FAQ
Answers to questions you may encounter while using so.ez
General Questions
Q: What is so.ez?
A: so.ez is a professional search engine syntax configuration tool that helps you visually configure search engine syntax for one-click multi-engine search. With so.ez, you can:
- Manage and configure commonly used search engines
- Create reusable search syntax plans
- Combine search engines and syntax plans
- Search in multiple search engines simultaneously
Q: Is so.ez free?
A: Yes, so.ez is completely free to use. All features can be used for free without any hidden costs.
Q: Do I need to register an account?
A: No. so.ez can be used without registering an account. All data is stored locally in your browser and will not be uploaded to servers.
Q: Which browsers are supported?
A: so.ez supports all modern browsers, including:
- Google Chrome (recommended)
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Other Chromium-based browsers
Configuration Issues
Q: How to add search engines?
A: Steps to add search engines:
- Click "Config" button in top navigation bar
- Select "Search Engines" tab
- Click "Add Engine" button
- Fill in engine information:
- Click "Save" to complete
Q: What is URL template format?
A: URL template is the search URL of search engine, where query parameters use {query} as placeholder.
Examples:
- Google:
https://www.google.com/search?q={query} - Bing:
https://www.bing.com/search?q={query} - 百度:
https://www.baidu.com/s?wd={query}
Q: How to create syntax plans?
A: Steps to create syntax plans:
- Go to "Config" → "Syntax Plans"
- Click "Add Syntax Plan"
- Fill in plan name and description
- Add syntax tokens:
- Click "Save" to complete
Q: How to create search plans?
A: Steps to create search plans:
- Go to "Config" → "Search Plans"
- Click "Add Search Plan"
- Fill in plan name
- Select created syntax plan
- Select one or more search engines
- Select whether to enable multi-open mode
- Click "Save" to complete
Q: What is multi-open mode?
A: Multi-open mode means when selecting multiple search engines, tabs for all selected engines are opened simultaneously for searching. This allows you to compare results from different search engines.
Note: When more than 5 search engines are selected, the system will show a confirmation prompt.
Search Issues
Q: Why are search results inaccurate?
A: Possible reasons for inaccurate search results:
- Improper syntax configuration: Check if syntax tokens are correct
- Search engine limitations: Different engines have different syntax support
- Keywords too broad: Try using more specific keywords
- Syntax conflicts: Some syntax combinations may be incompatible
Q: Why does some syntax not work?
A: Possible reasons for syntax not working:
- Search engine not supported: Different search engines have different support for advanced syntax
- Syntax format error: Check if syntax format is correct
- Syntax conflicts: Some syntax combinations may conflict with each other
It is recommended to check Syntax Reference to understand syntax support for each search engine.
Q: How to search within specific websites?
A: Use site: syntax:
- Create syntax plan, add site:domain token
- Example: site:github.com searches only in GitHub
- Example: site:*.edu searches only in educational websites
Q: How to search for files in specific formats?
A: Use filetype: syntax:
- Create syntax plan, add filetype:extension token
- Example: filetype:pdf searches for PDF files
- Example: filetype:doc searches for Word documents
Q: How to exclude specific content?
A: Use NOT or - syntax:
- Add NOT keyword token
- Example: apple NOT phone searches "apple" but excludes "phone" related content
Data Management
Q: Where is data stored?
A: All data is stored in browser IndexedDB, not uploaded to servers. This means:
- Data only exists in current browser
- Clearing browser data will cause configuration loss
- Data between different devices will not sync automatically
Q: How to backup my configuration?
A: Steps to backup configuration:
- Go to "Config" → "Import/Export"
- Select "Export All"
- System will generate JSON file
- Save file to safe location
It is recommended to regularly export backups to prevent data loss.
Q: How to restore configuration?
A: Steps to restore configuration:
- Go to "Config" → "Import/Export"
- Select "Import"
- Select previously exported JSON file
- Select conflict handling strategy (skip/overwrite/rename)
- Confirm import
Q: How to sync configuration between different devices?
A: Currently requires manual export/import:
- Export configuration on source device
- Transfer JSON file to target device (via email, cloud storage, etc.)
- Import configuration on target device
Q: What happens after clearing browser data?
A: Clearing browser data will cause all configuration to be lost, including search engines, syntax plans, and search plans. It is recommended to export backup before clearing data.
Technical Issues
Q: What to do if page loads slowly?
A: Possible reasons for slow page loading:
- Network connection issues: Check network connection
- Browser cache: Clear browser cache and try again
- Browser extension conflicts: Disable extensions and try again
- Data volume too large: Clean up unnecessary configuration data
Q: What to do if new tabs cannot be opened during search?
A: Possible causes and solutions:
- Browser blocking popups: Allow website to open popups
- Browser extension blocking: Disable ad blocking extensions
- Browser settings issues: Check browser settings
Q: What to do if configuration is lost?
A: Possible reasons for configuration loss:
- Cleared browser data
- Used private mode/incognito mode
- Browser crash or abnormality
If you have previously exported a backup, you can restore through import. Otherwise, lost configuration cannot be recovered.
Q: How to report issues or make suggestions?
A: If you encounter issues or have improvement suggestions, welcome to provide feedback through the following methods:
- Submit GitHub Issue
- Send email to project mailbox
- Participate in project discussions
Quick Reference
Common Syntax Quick Reference
| Syntax | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
site: | Specify site search | site:github.com |
intitle: | Title search | intitle:tutorial |
filetype: | File type search | filetype:pdf |
inurl: | URL search | inurl:blog |
intext: | Body text search | intext:keyword |
OR | Or operation | A OR B |
NOT | Not operation | A NOT B |
Common Search Engine URL Templates
| Search Engine | URL Template |
|---|---|
https://www.google.com/search?q={query} | |
| Bing | https://www.bing.com/search?q={query} |
| Baidu | https://www.baidu.com/s?wd={query} |
| Google Scholar | https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q={query} |