How to Locate Equipment and Operator’s Manuals on the Internet
Use the search engine called “Google” at
http://www.google.com
Be sure to check out Google’s “Advanced Search Tips” at http://www.google.com/help/refinesearch.html before you start searching.
If you are looking for an operator’s manual for an air compressor, for example, enter the search terms air compressor operator’s manual into Google’s basic or default search screen. The Google search engine will look for all of the words you entered, regardless of relevancy, with this type of search. Take a look at the third hit on the results list titled “Air-Spade Series 2000 Operator’s Manual.” This is listed as a PDF (Portable Document Format) or graphical image file. You will need the “Adobe Acrobat” software program to open it and/or print it out.
You will find that many of the full text operator’s manuals for tools, machines, or equipment are provided in PDF format. This is because they are typically lengthy publications that have been scanned rather than typed and mounted on the company’s web page. When you look through your list of hits in Google, those most likely to be full text operator’s manuals will be preceded by [PDF]. The operator’s manual usually contains instructions and technical specifications for the product as well as contact information for the company that manufactures it.
When you use Google’s basic or default search screen, relevancy can be increased by enclosing exact phrases, such as equipment types or machine names, in quotation marks. Some examples include: “hydraulic jack,” “wood lathe,” “John Deere Gator Utility Vehicle,” or “Komori Sprint.” You can then combine the phrase with the words “operator’s manual” (no quotation marks needed) as follows:
“hydraulic jack” operator’s manual
“Komori Sprint” operator’s manual
Phrase searching can also be done from Google’s advanced search screen by typing the equipment type or machine name into the box next to “exact phrase.” You can enter the words “operator’s manual” into the search box next to “all of the words.” You will not have to enclose the phrase, words, or machine name in quotation marks when searching from the advanced search screen. Additionally, if you perform an advanced search in Google, you can choose to limit the “file format” option to “only return results of the file format Adobe Acrobat PDF (.pdf).”
Make note of the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or address to the actual page where the “Air-Spade Series 2000 Operator’s Manual” appears. This URL should be at the bottom of the citation for this product’s manual or up in your browser’s address bar. For this example, it should look like www.air-spade.com/Documents/instruct5.pdf (NOTE: The http:// segment in a URL is usually assumed so it may be omitted in the citation).
The beginning segment of the URL can usually be used to access the company’s home page so you can hunt for further information about either the company or its other products. This is especially useful if you need to get in touch with a customer or technical representative concerning a maintenance or repair problem. For this example, it should look like
http://www.air-spade.com. You can also search just for company names.
Based on the method explained in example #1 above, try a few other example searches in Google. Practice using both the basic and advanced searching screens.
Example Searches:
Terms: printing press operator’s manual (in “basic” search screen)
Sample operator’s manual from this search: http://www.autographicservices.com/manuals/D2MCZ20_OpMnl.pdf
Company: http://www.autographicservices.com
Terms: backhoe operator’s manual (in “basic” search screen)
Sample operator’s manual from this search: http://www.bushhog.com/pdf-files/Backhoe.pdf
Company: http://www.bushhog.com
Terms: “air drill” operator’s manual (in “basic” search screen)
Sample operator’s manual from this search:
http://www.morris-industries.com/d_content/product_manual_2.PDF
Company: http://www.morris-industries.com
For more information on finding equipment to use for this course, you may contact the UTEP Engineering and Science Librarian:
Lisa Borden
Phone: (915) 747-6709
E-Mail: lmborden@libr.utep.edu
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