In order to install the Google
Desktop, you first need to download the Google Pack which includes
Google Desktop and other free software. Upon installation, the
user is asked to set a few preferences. Click the Set Preferences
and Continue button, and you'll be notified that the Google Desktop
is starting its initial indexing of your system. Double-click
the Google Desktop taskbar icon and begin your search. Google
Desktop search icons are much faster than the standard MS Search
features.
Google Desktop search syntax
The Google search interface also has additional command operators
and a special syntax that go along with it. The Boolean “OR” works
as expected (dog OR “German Shepard”), AND works
as expected (dog AND “German Shepard”) as does negation
(dog –“ugly chihuahua”).
Privacy
The local Google Desktop server intercepts any Google web searches,
passing them on to Google.com, and running the same search against
your computer's local desktop index. Google Desktop then intercepts
the Web search results as they come back from Google, adding
local information found on your desktop, and displaying it to
you in your browser as a complete view of your search. All processing
involving your local data is done via your own computer. Neither
personal filenames nor actual files are ever sent on to Google.com.
There is an option in Google Desktop that allows you to store
your files on Google’s server which allows you to access
your files from any computer in the world, but you can disable
this feature in the preferences.
Google Desktop Preferences
If you want to hide your local results from view when searching
Google web results, you can do so by clicking the ‘Hide’ link
next to any visible Google Desktop quick links. You can also
turn on and off Google Desktop quick links by going to the Google
Desktop Preferences page.
Click the "Remove Results" link next to the Search
Desktop button on the top right of any results page and you'll
be able to go through and remove particular items from Google
Desktop index. By clicking the "Remove Results" link
next to the Search Desktop button on the top right of any results
page, and you will be able to go through and remove specific
items from Google Desktop index. If you open or view any of these
items after removing them, they will automatically be indexed
and start showing up again in search results.
How to add a browser to Google Desktop
If you are interested in embedding a browser in the Google
Desktop sidebar, then go to “ Add/Remove Panels” window
of Google Desktop. Check “ Show ActiveX plug-ins.” It
will take some time to populate the list. Search for Microsoft
Web Browser and check it. Press “ OK” and your Google
Desktop sidebar will now have a new, empty entry called “ Microsoft
Web Browser.” To use it, you can just drag a url into the
window.
Google Desktop keyboard shortcuts
You can press Ctrl + Alt + G or Windows + G to focus the cursor in the search
box of your Google Desktop Deskbar, Sidebar, or Floating Deskbar.
You can press Shift twice to hide or display your undocked gadgets, and to
bring any hidden gadget to the front of your screen.
And finally, if your version of Google Desktop offers the Quick Search Box
for your desktop, you can press Ctrl twice to instantly make the search box
appear.
Setting up the Google Desktop Sidebar
The Google Desktop Sidebar is a browser, a toolbar, and a launch
point for various applications on the web or on your computer.
In order to access the Sidebar view, all you need to do is right-click
on the Google Desktop icon in your taskbar and select "Sidebar.” The
default features such as email, weather, and news can all be
customized to your personal preferences.
Google Desktop Sidebar shortcuts
To bring Gadgets up front that you may not use often, hit the
shift key twice to bring them front and enter.
Use Google Search instantly by pressing the CTRL key twice;
conversely, you can hit CTRL+ALT+G to place your cursor in whatever
view of Google Desktop you are using (Sidebar, deskbar, or floating
deskbar).
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