The new search system- problems, observations, issues

[smjj]

BoardTracker: I tried reading your post above but it is a complex as your search engine. I have tried all the things suggested and it still does not give me what I want. I have used advance search several times. Read my post previous post on how I use the old search and try it. The results are just not accurate. The dates are all jumbled and its hard to find the ones I posted to the last 5 days when the threads are jumbled by relevency(whatever that is) and not listed by last posting date as the old search was. It seems your solution is to change the way I use this forum by subscribing to all threads I post to. It looks as if this is what I will have to do but what your are really saying is that your search is not a good as the old one and the way around it is to not use it but to subscribe to the threads....smjj

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I was going to post that I couldn't find an individual post search (find all posts by a given user). But reading this thread helped with that.

However this is not an intuitive approach to searching. I should be able to come up with this search without having to find a post by the user I want to follow first. And no, subscription is not the answer. If a person is posting a trip report over multiple threads subscription won't work. Or if they are posting multiple times to a single thread I don't want to get subscription alerts everytime someone else posts on the thread. Oh and sometimes I want to find threads that I've posted in to see if anyone has replied since I've posted...again subscription doesn't help because I want to start with my own last post not with the very last or very first post.

Soooo...why can't the search for posts or threads by user be added to the main Board Tracker panel?

Aside from that I like the speed of the Board Tracker search.

 

[Sandi]

I was going to post that I couldn't find an individual post search (find all posts by a given user). But reading this thread helped with that.

However this is not an intuitive approach to searching. I should be able to come up with this search without having to find a post by the user I want to follow first. And no, subscription is not the answer. If a person is posting a trip report over multiple threads subscription won't work. Or if they are posting multiple times to a single thread I don't want to get subscription alerts everytime someone else posts on the thread. Oh and sometimes I want to find threads that I've posted in to see if anyone has replied since I've posted...again subscription doesn't help because I want to start with my own last post not with the very last or very first post.

Soooo...why can't the search for posts or threads by user be added to the main Board Tracker panel?

Aside from that I like the speed of the Board Tracker search.

This is my issue as well. I appreciate all the work that went into the new search methodology, but I really don't want to subscribe to a bunch of threads. I just want to be able to find threads where I've posted to see if there has been recent action or to see if someone has asked a question to which a response would be polite and appropriate. Right now I feel like I've left a message that I'll respond, but now I can't.

Thanks!

 

[WebmasterAlex]

The issue is that subscribed threads exist for a reason. We often have over 2500 users on at the same time. If a bunch of those users start looking for their posts by searching, it can and does bring the boards to a screeching halt. The more people that are telling me they did this the more I'm realizing what a problem it was. Right now I am looking at server loads that are half of what they were before the search switch and with just as many people on line.
I realize it might be a bit inconvenient to subscribe to threads but it really is helping the boards

 

[agnes!]

Is there a poll about this somewhere on the DIS? Are DIS'ers generally positive about the Search engine change or not?

agnes!
PS - I am still only getting up to July 19 posts when I search for my username.

 

[smjj]

Is there another company that has a better search engine, one similar to the good one that was dumped? One that runs independent of your servers like this new tracker does? This one is just not cutting it. You will probably have less overhead but for the wrong reasons. Many few people will use it. I know I will not, it no longer does the job it use too..smjj

 

[NJBlackBerry]

I just got a Server Busy message so something isn't right....

 

[dpuck1998]

Is there another company that has a better search engine, one similar to the good one that was dumped? One that runs independent of your servers like this new tracker does? This one is just not cutting it. You will probably have less overhead but for the wrong reasons. Many few people will use it. I know I will not, it no longer does the job it use too..smjj

thats where I'm at. I haven't been able to view or respond to any post that I usually follow on a daily basis. I know there are workarounds, but for me its just not worth it at the moment.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Dan,

Not at the moment, they are working on newer versions that will be post level.
One other thing to remember is why we are here. The most important thing is for people to be able to search on "Grand Floridian" or "All Star Sports" and get the information they need.

Hey Alex.

Yes, I agree, that is the most important. But as you know, and I know, and many others here know, the DIS has become more than just a catalog resource for many, many people here. There are other sites out there that do that, but are not communities as such, just archives of information, like a library. It is good too to include the people element along with the information element.

I can see the value of offiste search function if the DIS servers are not up to speed for the loads imposed, but the search engine as it is now, does lack a lot of the people element.

I am happy though, that other ideas like this, are being looked at.

 

[Caropooh]

Just as an FYI, I use a Mac and when using IE, the advanced search function doesn't work. It brings you right back to the Advanced Search screen, with no posts showing. It doesn't even say that none were found. If I switch over to Safari, then it does pull up all posts started by the users.
Count me in as another memeber who used the search feature to find posts I(or someone else) had either started or had posted on. I have switched myself over to all threads subscribed(with no notification) but that still doesn't tell me if there are any new posts on a thread.(unless I set up my subsription that way) I miss the option of checking posts by other people.(not just ones started by them)
I do understand the reasoning behind the change, but count me in as one of the ones who misses the old "search."
Also, maybe you could post some were in laymans terms, how the new search feature works and different features of it. Also the subscibing to your threads. I found BT's a bit to technical to really understand.
Thanks!

 

[agnes!]

Board busy (or server too busy? whatever the message is) just came up for me.

agnes!

 

[tink2020]

I was just about to post something about this. I'm not trying to complain or add fuel to anyone's fire, but I've had the server busy error significantly more often in the last few days than almost any time before. Just wanted to make you aware. I am also not really in favor of the new search engine, but am willing to learn with it if it will make the rest of the board run more efficiently. As of yet, however, I see a decline in functioning, not an improvement.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I tried to use the 'Search This Thread' function on a thread; it did a search of the DIS, original posts of all threads. It did not search the thread at all.

 

[Sammie]

If I right click on the UserName sometimes the menu will drop down to let me find Post by that person and sometimes it takes me directly to the person's Profile page and there you can only find threads started by that person.

 

[tiggerlover]

I don't have time to read all the posts, but wanted to add my two cents. I don't like the look of the new search feature, it no longer gives you the option of jumping to a specific forum, just a specific thread. And I don't like the preview of the last response either, too jumbled. Again, just my two cents.

 

[heidica]

Haven't read everyone's post yet, but just wanted to say that I love the new search function for the mere fact that I CAN USE IT. For months now I have not been able to search because the server is so busy. So far I have only used it once, but it was sure nice to be able to search again.

 

[Lisa0503]

I used search all the time as I am planning my first trip to WDW in over a decade and I hate to ask the same question that has been asked several times before... Anyway, I really do not like the new search feature. I have not found it helpful AT ALL. I did a search for Magical Beginings (the new preschool promo) and almost everything I got was from the DVC boards where they have a program with the same name as an incentive to buy into DVC. Needless to say, it was not helpful at all

Please bring the old search back!!!!

 

[WillCAD]

Okay, I'm trying, but for the record:

I'll be hitting the server EXTREMELY hard for the next couple of hours as I go back and subscribe to the last hundred or so threads that I posted in.

I'm also curious to know how much of a server hit will be caused when thousands of members configure their settings to automatically subscribe to any thread they post in - particularly when hundred are likely to accidentally configure their subscriptions to automatically send them an email every time a subscribed thread shows any activity.

 

[KathyTX]

I used search all the time as I am planning my first trip to WDW in over a decade and I hate to ask the same question that has been asked several times before... Anyway, I really do not like the new search feature. I have not found it helpful AT ALL. I did a search for Magical Beginings (the new preschool promo) and almost everything I got was from the DVC boards where they have a program with the same name as an incentive to buy into DVC. Needless to say, it was not helpful at all

Please bring the old search back!!!!

Lisa- If you type "magical beginnings" in the search box, then click on advanced search and select the "Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies" forum as your target, you'll get lots of hits that are all about the Extra Magic Hours in Fantasyland that you're looking for.

 

[dj2]

i'm not happy that when you search for someone's posts it only lists threads created by that user. i now have no easy way to check in on threads I've added to but didn't start.

the old system not only showed all threads i'd posted on, but showed who the last poster was, so even if i wasn't logged in, i could tell if anything had been added.

i wish you'd go back to the old search system. i'd prefer it being too busy sometimes to this system.

just my 2 cents.