pick the right words to search for.

 

[NUTTSGT]

One thing you could do is open a word document or word pad, whatever your computers uses. Type a short note/description of the link. Once that's done, copy/paste the link on to the document and save the document.

It becomes your personal file basically.

 

[lilredex]

A couple of ways I do it...

Save a picture if there is one. Open it up in "PAINT" and add the WWW address to the picture.

Example.


screen shot on windows

In your Favorites open a file for "Projects", "Things to Do" or whatever. Put the link in there. If the thread is 150 pages, your page will usually be the one recorded.

Go in history (that star on top RHS) and look for it. Most of the time you get lucky. If you are...record it as above this time.

If you think you have a picture but cannot locate it, you can search the computer (on Win 7, anyway) Start>computer> search top RHS. Put a title on your pictures...don't leave them as DSCFXXXX or you'll never find them.


If there is a picture that cannot be copied (copyright), center it on the screen and hit "PRT SCRN" (top row RHS). Open PAINT and hit PASTE top LHS. Button above allows you to save in JPEG (my Fav), then you can mold it in "Windows Live Photo Gallery".....crop, lighten, remove shadows, Etc. Etc.

Edit: My first resource is Google > "Garage journal lilredex XXXX" will find any old post of mine, almost back to day one. something the search function cannot do.

 

[larry_g]

I have used browsing history in a case like you describe.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Jagmandave]

Good tips all, thanks guys.

To this particular search, Google did come to the rescue and easily found the exact item I was looking for, further investigation turned up the name of the company and a model number so I could price search it further too.

But it sounds like unless I save it somewhere, a pic I saw in a long thread is pretty much lost into the ether, unless I can remember and describe it well enough that Google images can find it for me.....

 

[lilredex]

Have never had Google fail me yet....you just have to use the right words.

In your case, if you know the site and some of the subject matter, it should come right up. If it looks like a dead end, switch to the image feature, something else from that thread might just pop up.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Highlight the text you are interested in and RIGHT click. One pick will be search using a pre-determined search engine.