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WebFerret Pro is an amazing search engine for the Internet. With the power of over 20 different search engines (and more being added), WebFerret Pro has the ability to ferret out web sites in moments while still allowing you full access to your browser. WebFerret Pro has 21 search engines available to conduct your search. Some of the search engines include LookSmart, Euro Seek, Yahoo! All of those are included in the free version.
There is a free version of WebFerret for downloading. This version is similar to WebFerret Pro, with the following differences. WebFerret only allows two types of searches, the relevancy rating is missing, the advance search features are not available and it features only 10 search engines including Alta Vista, Excite and Hot Bot.
Reviewing the website at http://www.ferretsoft.com was a pleasure. The links between pages are easy to understand. One of the numerous quotations quickly caught my attention. On April 5, 1998, Steve Northsea was quoted as saying: "I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciated this product. I use it daily and it has saved me hours and hours. It is particularly useful in genealogical research and has lead me to discover several additional generations in multiple lines of my family." This said a lot to me and I quickly downloaded the demo version of WebFerret Pro.
I ran three separate searches with the demo program. It was a pleasure to not have to go to multiple sites; such as Alta Vista and Hot Bot which are my standard search engines; knowing that WebFerret Pro was not only using these engines, it was also checking 19 other search engines at the same time. On the first search I looked only for the word genealogy. I limited my search to 500 responses. I left the computer to go brush my teeth, well adjusted to the length of time a search such as this would take. I truly thought I would have plenty of time. I checked the screen on my way to make a cup of hot tea and received a surprise - it was completely finished! Every single hit was genealogical related. Looking at a few of the websites I was expecting to find incorrect URL’s and again I was surprised, every one that I checked worked.
The second search was again on the word genealogy, and I limited the search to 100,000,000 hits. Within 20 minutes it pulled up over 3,000 hits and I stopped the search. On the third search I used the Boolean phrase Ball and Genealogy. I was extremely impressed with the results. This search pulled up pages I have not found with the use of other search engines used in the past.
Features available in WebFerret Pro include:
- Remote Control Toolbar Support: When you launch your browser or any FerretSoft Utility, a small toolbar pops up that allows you to pass URL’s from the results list to the browser without switching between applications. (this feature will be available 15 May 1998)
- Adjustable Abstract Control: The user can review the abstract from the results list quickly before selecting the URL.
- Save As: Allows the user to save the search with any name that they choose.
- Resume Search: At any time during the search you may stop or resume the search.
Additional features include Boolean Searches, Advanced DDE Browser Support, Improved Results Manipulation, Removal of Duplicate URL’s, Advance Page Search, Ranking of Results and Sort by Column.
The only obvious fault with either version of WebFerret or WebFerret Pro is the lack of a quick and simple way to print the searches. In order to print your search you must currently save it, then the results saved in the ASCII format can be imported into most spreadsheet and database applications, or viewed in a text file. These programs would really improve if there was a print button on the header bar or some other way you could print the results from within the program.
for related information see
Tips on Using Internet Search Engines
and
Searching for Birth Roots