Help:Searching BG3Wiki: Difference between revisions

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{{NavWiki}}[[File:Bg3wiki search gif.gif|thumb|right|Demonstration of using a search keyword to directly navigate to bg3.wiki]]
{{NavWiki|help}}
{{PageSeo
{{PageSeo
| fulltitle = Searching for Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki
| fulltitle = Searching for Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki
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| description = A guide to help BG3 players search for relevant content on the Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki.
| description = A guide to help BG3 players search for relevant content on the Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki.
}}
}}
If you've ever tried searching for BG3 info on Google, you've probably noticed that bg3.wiki pages often don't appear in the search results. This is due to the way Google handles Search Engine Optimization (SEO), which is outside the scope of this article. Suffice it to say that non-commercial websites like bg3.wiki have a difficult time with SEO.
BG3wiki has a powerful built-in [[Special:Search|Search]] function that can easily find pages, images, categories, templates, and more.


'''The point: This article describes a simple way to bypass Google and find relevant information on bg3.wiki.''' We'll keep working on the Google side of things. In the meantime, hopefully this workaround helps.
[[File:multimedia_search.png|right|thumb|Use the Multimedia option to search for images]]


== Search bg3.wiki Directly From Your Address Bar ==
* By default, Search results will only include content pages.
* Use the '''Multimedia''' option to search for images.
* Use the '''Everything''' option for a quick-and-dirty way to look through all possible results for your search term.
* Use the '''Advanced''' option to filter your search to specific [https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Namespaces namespaces], like Category or Template.
{{TOC|limit=3}}
 
== Identifying areas in need of help ==
* [[Special:WhatLinksHere/Template:UnderConstruction|Under Construction]]: Pages marked as under construction; check the page history and coordinate via the Discord server if a page is actively being worked on.
* [[:Category:Stubs|Stub pages]]: Incomplete pages, lacking key information.
* [[:Category:Priority pages|Priority pages]]: Stub pages considered a high priority for updating.
* [[:Category:Pages that need to be rewritten|Pages that need to be rewritten]]: Pages that do not follow BG3 Wiki's guidelines or pages that are missing key templates.
* [[BG3Wiki:Verification]]: Pages marked as having information that needs to be verified
* [[Special:WantedPages]]: A list of pages that are linked to by other pages, but have not yet been created themselves
* [[Special:AncientPages]]: Pages that have not been updated in a long time - check these for outdated information
* [[Special:LonelyPages]]: Pages that aren't linked to by any other pages - try to find other appropriate pages to add links to them
* [[Special:LongPages]]: Very long pages that ''might'' benefit from editing for brevity
* [[Special:ShortPages]]: Very short pages that ''might'' benefit from adding more information
 
See [[Special:SpecialPages]] for a full list of Special pages.
== Other ways of searching BG3Wiki ==
=== Using your address bar ===
Here are browser-specific instructions on how to define a custom search keyword, which you can type in your address bar to focus your search directly on bg3.wiki.
Here are browser-specific instructions on how to define a custom search keyword, which you can type in your address bar to focus your search directly on bg3.wiki.
[[File:Bg3wiki search gif.gif|thumb|right|Demonstration of using a search keyword to directly navigate to bg3.wiki]]


For example, if you enter the example values described in the instructions below, typing <code>bg3wiki spells</code> in your browser's address bar and pressing '''Enter''' will immediately perform a search for 'spells' on bg3.wiki. If your search term matches an existing article name, you'll be taken directly to that article (in this case, [[Spells]]). Otherwise, you'll be taken to a page of search results on bg3.wiki.
For example, if you enter the example values described in the instructions below, typing <code>bg3wiki spells</code> in your browser's address bar and pressing '''Enter''' will immediately perform a search for 'spells' on bg3.wiki. If your search term matches an existing article name, you'll be taken directly to that article (in this case, [[Spells]]). Otherwise, you'll be taken to a page of search results on bg3.wiki.
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Scroll to the section for your browser below.
Scroll to the section for your browser below.


=== {{color|#4285f4|G}}{{color|#ea4335|o}}{{color|#fbbc05|o}}{{color|#4285f4|g}}{{color|#34a853|l}}{{color|#ea4335|e}} Chrome ===
=== Google chrome ===
[[File:bg3wiki googlechrome search.png|right|thumb|(Step 3) Chrome's '''Add search engine''' box]]
[[File:bg3wiki googlechrome search.png|right|thumb|(Step 3) Chrome's '''Add search engine''' box]]
# In the top right corner of Chrome, click {{SmallIcon|browser more vertical.png}} '''Customize and control Google Chrome''', then navigate to '''Settings''' &gt; '''Search engine''' &gt; '''Manage search engines and site search'''.
# In the top right corner of Chrome, click {{SmallIcon|browser more vertical.png}} '''Customize and control Google Chrome''', then navigate to '''Settings''' &gt; '''Search engine''' &gt; '''Manage search engines and site search'''.

Latest revision as of 13:05, 6 November 2023

BG3wiki has a powerful built-in Search function that can easily find pages, images, categories, templates, and more.

Use the Multimedia option to search for images
  • By default, Search results will only include content pages.
  • Use the Multimedia option to search for images.
  • Use the Everything option for a quick-and-dirty way to look through all possible results for your search term.
  • Use the Advanced option to filter your search to specific namespaces, like Category or Template.

Identifying areas in need of help[edit | edit source]

  • Under Construction: Pages marked as under construction; check the page history and coordinate via the Discord server if a page is actively being worked on.
  • Stub pages: Incomplete pages, lacking key information.
  • Priority pages: Stub pages considered a high priority for updating.
  • Pages that need to be rewritten: Pages that do not follow BG3 Wiki's guidelines or pages that are missing key templates.
  • BG3Wiki:Verification: Pages marked as having information that needs to be verified
  • Special:WantedPages: A list of pages that are linked to by other pages, but have not yet been created themselves
  • Special:AncientPages: Pages that have not been updated in a long time - check these for outdated information
  • Special:LonelyPages: Pages that aren't linked to by any other pages - try to find other appropriate pages to add links to them
  • Special:LongPages: Very long pages that might benefit from editing for brevity
  • Special:ShortPages: Very short pages that might benefit from adding more information

See Special:SpecialPages for a full list of Special pages.

Other ways of searching BG3Wiki[edit | edit source]

Using your address bar[edit | edit source]

Here are browser-specific instructions on how to define a custom search keyword, which you can type in your address bar to focus your search directly on bg3.wiki.

Demonstration of using a search keyword to directly navigate to bg3.wiki

For example, if you enter the example values described in the instructions below, typing bg3wiki spells in your browser's address bar and pressing Enter will immediately perform a search for 'spells' on bg3.wiki. If your search term matches an existing article name, you'll be taken directly to that article (in this case, Spells). Otherwise, you'll be taken to a page of search results on bg3.wiki.

This only takes a couple minutes to set up, doesn't require you to install anything, and could save you hours of frustrating failed searches in the future - if you're addicted to BG3 like we are.

Scroll to the section for your browser below.

Google chrome[edit | edit source]

(Step 3) Chrome's Add search engine box
  1. In the top right corner of Chrome, click Customize and control Google Chrome, then navigate to Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search.
  2. Under the Site search heading, click the Add button.
  3. Enter the following details in the Add search engine box.
    • Search engine: The name that will appear in your address bar when you type the Shortcut below.
      • Ex: BG3Wiki
    • Shortcut: The keyword you'll enter in your address bar to trigger a bg3.wiki search.
      • Ex: bg3wiki or bg3w or b3w
        (this can be anything you'd like - just make sure it's a word or phrase you're unlikely to type when you're not trying to search for bg3.wiki info)
    • URL with %s in place of query: This is where your browser will search when you type the Shortcut above. Copy and paste one of the following.
  4. When finished, click Add again to finish the process.

Once you've added the search engine, you can type <your shortcut> <your search term> (ex: bg3wiki feats) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.

Microsoft Edge[edit | edit source]

(Step 3) Edge's Add search engine box
  1. In the top right corner of Edge, click Settings and more, then navigate to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > scroll down and click Address bar and search.
  2. Within the Manage search engines view, click the Add button.
  3. Enter the following details in the Add search engine box.
    • Search engine: The name that will appear in your address bar when you type the Shortcut below.
      • Ex: BG3Wiki
    • Shortcut: The keyword you'll enter in your address bar to trigger a bg3.wiki search.
      • Ex: bg3wiki or bg3w or b3w
        (this can be anything you'd like - just make sure it's a word or phrase you're unlikely to type when you're not trying to search for bg3.wiki info)
    • URL with %s in place of query: This is where your browser will search when you type the Shortcut above. Copy and paste one of the following.
  4. When finished, click Add again to finish the process.

Once you've added the search engine, you can type <your shortcut> <your search term> (ex: bg3wiki armour) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.

Mozilla Firefox[edit | edit source]

(Step 1) Right-clicking on the Search box
(Step 2) Firefox's Add bookmark box

Unlike most browsers, Firefox requires you to attach your custom search keyword to a bookmark, but the process is largely the same.

  1. From any bg3.wiki page (including this one), right-click on the Search Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki box in the top right corner of the page and select Add a Keyword for this Search.
  2. Enter the following details in the Add bookmark box that appears.
    • Name: The name that will appear in your Firefox bookmarks.
      • Ex: Search Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki
    • Location: The location of this entry in your Firefox bookmarks. This can be wherever you'd like.
    • Keyword: The keyword you'll enter in your address bar to trigger a bg3.wiki search.
      • Ex: bg3wiki or bg3w or b3w
        (this can be anything you'd like - just make sure it's a word or phrase you're unlikely to type when you're not trying to search for bg3.wiki info)
  3. When finished, click Save to finish the process.

Once you've added the search engine, you can type <your keyword> <your search term> (ex: bg3wiki potions) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.

Alternatively (and more simply), follow the official guide for how to add BG3.wiki as a search engine to Firefox's built-in search bar with just a few clicks: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/add-or-remove-search-engine-firefox#

Opera[edit | edit source]

(Step 1) Right-clicking on the Search box
(Step 2) Opera's Create search engine box
  1. From any bg3.wiki page (including this one), right-click on the Search Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki box in the top right corner of the page and select Create search engine...
  2. Enter the following details in the Create search engine for "bg3.wiki" box that appears.
    • Name: The name that will appear when you type the Keyword below.
      • Ex: bg3.wiki
    • Keyword: The keyword you'll enter in your address bar to trigger a bg3.wiki search.
      • Ex: bg3wiki or bg3w or b3w
        (this can be anything you'd like - just make sure it's a word or phrase you're unlikely to type when you're not trying to search for bg3.wiki info)
  3. When finished, click Save to finish the process.

Once you've added the search engine, you can type <your keyword> <your search term> (ex: bg3wiki companions) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.

Brave Browser[edit | edit source]

(Step 3) Brave's Add search engine box
  1. In the top right corner of Brave, click Customize and control Brave, then navigate to Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search.
  2. Under the Site search heading, click the Add button.
  3. Enter the following details in the Add search engine box.
    • Search engine: The name that will appear in your address bar when you type the Shortcut below.
      • Ex: BG3Wiki
    • Shortcut: The keyword you'll enter in your address bar to trigger a bg3.wiki search.
      • Ex: bg3wiki or bg3w or b3w
        (this can be anything you'd like - just make sure it's a word or phrase you're unlikely to type when you're not trying to search for bg3.wiki info)
    • URL with %s in place of query: This is where your browser will search when you type the Shortcut above. Copy and paste one of the following.
  4. When finished, click Add again to finish the process.

Once you've added the search engine, you can type <your shortcut> <your search term> (ex: bg3wiki weapons) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.

Using an Alternative Search Engine[edit | edit source]

You might also want to try something other than Google Search. Endorsing any specific search engine is not really the point of this article, but other search engines have a better track record of showing relevant bg3.wiki articles for your search terms, instead of ads and content farms. Maybe try searching Google for 'alternatives to Google' if you're feeling adventurous? :)