Advanced search ?

jimmyr

Hi, don't know if this is correct section, if not then please move.
Anyway i would ask of the Board/site owner if it would be possible to add an "Advanced search option" to the search so we can search each section separately, i do not know what would be involved but i do know it would make things easier for this old fella, and maybe some others.
Just a suggestion, and no more, i love the site but would ask just this one upgrade.

Thanks
Jim

TTony

Moved.

ChrisMusic

Just a thought, but if each section had a section ident in the URL, then you could use Google site search externally by entering

site:'full url' and then search text as usual.  Not as quick or seamless as integrating it into theFB's search box, but it is what I do now.

Everything is lumped together in the "discussion" directory right now which makes impossible to use this tactic to search by section, although you can search for text strings within a discussion, but that is much less useful, and you have to locate the discussion directory first.

PS - I am a non techy interweb noob so that may be complete rubbish for all I know, just my 2p's worth.  

mellowsun

I think the search could do with some improvements if possible. It would be great to be able to search each forum separately, or at least, have the default search be on the forum currently being viewed.

Having an exact match search for terms in quotes would also be great!

TTony

mellowsun said:

I think the search could do with some improvements if possible.

And the admins agree.

We did try implementing better search functionality with the last/recent upgrade, but turned it off when we encountered the performance problems.  Not sure whether the search functionality was the cause, and it might be possible to try it again ...

@monquixote @digitalscream

digitalscream

"...better search functionality...", @TTony? It was feckin' awesome, marred only by the fact that it seemed to make the entire site grind to a halt at the time.

However, looking at it now I strongly suspect it was a rather unfortunate coincidence, brought on by significant amounts of extra traffic at the same time as the release.

Only one way to find out, lads...

TTony

digitalscream said:

Only one way to find out, lads...

And only one time ... when you're around to sit right on top of it, ready to back it out again if we start grinding!

ChrisMusic

How does a search differentiate between the various forum areas.

I am no techie, but there seems to be a lack of basic directory structure.

What should I key a search on for say "classified FX" only search in doing my usual Google site: searches ?

Would Google in site search offer a solution ?

monquixote

Let's try turning the advanced back on.

digitalscream

Okay, I need to switch on the background services and re-index everything. How about I do it Friday night? I'll definitely be around Saturday morning to back it out if need be. I'm going to be pretty busy tomorrow and Friday during the day, though, so I wouldn't advise doing it earlier than that...

monquixote

Sounds like a plan.

digitalscream

Don't look now, but something's magically changed up there ^^^

TTony

Ermmmmm?

I see the standard Search box.

digitalscream

TTony said:

Ermmmmm?

I see the standard Search box.

Try using it

TTony

A cunning disguise!!

frankus

Well done chaps - I'd like to see a search for by user option if possible - I'd imagine that'd reduce the load on the db as the threads are already indexed by user

TTony

@digitalscream Has there been any performance impact? I've not noticed any myself, and haven't seen any moans & groans on the forum anywhere ....

digitalscream

Nope, not really. The server's working a lot harder - there's a hell of a lot more disk activity than before - but I haven't seen more than a 0.5s increase in response times, which I think is acceptable.

I think we're OK

frankus

it's like a cross between Star Trek and The Love Boat..