The new search system- problems, observations, issues

[nile455]

As a matter of fact, I did a Google search yesterday on a user's name. It was somewhat effective, but I think I only found about 150 of the poster's 600 messages. It helps if the user has a particularly unique user name.

The google domain search IS somewhat helpful for finding people's posts, as bicker confirmed. Unfortunately, though -- unless I don't know a trick that's available -- I don't see any rhyme or reason to the results listed. The first several posts I found from a user were from 2000, 2006, 2005 and then finally 2007.

I pointed out in another thread that if you want to find old DIS posts, Yahoo is far better than Google. See thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1085825

I had been trying to get the search by username function to work here on DIS with no success, so I went browsing the DIS tech support board, and there I learned you can go to Google and simply type in the user name you're searching for followed by site:disboards.com. I tried it, and was impressed.... until I tried it using Yahoo.

Google: 44 of my old DIS posts
Yahoo: 184 of my old DIS posts

So then I tried another user, "Trentmom". (I was impressed by her 6,700 post count within 5 months of registering!!).

Google: 821 posts
Yahoo: 2,960 posts!!

Try it on yours, see which one yields better results...

 

[agnes!]

Just bumping this back up to the top.

agnes!

 

[BoardwalkBabe]

Is there a reason why the search engine isn't working like it used to? Simple key words like "Photo" bring a message saying there aren't any results, you can't search for a particular poster's posts anymore... what's the point of offering a search engine if it can't handle simple functions? Did I miss something?

 

[bicker]

The reasons were provided much earlier in the thread -- basically because the old search facility required too much system resources, more than was available with current hardware.

I suspect queries that return TOO MANY results won't work. Add more words to your query to narrow down the result set to a more manageable amount.

 

[BoardwalkBabe]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Tigger1]

I try to search my own namw, Tigger1, I come up with nothing or a few really old post. I really just want the current post I have made. Can anyone help???

I try to remember to subscribe to my post but I tend to hit reply before I scroll down to have post replys sent to my email.

 

[agnes!]

The only way to do a Search for User Name after the fact (when your haven't subscribed), is to do either a Yahoo domain-name/user-name search or a similar search using Google. Some DIS'ers have reported that using Yahoo seems to get more results.

agnes!

 

[dpuck1998]

So we have some good news? I read the post about the new search features. Should it be working now? How long until it catches up? I tried today to search by username with no luck.

 

[dpuck1998]

Is this a dead horse? Should we quit beating it?

 

[agnes!]

The latest Search variation is in a Beta mode and only works for users when they choose the California Gold 'skin' (Look down at the bottom left of this page or up on the right under the Transportation Discounts clickpoints.) The latest BoardTracker Search is apparently catching up to the latest posts or something like that, so the most recent posts might not show up. I don't know if it is working these days, I usually run my DIS'ing in the Swan & Dolphin 'skin' (so soothing, so restful) instead of the (screaming greeeeeeen/gold) California Gold.

I think there's another thread around the Tech Support Forum that is only about the latest 'Search'.
Here it is: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=19839838#post19839838

agnes!
PS - I don't know anything more than anybody else around here, just trying to remember what I've seen posted.
PPS - Does anybody know if Chat is working these days (or not)? There were a lot of posts recently saying that it wasn't working.

 

[mikkiwikki]

The latest Search variation is in a Beta mode and only works for users when they choose the California Gold 'skin' (Look down at the bottom left of this page or up on the right under the Transportation Discounts clickpoints.) The latest BoardTracker Search is apparently catching up to the latest posts or something like that, so the most recent posts might not show up. I don't know if it is working these days, I usually run my DIS'ing in the Swan & Dolphin 'skin' (so soothing, so restful) instead of the (screaming greeeeeeen/gold) California Gold.

I think there's another thread around the Tech Support Forum that is only about the latest 'Search'.
Here it is: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=19839838#post19839838

agnes!
PS - I don't know anything more than anybody else around here, just trying to remember what I've seen posted.
PPS - Does anybody know if Chat is working these days (or not)? There were a lot of posts recently saying that it wasn't working.

I dont get it ...I still cannot search on username - not todays posts, not last weeks posts....not last years posts....new search sucks.

 

[jfulcer]

I dont get it ...I still cannot search on username - not todays posts, not last weeks posts....not last years posts....new search sucks.

1) Change your style chooser (bottom left of your browser) to California Gold.

2) Scroll to the top and click on 'Search'

3) Click on 'Advanced Search' in the bottom of the box that opens

4) Click on 'Advanced Search' on the search page that comes up

5) Type in the name you are looking for

6) Click on Search Now

7) View your results (This one is sorted by Thread Start Date)

Of course, this is not perfect and it's not 100% up to date, but it DOES work. Much better than it used to. But it does find results.

 

[dpuck1998]

Of course, this is not perfect and it's not 100% up to date, but it DOES work. Much better than it used to. But it does find results.

This begs the questions....why isn't it up to date? Why does it only work in California gold? Why keep using a poor search engine that has not delivered on many promises?

 

[Dan Murphy]

This begs the questions....why isn't it up to date? Why does it only work in California gold? Why keep using a poor search engine that has not delivered on many promises?

Last I read on another search engine thread here on this board from the BT person (a DIS person asked similar question and BT reply, both quoted below), about two weeks ago, was the wait for it to be all working was down to about two weeks. So it looks like we are going to have a good, working search engine any day now.

8/9/2007

I'll answer my own post. Tonight it's working again. I'm still hoping for an update though, Board Tracker. How close are we to a fully functional and consistent search option? Thank you!

8/10/2007

We estimate about 2 weeks from now.

 

[dpuck1998]

Last I read on another search engine thread here on this board from the BT person (a DIS person asked similar question and BT reply, both quoted below), about two weeks ago, was the wait for it to be all working was down to about two weeks. So it looks like we are going to have a good, working search engine any day now.

8/9/20078/10/2007

But we've heard that before...another month here...another month there....I won't hold my breath...

 

[mikkiwikki]

Welp - The california skin does do the trick - buuuuut...why?

Is it sending traffic to a different server?
(Im a computer programmer - so I welcome a more technical explanation!)

 

[BoardTracker]

Welp - The california skin does do the trick - buuuuut...why?

Is it sending traffic to a different server?
(Im a computer programmer - so I welcome a more technical explanation!)

Yes, California Gold's template uses a different servers setting, one that is the new version of BoardTracker. When using this template over the others, the search is executed on the new system rather than the old.

As for the up-to-date issue, the reason data is not up-to-date is that the new system is still being set up and populated with data. We are feverishly working on the system so we can launch it as soon as possible. Believe me when I say, this is not a small-scale issue at all. But we are very close to launching and part of it is the fact that (although not up to date) the new system is already being tested, even here (with California Gold as you can see).

 

[Dan Murphy]

08-27-2007......As for the up-to-date issue, the reason data is not up-to-date is that the new system is still being set up and populated with data. We are feverishly working on the system so we can launch it as soon as possible. Believe me when I say, this is not a small-scale issue at all. But we are very close to launching and part of it is the fact that (although not up to date) the new system is already being tested, even here (with California Gold as you can see).

I know it has been a long, involved process, a little over 13 months now, but is it possible to get a current update as to how the new search is coming along?

 

[dpuck1998]

I know it has been a long, involved process, a little over 13 months now, but is it possible to get a current update as to how the new search is coming along?

Wow, 13 months...prolly about time for a new version well over a year later!

 

[BoardTracker]

I know it has been a long, involved process, a little over 13 months now, but is it possible to get a current update as to how the new search is coming along?

Where did you get the 13 months figure from?