Tips Internet
Search PDF and Word documents with Google

This tip will show you how it’s possible, with the help of Google, to search through Excel, PowerPoint, PDF or Word files that are accessible via the internet.

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Search PDF and Word documents with Google

March 17th, 2008 - 08:10 am ET by D. T.

The Google search engine allows you to search information in Web pages, but not uniquely. It is also possible to perform a search in other online file types: Excel tables, PDF files, PowerPoint presentations and Word files.

After having opened your Internet browser, and gone to the Google home page, you will need to enter one of the following requests:

  • “filetype:xls X”, with X being the keyword or group of keywords (For Excel files)
  • “filetype:pdf X”, with X being the keyword or group of keywords (For PDF files)
  • “filetype:ppt X”, with X being the keyword or group of keywords (For PowerPpoint files)
  • “filetype:doc X”, with X being the keyword or group of keywords (For Word files)


An example with Word documents and the keyword “Microsoft”:

Google type fichier 1 Google type fichier 2


Another example, but with Excel documents and the keyword “INSEE”:

Google type fichier 3 Google type fichier 4

You can then click on the results will bring up a dialogue box offering you to open the file with the adequate application or to leave the file.
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