New search features

[davem]

Hi Folks, we've enabled some new search features on the forum that I think are great. I've written a new FAQ entry that tries to explain how to use them. Please give it a try and let me know what you think.

Thanks,

[RedRock]

Hi Dave, thanks for looking out for us. This site, with its wealth of information, is a bit cumbersome to do some serious searches.

So, I gave your new search features a whirl.

1. no operator: my search was ditra hardi, results: 446

2. plus operator: my search was +ditra +hardi, results: 446. I expected to see less hits.

3. minus operator: my search was +ditra -hardi, results: 446. Again, I expect to see different numbers.

4. quote operator: my search was "ditra hardi", results: 8

Am I doing something wrong on 2 and 3?

My next suggestion is to allow us to continually drill down into our search after making an initial stab at it. Versus hitting the back button to the search page and trying again.

[davem]

Juan, sorry for the late reply, I missed your post. I don't know why the minus operator is not working, I'm looking into it.

[Dan the Man]

Love the new search. Well done. I guess you're the guy that keeps the place up to date with processes and system like that?

**hat off**

Hats off to you and Ole JB.

[Dinahpinah]

Is it really necessary on every search that I have to prove I'm a human? Am I missing some shortcut? And, frankly, those strings of numbers and letters are getting harder and harder to decipher. Half the time I get it wrong although last time I checked, I am indeed human. And as if that's not enough, I have to answer a second question: two for every single search?? Help! Dinah

[cx]

Dinah, I gotta presume you're logged in when you're doing that, yes? When I log out and try the search I gotta do the little spam-blocker prove-you're-human thingee, but when logged in I don't see that.

Unfortunately, when I log in the system knows I'm a moderator and things might look a bit different. I dunno.

Lemme ping our webgenius, DaveM, and see do he have insight for you.

[Dinahpinah]

Bless you, CX,
I knew there was something I was missing. I've just been logging in to post and not logging in just to search which I do frequently. That totally solves my problem. I never thought of it. Dinah

[davem]

Oh boy, I didn't know search was being confounded by the antispam thing. Sorry about that Dinah. I'll look into removing that block.

[Bobbyt]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for all of your support of this terrific resource.

I always try to search the archives for my questions that may have already been answered. It's difficult though without a functional +- filter on the search function.

It took me a long time to get up the nerve to post anything negative about this site, but in the long run it may save the moderators some time not having to answer the same questions over and over again.

Thanks for all you guys do!

[davem]

Hi Bob,

I've found the built in search problems hard to track down. It seems like sometimes it works and sometimes not.

I've added a custom google search window to the bottom of the page. Give that a try with the plus, minus and quoted phrases and let me know how it works for you.

[Bobbyt]

That works, Dave. Thanks!

[davem]

Glad to hear, Bob. Thanks for the feedback.

[Ed D]

"Oh boy, I didn't know search was being confounded by the antispam thing"

Actually, dave, searches are confounded by the forum rule of putting every question you ever come up with for the rest of your life into the one and only thread you're allowed to have if you're a newbie with questions.

I can search for "how to mix thinset" and the search result will be hundreds of multi-page threads with titles like " Johnny's master bath remodel". Searching through those threads only to discover a few highlighted keywords here and there makes a search function pretty well useless, no matter how you tweak it.

[cx]

Eddie, if you'll tailor your Advanced Search just a little and instead of Titles Only select Search Entire Posts ask for the result in Posts rather than Threads that won't be a problem.

We like to keep all questions for a particular project on one thread so the folks who want to help can see the history of the project and what's been previously asked and answered and we're not bogged down with repetitious Q&A to gather information that's already been presented.

If you have a different project, of course, you start a different thread.

Overly broad and general searches, such as "how to mix thinset," are always likely to be a problem, though.

[dillonb]

Great to have all this advice!