Search Function...

[T3hk1w1]

For some reason, the search function really sucks on this forum. Even when using the advanced search features, it's very hit or miss finding what you are looking for, sometimes even if you type in the exact title of a thread? I'm on almost 10 different forums (mostly in vbulletin format) and this is one of the worst when it comes to usability of the search feature. Have the mods/site admins looked into ways to improve the search function here?

As an example, a search in the OEM Tech and Mod Tech forums for "bar pin" (without quotes) yields no results, while a search in the same subforums for "bar pin eliminator" (no quotes) yields over 500 hits.

 

[WrenchMonkey]

Some of the problem is that we have so many people and so many posts, that it creates a sea of info to sift through.

When searching through a database of this size (50k users, 185k threads, 2 million posts), you have to be specific.

Searching for bar pin would produce thousands of hits, so the engine won't even look for words less than four characters.

Thus, searching for bar pin eliminators will drop the bar and pin, and just search for eliminators, giving you your 500 hits again.

If you're looking for a specific phrase, use the quotes. "Bar pin eliminators" is better, but still gives nearly 400 hits, because it will find every time somebody lists them as a mod.

Go to the advance search, and limit it to mod tech, and you're down to 227 hits. That's out of 2 MILLION posts, remember.

If you want a thread that deals specifically with BPEs, select "Search Titles Only," and you get a grand total of twelve threads, one of which should give you what you want.


Point is, you have to be specific. If you are, you'll find what you want.

Hope this helped...

Robert