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Forum Search is quite frustrating...what's the point?
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- WebGuy
- Rocketeer
- Posts: 53
- Thanks: 0
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Ok I'm familiar with using forums to find information...but this RocketTheme Forum is quite frustrating...
1. Is there any way to search for a phrase instead of just individual words?
I tried advanced serach and put the phrase in quotes and the results still give individual words found?
For example say I just want to find a SEF Module...searching for "SEF module" returns everytime the word "module" was used. Which is barely better than just "browsing" the titles for what one needs.
Does anyone else find this search somewhat "worthless"?
Is there a Google page created for this forum like there is at Joomla.org?
2. Is there anyway to turn off the "yellow" highlighting of "found" words? (quite distracting when trying to read through)
Unless there is something I'm doing wrong...any suggestions are welcome. Or maybe this post will get enough "play" the powers that be will decide to correct the search so that we can actually find SPECIFICALLY what we are looking for? You know...like all the other search engines available today.
Thanks,
WebGuy - I know it's better to teach a man to fish...but if that man is starving, he'll die before he catches the fish.
So do him a favor, feed him first...then teach him to fish.
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- James Spencer
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 46340
- Thanks: 50
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Hello WebGuy,
The RocketTheme forum is running SMF from simplemachines.org - which is a highly popular free forum software solution. Therefore, any/most "issues" with the search will be do to with SMF itself.
However, I do disagree with your comments about search as I never have difficulty in searching for anything. Obviously, this could be down to the fact that I know the forums extremely well but despite that, there are lots of different ways to refine the search which is good practise.
To start, never use the ordinary search function, always go into Advanced search as it has much more fields and options to refine your search.
Point 1, in this you state about an issue with the individual words. No matter what search engine, whether that be a website like Google or integrated like SMF, individual words are always picked up and do not generally isolate the phrase in its purist forms. This is just the way that search functions. Obviously, some may be better like Google but if you do a comparison between Google and SMF, you will probably see the reasons why.
Google is a multi-billion dollar company whom have the resources to create and develop a powerful search engine whereas SMF is free. Therefore, there comparable availability of resources are quite apparent.
Point 2, the highlight has a purpose, well its really to highlight the words you have entered in the search. The reasoning should be quite apparent to make it easier for you to identify which search result is most relevant to you. For example, if I see "SEF" highlighted amongst some templating code, I know that it is immediately not the right result.
What you need to do is as follows:-
1# Always use Advanced Search
2# Don't type phrase but just keywords as that is what search identifies (not in quotes)
3# Where possible, enter the Author name such as *Andy Miller* (remember the * before and after the name). I personally use this option in almost every result but that is because I can recall, on most occasions, who posted what.
4# Use the tick boxes accordingly. I have never had to use them but the option is there to assist you
5# Where appropriate, use the message age option. If you know a post was in August, then adjust the number of days accordingly. 5 results instead of 50 makes it much easier and more efficient.
6# Almost always, you will want to use the last option Choose a board to search in, or search all - I use this option the most. You can deselect the "Check All" tick box and then click on the above title. This will dropdown all the boards in the RocketTheme Forum. You can subsequently refine your search to a particular board(s).
To conclude, to have an efficient search, you must try and utilise all the search features available to refine your search and maximise the results. 95% of the time, I can find the exact result that I was looking for within 30 seconds or there abouts. And of course, try and search for something that is relevant to RocketTheme unless you exclusively know that it was mentioned before. For example, searching how "How to edit mambot code" or something wouldn't be appropriate. - James Spencer / Developer & Support / Hull, UK
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- WebGuy
- Rocketeer
- Posts: 53
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James,
I do appreciate your reply and the methodology which you use to search...I'm sure it will help those who are unfamiliar with search and advanced search capabilities. And yes you are at a definite advantage because you live here...most like myself don't and would like to be able to find things we are looking for in a much more timely manner.
However, I have to disagree with you on Point1 and somewhat on Point2.
My disagreement stems from the fact that generally on these and all forums users are NOT SEARCHING FOR ONE WORD.
I know you and everyone can disagree. But I am willing to bet if we did a poll on this you would find it to be quite true.
Say for example I want to find information on the Random Image Rotator Module...searching for any one of these words would not produce the search results I am looking for and hence waste my time trying to parse thru 100's of posts to find the information on "Random Image Rotator Module"...think about anything else you search for and I'm sure most of the time it's not just one word searches.
Point 1, in this you state about an issue with the individual words. No matter what search engine, whether that be a website like Google or integrated like SMF, individual words are always picked up and do not generally isolate the phrase in its purist forms. This is just the way that search functions. Obviously, some may be better like Google but if you do a comparison between Google and SMF, you will probably see the reasons why.
No this is NOT "just the way that search functions" we've progressed from this (or rather should have) type of thinking...this is why Google has stayed on the top because it recognizes the need for constant change and GIVING THEIR USERS WHAT THEY NEED. ;D
Being able to search for "PHRASES" should not be that big of an issue...but because it is I can't find anything in a minute or two like we should be able...instead I've got to spend MUCH MORE TIME parsing irrelevant results due to the supreme lack of functionality.
The yellow hilight is just a petty annoyance I can live with...
Thank you for letting me know that you use SMF (even though it's on the footer)...if this is the best SMF can do with search I know it's one Forum I will not be using. Because when you get right down to it (whether you're willing to admit it or not) this search capabilty really "sucks".
Which is probably why someone over at Joomla.org took it upon themselves to implement the capabilities of Google on their Forums.
Hopefully the powers that be here will give this some thought and consideration...and decide to change.
Thanks,
WebGuy - I know it's better to teach a man to fish...but if that man is starving, he'll die before he catches the fish.
So do him a favor, feed him first...then teach him to fish.
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- James Spencer
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 46340
- Thanks: 50
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I can understand your point and knew you were going to say it
Search can always be improved and I bet if I talk to Brad about it, he'll know what you are talking about with Joomla as I do not know what you are referring to. The Joomla forums and the RT forums use the exactly the same search. But, I don't venture deeply into their forums so maybe you may enlighten me on that.
Continuing, "search" as the "program" if you will is only one part of actually searching. For example, each template section is split into the Solved and Tutorials sub boards. Therefore, most of the common posts/requests will be in there, also the use of stickies in the Solved boards for popular queries. Obviously, that is just an extra branch of "search" but is still there
Could you clarify the Joomla Google search item you mentioned? - Last Edit: 17 years 8 months ago by James Spencer.
- James Spencer / Developer & Support / Hull, UK
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- urj2ic8
- Hero Rocketeer
- Posts: 421
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WebGuy wrote:
Which is probably why someone over at Joomla.org took it upon themselves to implement the capabilities of Google on their Forums.
I don't understand what you mean, i don't see google on their forums? - Billy Zoellers
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- WebGuy
- Rocketeer
- Posts: 53
- Thanks: 0
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Yeah James...no problem.
Someone over at Joomla Forum created an add-on with Google Search. I didn't ask how it was done or who did it. I was just elated that someone took the time (me thinks it was due to demand)
Here's the link to the Google Joomla Forum Search:
http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=007628682600509520926%3Ahigrppcfurc
It's absolutely wonderful ;D
Generally when I have an issue and want to know how to do something (being a noob to Joomla, but a web designer for upwards of 10 years)
I'm not wanting to "browse" for information it just takes too long due to the amount of posts concerning any number of particular subjects. So "Solved" and "stickies" are "ok" I suppose but one still has to search thru these for specific answers.
You ever wonder why users don't search and continually post questions on forums that have been answered over and over again?
It's most likely because they can't find what they are looking for and don't want to spend the time to browse thru 100's of similiar but not specific postings.
All I'm saying is if there is a better way...then why not? - I know it's better to teach a man to fish...but if that man is starving, he'll die before he catches the fish.
So do him a favor, feed him first...then teach him to fish.
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- GollumX
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 2817
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even without that custom google page you could search google with queries like:
(if you were searching for info on security.)site:forum.joomla.org security
You could try the same for RT.
As for the forum search, yup, it absolutely sucks, there are no two ways about it. This is however, like James said, not an RT problem, but an SMF issue.
Within a few months, the RT forum will be ported to phpBB3. I wonder if that has a better search feature. ??? - Say no to Internet Explorer 6.
twitter.com/mark_up
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- WebGuy
- Rocketeer
- Posts: 53
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yeah thanks for the "reminder" on the google search shortcut...haven't used that in awhile lol
it doesn't work for RT because the forum isn't setup on a subdomain like forum.joomla.org is...
PHPBB does have a boolean search (AND OR NOT etc.) which is somewhat better...
so maybe when RT ports to PHPBB3 they will set it up on a subdomain...forum.rockettheme.com
Then we can use the google AND/OR boolean at PHPBB3 ....ahhh the best of both worlds
- I know it's better to teach a man to fish...but if that man is starving, he'll die before he catches the fish.
So do him a favor, feed him first...then teach him to fish.
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- James Spencer
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 46340
- Thanks: 50
- Either way, I wouldnt see why Google would be able to probe hidden boards and threads?
- James Spencer / Developer & Support / Hull, UK
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- Group Dominicana DOT COM
- Newbie
- Posts: 5
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Ok, OK, OK,
Can any of you tell me how I can integrate my Google CSE with my Terran Tribune template ?
I am looking to disable the existing SEARCH module and here is the AJAX code:
<form action="" id="searchbox_004215435268944572060:qqmmxqkorlw" onsubmit="return false;">
<div>
<input type="text" name="q" size="40"/>
<input type="submit" value="Search"/>
</div>
</form>
<script type="text/javascript" src=" www.google.com/coop/cse/brand?form=searc...Aqqmmxqkorlw&lang=en "></script>
<div id="results_004215435268944572060:qqmmxqkorlw" style="display:none">
<div class="cse-closeResults">
<a>× Close</a>
</div>
<div class="cse-resultsContainer"></div>
</div>
<style type="text/css">
@import url( www.google.com/cse/api/overlay.css );
</style>
<script src=" www.google.com/uds/api?file=uds.js&v=1.0...6vCrkZcvNAV1JQ&hl=en " type="text/javascript"></script>
<script src=" www.google.com/cse/api/overlay.js " type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
function OnLoad() {
new CSEOverlay("004215435268944572060:qqmmxqkorlw",
document.getElementById("searchbox_004215435268944572060:qqmmxqkorlw"),
document.getElementById("results_004215435268944572060:qqmmxqkorlw"));
}
GSearch.setOnLoadCallback(OnLoad);
</script> - Developing portal for Dominicnana -
Custom Search Engine optimized for results related to the Dominican Republic and Web Mail Powered by Google.
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