Why does the search function always seemed to be disabled?

[Babadee]

I would have used the search function to try and find the answer but it was disabled?

 

[floridaminnie]

When there is a lot of traffic it is disabled. Try it really really early in the morning when everyone is sleeping.

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

Babadee, BOO! Like I could resist that one!
Yeah, you have to try really early. Right after you search out your morning coffee.

 

[SueEllen]

Search is one of those things that causes the server to run slowly. Turning it off during high traffic times allows the boards to run faster and smoother.

floridaminnie is correct--try using it late at night or very early morning. It is almost always disabled during peak times.

Sue Ellen

 

[ms1]

But turning it off defeats the whole purpose. As a mostly lurker who looks for specific information this just really bothers me. If search is turned off, I leave. What good is 55,000 members full of information if you can't find what you need?

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

It's a Catch 22. The administrators have upgraded the sofware, increased load capacity, etc., many times. But, at peak times, when thousands of people are on the discussion boards, using search significantly decreases posting time on the boards. There are too many people who are affected when trying to post questions, etc., during these times, so in trying out different ways to increase the speed, they found that by using a system that automatically disables search when a certain load is reached, less people are affected adversely. Believe me, it's worse when you can't even get on the boards because so many people are using them.

Like others, I either get on early in the morning or late afternoon/evening to do my searches.

 

[KenP]

Would be nice to be able to queue your search and have the results emailed to you. Then the server could wait till the load was light to actually do the search.