Help:Searching BG3Wiki

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Revision as of 02:16, 24 March 2023 by Majesstic (talk | contribs) (rework intro; add instructions for other browsers; still need to fix the mixed numbered/bulleted lists)
Demonstration of using a search keyword to directly navigate to bg3.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.

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.

Search bg3.wiki Directly From 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.

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

Chrome's Add search engine box

See this Google support page for instructions on how to add a custom search engine to Chrome. (Section: Add, edit, or remove site search shortcuts)

When you've reached the Add search engine box, enter the following details.

  • 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.

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

Microsoft Edge

(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, type <your shortcut> <your search term> (ex: bg3wiki armour) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.

Mozilla Firefox

(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, type <your keyword> <your search term> (ex: bg3wiki potions) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.

Opera

(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, type <your keyword> <your search term> (ex: bg3wiki companions) in your browser's address bar to directly navigate to bg3.wiki.

Brave Browser

(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, 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

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? :)

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Last modified
This page was last edited on 24 March 2023, at 02:16.
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