The reason for this is that the DIS is testing out a new search mechanism by a third party -- called Boardtracker.
The older search method was actually done by the same computers that host the DIS. When a bunch of members were searching at once , it would slow down everybody using the DIS boards... putting a lot of strain on the servers hosting the message boards.
The 'new' search doesn't work as well (in my opinion) and it'snot nearly as complete as the search done within the vBulletin software which the platform that these boards run on.
The 'old' search would list all the posts from that member.. newest to oldest in chronological order - regardless if the member had created a thread or newly posted in it.
The 'new' search .. well to be honest - I can't figure out what it does exactly .. except to say that I can't get it work like the 'old' search no matter what I do... I *think* the new search uses some kind of 'index' system that is not updated immediately after a new post occurs, but rather on regular intervals. (say.. 1x a hour?)
I've used it to try and found posts I have made in other threads and it only seems to return threads that I myself have created.. Not posts in threads created by others.
Hopefully a Mod comes along and can explain how the new search works. I understand the need for it -- but I can honestly say I find it pretty useless... and it's been meaning that users give up on searching and just post yet another thread on something that's been covered 10,000 times already. Frustrating.
J
