Google Filetype Command
Use of Filetype Helps Narrow Searches to Specific File Formats
Whether searching for a sample grade tracking spreadsheet or detailed instructions on creating a résumé, the filetype command in Google can help the user narrow a search. Filetype allows the searcher to look for a particular file format.
Look for a Spreadsheet
A student comes to a teacher throughout the year asking for information about his or her grade. The teacher has all the grades listed in the grade book. He looks at the grades and sees lots of numbers. He attempt to “eyeball” these scores and come up with an estimate for the student. An Excel spreadsheet that keeps track of the information and automatically updates the grade would make this task much easier.
No Need to Reinvent the Wheel
This is where Google’s filetype command enters the picture. Typing “grade tracking sheet” at the Google search finds over nine million hits. Typing “grade tracking sheet filetype:xls” (no quotes) narrows the field to under five thousand. While that number may still seem large, the second search will result in Excel spreadsheet files only. The user will not find herself visiting a publisher’s site with books on Excel or an online forum with little or no pertinent information. She can then view these sheets until she finds one that fits her needs.
Look for Presentations and Documents
The school asks a counselor to give a presentation about creating résumés at a Career Day event. To get ideas on how others have approached this task he tries, “creating a résumé filetype:ppt” (no quotes). Each hit takes him to a PowerPoint presentation. Substitute “doc” for “ppt” and you will find Microsoft Word documents on the topic.
Other Filetypes
While this feature works with all the major Microsoft Office file formats, it also functions with other applications. Here is a partial list. If a particular file format doesn’t appear, try it anyhow. The Google staff constantly tweaks the various Google apps and commands to make them better.
- Adobe Portable Document Format (pdf)
- Lotus 1-2-3 (wk1, wk2, wk3, wk4, wk5, wki, wks, wku)
- MacWrite (mw)
- Microsoft Excel (xls, xlt, and xlsx)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (ppt and pptx)
- Microsoft Word (doc, dot, and docx)
- Microsoft Works (wks, wps, wdb)
- Rich Text Format (rtf)
- Shockwave Flash (swf)
When it comes to finding information on the Internet, Goggle can’t be beat. By simply adding a short command word, in the proper context, it can narrow a search to a specific file format as well.
Caution: Copyrights and Fair Use
Everything on the Internet is copyrighted. While the files found may be posted on the Internet for all to see, that does not mean they can be taken and used without permission. The user should definitely site the source appropriately. Before duplicating any portion of such a file, for any purpose, a user should review the copyright laws and stipulations concerning what constitutes fair use. If a public presentation of the materials will be made, it is best to check with the creator/owner of the file. (See Fair Use and Copyright Infringement for more on this topic)
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