Fencing dot net's Search Feature

[El Chucko]

Needless to say, the same topics come up again and again on this forum. Often, after a particularly redundant post, someone will ask why the author didn't try a search on that topic to see if it had already been addressed.

Personally, I often have a really hard time getting decent results when I use the search function on this site, even when I am trying to find a thread or post that I remember seeing a short time ago. I have no problem searching on Google, AltaVista, Wikipedia, whatever... but have limited luck here.

So, do YOU use the search function on this forum to find old posts and threads? Are you usually successful when you do?

[Mr Epee]

A. Wrong area of the forum

B. Take a look at this

C. Take a look at this

[magic_moose]

I also have problems with the search on this site. However, in Google, you can always append
site:fencing.net/forums
to your search string and get the results from fencing.net that you want. Note: the keyword "site" must be in lower case.

[mrbiggs]

I use the search all the time on this site and I'm usually pretty successful.

However, I'm usually linking for other people, so I have an idea of the thread name, who posted, etc.

[akaiyuki]

I don't just search for things I've read before, but I don't use it all the time either... There needs to be an option in between... FLAWED!

[brtech]

You know, I just used it again, and while I did find the thread I was looking for, I was surprised at how far down the list it was. I entered "christmas present" for the search terms, looking for the thread called "Early Christmas present, aka a free scoring machine!"

I found it, half way down the SECOND PAGE of results.

The problem is the results are returned by the same order as all the other pages of the forum: sorted by date of last post. You want a relevance score, and sort by that.

That's why the google search works better.

[parrythis]

looking for the thread called "Early Christmas present,

For something like this where you know the text you're looking for is part of the name of the thread, click Search->Advanced Search, then quote the entire string (ex: "christmas present" ) and select "Search Titles Only" under the keywords field. Doing this will bring the thread you're looking for up first.

Is there a "help" page on how to enter keywords and the features of the advanced search page?

[Morion]

I entered flawed because it doesn't have the correct answer for me which is: "I use the search feature occasionally and usually find what I am looking for."

[OROD]

I'm very disappointed with the search feature. I tried it once and could find absolutely no porn! Havent tried it since.

.

[Fencergrl]

You just don't know where to look We keep the kiddies out of that area.

[Chafunkta]

The problem is the results are returned by the same order as all the other pages of the forum: sorted by date of last post. You want a relevance score, and sort by that.

Go to the Advanced Search option and under Sort Results By choose Relevancy. I still have pretty bad luck with the searches on this site, but using that option helps. I'm not really sure why it's not the default option.

I find that if you want to find specific information, you'll have to have seen the post before and know some things about it, like the Title or the name of the person that posted. This makes the search for commonly asked questions nearly impossible.

It's also annoying that the first two posts of any thread are some people complaining about how the thread starter didn't use the search function. I find a lot of new people get flamed because of that, and for no good reason. The Search function on this site is tough to use given the nature of the posts. (almost every post contains "repost" "wiring" or "attack")

And come on people, the This Poll is Flawed joke is OLD! Let's find another joke. I think there needs to be an option in every poll that says "This poll doesn't apply to me, I can't vote" because I think a lot of people just vote so they can see the results easily. It's aggravating when you have to click "View Poll Results" every time you view the thread to see the poll.


That's it, that's all I have to say. The ball's in your court.

[RoninX]

I use the search feature infrequently, usually before starting a new thread and rarely find what I am looking for. In part, because alot of discussion relevant to my query is imparted as part of drift, thus the thread titles rarely seem to relate to what I'm interested in. Occasionally I'll take the time to scroll through these threads but many are actually irrelevant.... ...the search is nice but far from perfect due to the nature of these forums

[purpzeyFCLI]

The search feature is merely a function of the overall BBS software. I agree that it often heeds tons of results even when given a very specific parameter however, it is built into the software.

In order for the search function to be improved there would need to be an updated version of the the forum software being used on the server. Assuming such a version exists.

The software that the server is running is fairly standard for most forums. It can be configured in different ways, but it is essentially the same bare-bones forum software.

In other words, unless there is some larger overhaul of the system the search function stays as it is.

Unfortunate or not.