Forum search not working?

[griz_fan]

While I'm new to the DIS forums, I participate on quite a few other forum sites that use vBulletin. One of my favorite features, especially for such an active forum as this, is the "search this forum" and "search this thread" tool in the upper-right-hand corner. But, on this site, it doesn't seem to work. No matter what I try, it just links to the search page with no results.

Since there are so many large threads and sub-forums, the lack of this feature makes it really tough to find info. Am I doing something wrong, or does this just not work?

thanks!

 

[mikkiwikki]

Welcome to the Dis -

We are not allowed to talk about our search problem.
Thats all I can say about this matter or the webmasters will get angry with me.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Welcome to the Dis -

We are not allowed to talk about our search problem.
Thats all I can say about this matter or the webmasters will get angry with me.

That is not the case at all. In fact I think there are many threads on the Tech Forum dedicated to the search issues.

The facts as I understand them are this. Yes we are a vbulletin board and have lots of great features. BUT, we are one of the largest vbulletin boards running and their software just can't keep up. Their automatic search functions failed to work a few years ago as we continued to grow. As a result their search systems had to be disabled to keep the boards running. So things like "search this forum", "new posts" and some of the others just won't work.


We use the Board Tracker system now, but it is also not really able to keep up with us. I have had good luck with clicking on a username and selecting "find other posts" and getting all posts by that person. It does take a few days for the posts to get into the search database, so you won't find posts from that day or maybe even the day or two before.

I also really haven't had a problem with doing a general board seach. You do need to keep the search term to one or two words. This isn't ask.com-- you can't put in a question and expect to get an answer. But things like "fireworks", "Splash Mountain", "lobster" will bring up a huge list. It can be a very difficult list to work through, but it does work. And you can always just ask your question on the correct board. You will probably get at least one yahoo that says "Why don't use search?" but just ignore them.

There are also other ways to use Google or Yahoo to search the boards but I am not sure of the exact protocall you have to use. Perhaps someone can fill you in on that.

 

[wilde_oscar]

ditto to scrappers answer... disboards are about 100 times the size of most boards using vBulletin and push the boundaries of the technology. it is easier to use google to search the disboards... if you look though the instructions at google on how to search a specific web site you have a greater chance of search working... or just ask the question out right, fresh answers are always fun

 

[mikkiwikki]

That is not the case at all. In fact I think there are many threads on the Tech Forum dedicated to the search issues.

Actually, I beg to differ. There are many threads in the tech board that will back me up. Boardtracker, as as search engine does not work, and if you talk about it you will get infractions.

Read here http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1982098
or here :http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=20506561#post20506561


There - that about does it...

 

[RobDoc]

Hmmm - I just used BT to search for posts by mikkiwikki and it took about 5 seconds to generate 29 pages with 720 of those posts.


http://www.disboards.com/searchbt.php?search=&order=1&user=mikkiwikki+&scope=4&cat=1&frm=-1


There - that about does it...

 

[lindsmom]

If you use google search (this is how I search the Dis), type in the google bar " (what you're looking for) site:disboards.com "

In other words, let's say you're looking for a review of Liberty tree tavern. Go to the google bar and enter

liberty tree tavern site:disboards.com

and hit enter. You'll get a google search of liberty tree tavern just from disboards. I'm pretty sure you have to type site:disboards.com all connected.

Hope this helps!

 

[lovetoscrap]

If you use google search (this is how I search the Dis), type in the google bar " (what you're looking for) site:disboards.com "

In other words, let's say you're looking for a review of Liberty tree tavern. Go to the google bar and enter

liberty tree tavern site:disboards.com

and hit enter. You'll get a google search of liberty tree tavern just from disboards. I'm pretty sure you have to type site:disboards.com all connected.

Hope this helps!

That was it. I knew it involved a : somewhere! Thanks!


But also I put Liberty Tree Tavern into our search and came up with 300 pages of results from BoardTracker. I would say that both ways work fairly well