Is there any way that the search function can be improved?

axisus

Is there any way that the search function can be improved - Specifically to put things in date order with most recent first. It's so frustrating when you get 1000+ replies in random order!

Jalapeno

There's no need for creating contentious topics like this

monquixote

axisus said:

Is there any way that the search function can be improved - Specifically to put things in date order with most recent first. It's so frustrating when you get 1000+ replies in random order!

You can it's an option in advanced Search

TTony

There are a lot of options that aren't obviously presented on the standard search page.

It might be that a little UI re-design would make it appear far more functional, without actually needing any change to the functionality?
@monquixote?

monquixote

People generally complain about the search and then disappear when I point out that the feature they asked for is actually there so I don't know if they can't use the advanced search or just don't know it's there

axisus

So how do you order the results by date, most recent first?????

Vaiai

monquixote said:

People generally complain about the search and then disappear when I point out that the feature they asked for is actually there so I don't know if they can't use the advanced search or just don't know it's there

Advanced Search? Or do you mean the More Options button? It still doesn't help and arranging by date should be an option (not aimed at the mods or you monquixote - I know this is based on the forum software we use) I use "This Year" or "This month" but it could do with more filtering. 

Vaiai

Well, who knew - that is so well hidden!
I usually spend my day pointing out people's lack of knowledge and here I am in school today.
This should be a sticky!

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/search?Search=&Checkboxes[0]=titles&Checkboxes[1]=WithReplies&Checkboxes[2]=child&match=Any&tag=&date=All&or=Relevance&mem=&res=Classic&pg=p1&tar=srch

m_c

I think the only improvement the search really needs, is it to default to latest posts.

The chances are that when you're searching for something, you want to see the latest posts. To do that at the moment, you have to do a search, then click advanced search, then click sort by most recent, then click search again (that's having remembered the search button is at the top, and not below the options!)

axisus

So ...... you can't do what I'm asking then????

m_c

@axisus. do an initial search for what you're searching for. On the results page, click the 'Adv Search' link near the top (just below where it tells you what you've just searched for). Then on the next page, select 'Most Recent' in the Order By group. While you're there, you may want to change the Phrase Match from Any to All if you're searching for more than one word, then finally click search.

That's assuming you're on the desktop view.

axisus

m_c said:

@axisus. do an initial search for what you're searching for. On the results page, click the 'Adv Search' link near the top (just below where it tells you what you've just searched for). Then on the next page, select 'Most Recent' in the Order By group. While you're there, you may want to change the Phrase Match from Any to All if you're searching for more than one word, then finally click search.

That's assuming you're on the desktop view.

Ahh, yes, found a checkbox! Not very intuitive!

Also the search for a item from a particular member never seems to work??

axisus

Aaaargggg!!!!!! Bloody search! Drives me up the wall. I finally thought I was getting somewhere. I searched for 'prototype' and arranged in date order. scanned down first page of results, thread I'm looking for not there. Clicked on page two and all I get is 'no results for rototype'  and no results at all. !?!?!?!?!?!  Why the bloody hell would it knock the 'P' off!?!?!?!

m_c

Now that's a problem!
Quick solution is to just put a couple apostrophes around prototype.

m_c

As for the reason, the P must be getting parsed somewhere, meaning it gets dropped. It happens to any word starting with a P.

TTony

IIRC, we had the "p" problem before.

I don't know what the cause is, but I think it originates in the fact that we're using free software to host the forum.  It has some "bugs" out in the margins.

AlexC

I searched for an answer to this and couldn't find one.

bingefeller

try typing the following Google search-

site:thefretboard.co.uk "search phrase here"

Bridgehouse

bingefeller said:

try typing the following Google search-

site:thefretboard.co.uk "search phrase here"

That's what I do - if you then use the search tools you can even time-bound it