PRIMER:
Overview
Netiquette
E-mail/Chat
Mailing Lists
Newsgroups
FTP File Transfer
Telnet
Gopher
Websites/Web Search
Cite Sources
Make A Bookmark Page
Create A Home Page
Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Inc.
The Genealogist's Internet Primer, by Sharon L. Brevoort
The World-Wide Web
- Information can be viewed almost instantaneously - anytime, anywhere.
- Anyone can publish a website inexpensively.
- Incomplete research can be published now.
- It is easy to expand, update, and correct information frequently.
- Search utilities make it easy for interested readers to find the information.
- Website content can be searched interactively at some sites.
The World-Wide Web (also called the Web), first developed in 1989, is now the second most popular Internet feature, used by over 46 million people. The name derives from its ability to link from one page to another using hyperlinks which allow the reader to follow or "surf" interconnected pages and sites. Much genealogical information is available on home pages and websites created and maintained by individuals, family associations, genealogical and historical societies, libraries and archives, schools and universities, cities, states, and governments.
To access web pages you will need a web browser such as Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, or the one from your service provider. The browser interprets the text and codes embedded in the document and displays the information on your screen. Subscribers can sign up with an on-line service (such as America Online, CompuServe, Prodigy, Microsoft Network) or a local Internet Service Provider (ISP). There are advantages to both: an online service provides member-only materials, services, and common-interest forums; an ISP usually provides fewer services at a lower cost. AOL members can access websites by selecting "Internet", typing in a URL address, and clicking "Go To The Web".
Web pages are accessed using an address called a Uniform Resource Locator or URL.
protocol://domain/path/filename.extension
protocol://prefix.organization.type/path/filename.extension
protocol://prefix.organization.type.country/path/filename.extension
Example: http://www.hvcn.org/info/gswc/index.htm
The protocol and domain name are not case sensitive; path and filenames are. The protocol is the method that will be used to handle the information at this address. The domain name identifies the server's physical location. The path and filename represent the directory structure on the server.
Some components of a URL address are:
|
protocol http:// ftp:// telnet:// gopher:// file:/// mailto: news: suffix .com .edu .gov .mil .net .org |
indicates HyperText Transfer Protocol File Transfer Protocol Telnet Protocol Gopher Protocol text file E-mail Protocol Newsgroup Protocol indicates commercial venture educational institution government agency military agency large network non-profit organization |
keyword www. .lib /~userid location .de .uk .us .in.us .mi.us .oh.us |
indicates world-wide web library or archive individual's space indicates Germany United Kingdom United States Indiana Michigan Ohio |
Note: In URL addresses, capitalization is significant.
Searching the Web
Searching for information on the web is done using software products called search engines. Each search engine has its strengths and weaknesses, and no one search engine will satisfy all needs. Depending on what information you are looking for and what selection criteria you use to find it, the results may vary widely since each search engine uses its own set of criteria to establish the relevance of the matching sites.
Some search engines (Excite, HotBot, Altavista) search web page documents on the world-wide web and may or may not have the option to search other Internet media such as newsgroups. The sites searched are those that have been submitted to (and may need to be approved by) that search engine. Other search engines (Deja News) search only newsgroups. Meta search tools (Dogpile, MetaCrawler) poll several other search engines to provide a list of "hits" which may be more likely to contain the link(s) you are looking for. Another type of search tool is the Internet directory (Yahoo, Lycos).
A selected set of search engines, including people, telephone, and zip code lookups and sites with searchable surname or place name databases, can be found on the GSWC website at:
The GSWC Website
All of the links which are listed on this page can be found on the GSWC website; this list is just a representative sample of some of the best genealogy sites the web has to offer. Topics presented on our website include much information and many links of general interest to all genealogists as well as specifics for researching in Washtenaw County and the State of Michigan. Of special interest are:
