Google adds more file types to its search engine index

(Nov. 1 2001) SearchDay reports that Google has added more file types to its search engine index.

Like all Web search engines, Google focus on traditional Web pages (HTML). However, it has also been able to index Adobe Acrobat PDF files. Now it will add the text of Microsoft Office documents, i.e. files made in Word (.doc), Excel (.xls), and PowerPoint (.ppt) -- as well as files saved in the Rich Text Format (.rtf), Microsoft Works (.wks, .wps, .wdb) and Microsoft Write (.wri)

Google has added a virus free "View as HTML" function for visitors that hesitate to download Office files from the Net.

Webmasters should fill in the title, subject and keywords fields in the Word, Excel and PowerPoint Document Property feature. In this way they will improve the chances of getting a correct file description in the Google result listing.

Google will also include Postscript documents (.ps.) and try to follow links embedded in Flash (.swf) files. It will not index the content of Flash files, though.

According to ResearchBuzz other formats covered are plain text files (.txt), Lotus 1-2-3 (.wk1, .wk2,.wks,and more), Lotus WordPro (.lwp) and MacWrite (.mv).

Google

More search engine news...

The Pandia Post is our free bimonthly newsletter on Internet searching, search engines and directories.

We will give you the latest news from the world of Internet exploring, useful tips on how to improve your searching skills or search engine ranking, as well as information on the development of the Pandia Search Central.

We will never give your address to any other company or organization.