Prefixing keywords with a minus sign tells Google to exclude those words from the search. So how can you search for something that begins with a minus sign, like a negative number?
In GNU tools at least (not sure if others follow this convention?), the option '--' indicates that subsequent parameters aren't to be interpreted as options. For example, this lets you cd into a directory named '-foo':
This is useful to know, and a great tip! I actually meant that "the OP question applies to searching for info about command line options as well". I find it amusing how your interpretation is equally valid. There is a lesson about clarity of communication here. :)
(also thanks for the reply, I appreciate it even tho it wasn't what I was looking for)
Also, how do you search for anything with punctuation? I frequently use Perl, which makes use of punctuation for functions, and am constantly frustrated on how you can't search Google for them. Try searching for "perl $!" and you won't get any pages referring to Perl's error handling function. Not even results referencing Perl code that uses it. Google just ignores it.
Punctuation is generally ignored in searches (some exceptions: _, +, $ and # in limited contexts, e.g. "C++", "$1000000" and "F#"; the calculator; word separators, e.g. "a=b", "a/b", "a}b", etc.; Google Code Search)
this reminds me of the worst band name of all-time: !!!
they're actually fairly popular for those that aren't familiar, but i can only imagine how many potential fans they've lost because you can't readily find their online presences.
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[ 13.2 ms ] story [ 155 ms ] threadSo it's not mandated, but it's the behavior of nearly all modern UNIX systems.
(also thanks for the reply, I appreciate it even tho it wasn't what I was looking for)
http://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/answer.py?answer... http://www.google.com/support/websearch/bin/answer.py?answer...
they're actually fairly popular for those that aren't familiar, but i can only imagine how many potential fans they've lost because you can't readily find their online presences.