Engineering

Google Search Operators

Using filetype and other advanced search operators to find engineering documents.

Google Search Operators

If you understand the use of filetype:pdf, filetype:csv, filetype:doc, filetype:cdr in Google Search, you are a Professional.

File Type Searches

Find specific document types by appending filetype: to your query:

OperatorFindsUse Case
filetype:pdfPDF documentsDatasheets, app notes, standards, white papers
filetype:csvCSV spreadsheetsPublic datasets, parts lists, measurement data
filetype:xls or filetype:xlsxExcel filesComponent selection guides, budget templates
filetype:doc or filetype:docxWord documentsTest procedures, design documents
filetype:ppt or filetype:pptxPowerPoint filesConference presentations, technical briefs
filetype:cdrCorelDRAW filesPanel layouts, mechanical drawings
filetype:dxfAutoCAD exchangeMechanical drawings, enclosure outlines
filetype:s2pTouchstone 2-portS-parameter data for RF components
filetype:txtPlain textREADME files, logs, raw data

Examples

# Find a datasheet
HMC564A filetype:pdf

# Find S-parameter data for a filter
bandpass filter 10 GHz filetype:s2p

# Find antenna pattern data
phased array radiation pattern filetype:csv

# Find a specific standard
ITU-R P.618 rain attenuation filetype:pdf

# Find conference presentations on a topic
digital beamforming phased array filetype:ppt

Other Useful Operators

OperatorWhat It DoesExample
site:Search within a domainsite:analog.com LNA noise figure
intitle:Term must be in page titleintitle:datasheet AD9680
inurl:Term must be in URLinurl:application-note ti.com
"exact phrase"Exact match"insertion loss" "return loss" filetype:pdf
-termExclude a termLNA datasheet -automotive
OREither term(HMC564A OR QPL9503) filetype:pdf
before: / after:Date rangephased array ground station after:2024

Pro Combinations

# Find an app note from a specific vendor
site:ti.com filetype:pdf "application note" PLL loop filter

# Find S-parameters for a specific connector
SMA connector S-parameter filetype:s2p site:amphenol.com

# Find military standards
MIL-STD-188 filetype:pdf site:gov

# Find ITU regulatory documents
"power flux density" NGSO filetype:pdf site:itu.int