Search engine needs help! - Diesel Forum

Monte1 · 10-30-2004, 01:44 AM

I like to look for old posts to learn as much as possible, but would like to be able to search by topic. It often doesn't work. Can it be fixed?

Larry M · 10-30-2004, 08:26 AM

The search engines as far as I know are what they are and are part of the current forum S/W that TDS uses. Features can be turned on or off, but any problems have to be fixed by the S/W providers.

As far as searching for topics, I'm not sure what you mean when you say it "doesn't work". Many times words are mispelled or topics aren't readily apparant in their titles, but you just have to work with what is here.

If you can give a specific example and show how it didn't work we can talk about that, but I think in this case we'll never get a 100% search feature. I've used it probably more than most members here, and found it very efficient.

I know this isn't a very good answer, but it's my take on the search feature. For a start you might check out the "little secrets" which again are far from perfect, but they're free and are arranged by topic. Of course my cataloging of the topics is my own and others would have done it differently.

Larry, keeper of the <font color="blue">"little secrets" </font> CLICK HERE [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

justinthurn · 10-30-2004, 07:21 PM

i too am getting frustrated with the search feature....if it worked better, there would be a lot less repeat threads.

specific examples include

heated seats
led
edge mini spring pack
...the list goes on

any more specific and it doesnt show any results...with it this broad it shows threads that people list heated seats in their sig, even with it just set to search topic, not body

Larry M · 10-30-2004, 07:41 PM

[ QUOTE ]
i too am getting frustrated with the search feature....if it worked better, there would be a lot less repeat threads.

specific examples include

heated seats
led
edge mini spring pack
...the list goes on

any more specific and it doesnt show any results...with it this broad it shows threads that people list heated seats in their sig, even with it just set to search topic, not body

[/ QUOTE ]

Since you've provided some specific examples here is what I would ahve done on your examples.

1. heated seats ... do a "+heated +seats" (the + are important here for searching) and done it in the U&A - general and "General Questions" forums. This should have worked great and I would like to hear why you didn't think this worked for what you wanted. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

2. LED .... useless IMO unless your comibne it with the "+" advanced option and narrow it down some. Single word searchs are IMO worthless as are much above three. I've found that two are ideal.

3. edge mini sping pack .... too many words the best it to only use "two words" that describe what you're looking for. Also, not nitpicking but "sping" is not "spring" and can cause all kinds of problems.

Point being as in my previous post it takes some time and working to get the search feature to work for you right, but IMO it works really good once you work "WITH IT" instead of "FIGHTING IT". [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Larry M.
Moderator

jna · 11-01-2004, 12:20 AM

i too think this search engine is absolutely brutal [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vomit.gif[/img]. man its the 90's...get a google search engine put on this sucker!! i dont know how the comp guys do it, but a site can use google method of searching for things only on thier site. i actually get more related tds posts if i use the www google search.

its like you have to know some secret code of actually getting something sort of relevant then just the weeks posts as results.

figure it out and get rid of the terrible search engine!! everyone hates it and it contributes to more repetition on posts b/c NO ONE can use the darn thing!!!

jared

Monte1 · 11-03-2004, 10:59 AM

Larry,

I agree with the other posts. Since I'm new, I probably don't know how to make the search engine work as well as you apparently do. If there is a trick, I'd like to know it. I also find it easier to find what I'm looking for on Dieselstop.com using Google. Example:
I was looking for info on 19.5 inch wheels over the last 12 months.
I got a LOT of posts unrelated to the topic, and it individually references EVERY reply to a post. Also, once I start looking through all the pages of references, the engine seems to "forget" the original search criteria. Is there a loose screw behind my steering wheel?
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

Larry M · 11-03-2004, 03:22 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Larry,

I agree with the other posts. Since I'm new, I probably don't know how to make the search engine work as well as you apparently do. If there is a trick, I'd like to know it. I also find it easier to find what I'm looking for on Dieselstop.com using Google. Example:
I was looking for info on 19.5 inch wheels over the last 12 months.
I got a LOT of posts unrelated to the topic, and it individually references EVERY reply to a post. Also, once I start looking through all the pages of references, the engine seems to "forget" the original search criteria. Is there a loose screw behind my steering wheel?
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not sure what to say since I just did a search over the last year in the "U&A - General" forum using the search criteria "+19.5 +wheel" and got like 75 hits and they all seemed to match the search criteria.

Now if you do a search on "19.5 wheels" you will get some funky hits since you're not searching for both items. You search for the phrase and then apparantly either or of the terms.

I always limit my search to only two words and used the "+" advanced search option.

Larry, keeper of the <font color="blue">"little secrets" </font> CLICK HERE [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

alalor1 · 12-04-2004, 08:35 PM

I think the people here do a terrific job with the web site, but I am also having problems with the search engine.
Things I found this morning don't show up.
For example, with google I found the "dana factory option" thread.
I tried it on this search and it didn't find anything, I tried with +dana +factory, and nothing came up either.
Same with a thread that was something like "Recommended maintenance for high mileage", I found it this morning looking for the brake fluid change thread, never found it again.
It is very weird.
But, I'll stop complaining and want to thank everybody who works for this page, you do an awesome job.
Dro