Anyone else think that the Search function is worse than before?

Edge17

Senior member
Dec 28, 2000
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This should probably be in forum issues, but I want other peoples take on this first. Is it just me, or is the Search function worse? It only seems to search the title of the thread, rather than the entire thread itself. The 'Advanced Seacrch' feature had the option to search the entire thread.

I liked to use it to search for Playstation games in the For Sale/Trade forum, but now the only things it'll come up with is the threads in which 'Playstation' is in the title.
 

bozo1

Diamond Member
May 21, 2001
6,364
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agreed. The people that bitch about people not searching before posting need to realize that you can only search titles now.
 

GoldenGuppy

Diamond Member
Feb 4, 2000
3,494
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Eh, what'd I tell you before? You'd get used to it... I got used to the forums... I don't notice anything anymore... it's all good for me - even if that means that these here forums suck a lot more than before - why then is it still all good? Because people get used to things... regardless of whether they suck or rock.
 

Parrotheader

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 1999
3,434
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They may have done that to ease the server load. If you get just a few people searching full-text databases that can be VERY stressful on the server when it's also trying to just serve up content to thousands at the same time. Searching only the subject field is much easier on the server. I guess they figured it was a trade-off between overall forum performance and search functionality. Usually, a smart poster will make the subject appropriate anyway.
 

Edge17

Senior member
Dec 28, 2000
886
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Yea, but people that list lots of items in their For Sale/Trade threads don't necessarily have space to list every single item in their title.

And if split up their thread, they get bashed on for not keeping it in one thread.
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
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Full text searching has been disabled due to performance issues.

Been that way for quite a while now.

Viper GTS
 

Parrotheader

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 1999
3,434
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Maybe they could create full-text searching capabilities for the FS/FT area only. I'm sure that's possible, but don't know how much back end programming work that would require on their end. I'm also not sure what kind of performance hit that would cause. Personally, since I don't use the FS/FT area I'd rather not have all the forums slowed down as a result. Nearly every other area can have the main subject summarized in a few words. I'd certainly love the capability and I'm sure they're working on it, but I'd rather not go back to the days of "The Forums are Currently Overloaded" or whatever that message was.
 

dman

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
9,110
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This is the second thread today on this. Been repeated a bunch of other times other days too. They should at least have an explanation on Search page stating what's been disabled.
 

raz

Banned
Feb 19, 2000
643
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The search function is definitely less useful than before, but it could become more useful if people would stop with the "FS Stuff" or "You gotta see this!" or "Can you help me with this problem?" type of topic headers.

Personally, the subpar search function doesn't bother me as much as the nitwits who jump in with Repost! every chance they get. Either they're not aware that the search function has been hamstringed or they're just part of the old IBTL crowd and found a new way to be irritating.