Searching the Web

Use these shortcut commands to quickly find information or open a particular site on the Web at any time, even when no browser is open. For quickest results, your search commands can specify a particular website, category, or search engine.

These open-ended commands are active by default, thanks to the Enable Web search commands option on the Options dialog box—Commands tab.

Goal

Examples

General Web search

You don't have to have a browser open. After it recognizes your command, Dragon presents the results of your default search engine in your default browser.

To perform a general Web search:

  1. Say "Search the Web for <search keywords>".

    The Dragon Keyword Edit dialog box opens by default. To turn it off, see To turn off the Keyword Edit dialog box.

  2. Optionally edit your search keywords.
  3. Optionally select Do not display this window again.

  4. Click Search.

    Dragon opens your default browser if it isn't already open and performs the search using your default search engine.
  • "Search the Web for Italian restaurants in Boston."
  • "Search the Web for the closest gas station."

Search a specific Web site

Dragon can search the following Web sites:

  • About.com
  • Google
  • Amazon
  • IRS
  • Answers.com
  • MSN
  • AOL
  • MySpace
  • Ask
  • Twitter
  • Bing
  • Wikipedia
  • Creative Commons
  • Yahoo!
  • eBay
  • YouTube
  • Facebook (login required)
  

To search a specific Web site:

  1. Say "Search <web site> for <search keywords>".

    The Dragon Keyword Edit dialog box opens by default. To turn it off, see To turn off the Keyword Edit dialog box.

  2. Optionally edit your search keywords.
  3. Optionally select Do not display this window again.

  4. Click Search.

    Dragon opens your default browser if it isn't already open and searches the Web site.

"Search eBay for vintage clothing"

"Search Wikipedia for Bluetooth technology"

Obtain calculations

You can take advantage of shortcut commands to quickly obtain a conversion, percentage, or other calculation, as supported by your search engine. Just say the desired calculation as your search keywords.

"Search Google for 87 divided by 12"

"Search Bing for 7 percent of 43"

"Search Yahoo for 3 point 5 kilometers in miles"

Search in a specific category

For more targeted results, Dragon can search in the following categories:

  • events
  • photos
  • images
  • places
  • maps
  • products
  • movies
  • shops
  • news
  • video
  • pictures
  

To search in a specific category:

  1. Say "Search <category> for <search keywords>".

    The Dragon Keyword Edit dialog box opens by default. To turn it off, see To turn off the Keyword Edit dialog box.

  2. Optionally edit your search keywords.
  3. Optionally select Do not display this window again.

  4. Click Search.

    Dragon opens your default browser if it isn't already open and performs the search using your default search engine.

"Search video for dancing bears

"Search images for fall foliage"

Open the top Web site

Dragon can directly open the top-ranked Web site for specific keywords.

To open the top site:

  1. Say "Open top site for <search keyword>".

    The Dragon Keyword Edit dialog box opens by default. To turn it off, see To turn off the Keyword Edit dialog box.

  2. Optionally edit your search keywords.
  3. Optionally select Do not display this window again.

  4. Click Search.

    In your default browser, Dragon opens the site corresponding to the top result of your default search engine. This can be the quickest way to open the site of a company or other institution.

"Open top site for world health organization"

"Open top site for Nuance"

To turn off the Keyword Edit dialog box:

  1. From the DragonBar, select Tools>Options.

    The Options dialog box opens.

  2. Click the Commands tab.
  3. Deselect the Display search text before performing search check box.
 None.
 

Related procedures

Additional information

Web browser basicsOptions dialog box—Commands tab
Working with ChromeAbout the Dragon Web Extension
Working with Internet Explorer