Forum Search Improvements

[Jim]

With the content on the site growing so fast, we have had to upgrade our search facility to enable it to keep up.

We have installed a new search engine and spent days re-indexing every word in our 4.5 million posts. The search is now much faster and returns more relevant results. It will also give you some instant results so you might not even have to search!

To make it even faster, you can now ask the engine to search titles only, or really clever, titles and first post. This should really help us find those hidden gems.

 

[Mark and Mindy]

To make it even faster, you can now ask the engine to search titles only, or really clever, titles and first post. This should really help us find those hidden gems.

The search first post feature is genius and will be really useful. I've never seen that before and a forum.

 

[monzer]

Is there a way of making 'search titles only' ticked by default?

 

[Jim]

The search first post feature is genius and will be really useful. I've never seen that before and a forum.

Yes, the idea behind it is that it will be great for searching those threads that might only have a title of HELP. Then in the first post we can pick up their mention of catalytic converter theft, which would have been missed when searching for titles only.

Is there a way of making 'search titles only' ticked by default?

Sorry, no.

 

[Lenny HB]

The search results look better, not sure about the Instant Thread suggestions, I did a search on "Leisure Battery Test" most of the suggested Thread results were for Covid tests.

I've asked before is there any chance of the search working in conversations?

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[Jim]

I've asked before is there any chance of the search working in conversations?

I'm working on a host of conversation improvements. Watch this space, not long now. . (How longs it been )

 

[Taran_Las]

The search results look better, not sure about the Instant Thread suggestions, I did a search on "Leisure Battery Test" most of the suggested Thread results were for Covid tests.

I've asked before is there any chance of the search working in conversations?

You wouldn't need the facility if you didn't bloody talk so much.

 

[Lenny HB]

You wouldn't need the facility if you didn't bloody talk so much.

Wouldn't have to if people like you didn't keep breaking their Hymer's.

 

[gus-lopez]

i've rarely managed to get the search facility to ever find anything for me? 99 out of a hundred fails miserably?
I have just tried this putting in a complete correct thread title & the Op , nothing? Not even the slightest near miss.

 

[Jim]

i've rarely managed to get the search facility to ever find anything for me? 99 out of a hundred fails miserably?
I have just tried this putting in a complete correct thread title & the Op , nothing? Not even the slightest near miss.

Sounds strange. Give me a search term you have struggled with and we'll see how it goes.

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[Riverbankannie]

i've rarely managed to get the search facility to ever find anything for me? 99 out of a hundred fails miserably?
I have just tried this putting in a complete correct thread title & the Op , nothing? Not even the slightest near miss.

My search that never comes up is for the oops thread that somehow is still going strong. I can only find it in “my content”
Just tried in the new search, tried
oops
Oops
oops,
The thread does not come up and no (quick thread) suggestions
Broken Link Removed

 

[Jim]

My search that never comes up is for the oops thread t

Simple search, titles only

 

[Jim]

In fact I just tried it without the titles and its the first thread promoted

 

[Jim]

I should also add that the suggestions are weighted for currency and validity

 

[kevenh]

On iPad iPadOS 15.2 I don’t see preview search result suggestions like your screenshot

Edit: Same on iPhone iOS 15.11

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[Jim]

On iPad iPadOS 15.2 I don’t see preview search result suggestions like your screenshot

Then you are emulating a mobile. It is switched off for mobiles. Go settings> safari> Request Desktop website> switch it on.

 

[kevenh]

Then you are emulating a mobile. It is switched off for mobiles. Go settings> safari> Request Desktop website> switch it on.

I thought smart devices were what the target forum experience was made for.
NVM, I’ll take the search as it is

edit: fwiw just forcing desktop mode for this tab wasn’t enough.

 

[Jim]

I thought smart devices were what the target forum experience was made for.

A lot more testing to do yet, but it's real estate issues mostly. Surpised on an iPad you want a mobile experience, they are almost always inferior. When I request desktop mode on an iPad it works perfectly

 

[kevenh]

A lot more testing to do yet, but it's real estate issues mostly.

I didn’t know the iPad browser was still a restricted experience .
Your site spots a iPad has more space than an iPhone for the edit post screen. And portrait v landscape mode
But thinking about it, it’s still the desktop browser that has all the bells & whistles easier to reach.

 

[Jim]

I didn’t know the iPad browser was still a restricted experience

I find it is, so do Apple, Request Desktop Mode is switched on by default now.

I've just turned it on for phones, I have a large screen iPhone and the search suggestion isn't good. I'm forced to scroll to the search button, on smaller screens its worse

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[kevenh]

edit: fwiw just forcing desktop mode for this tab wasn’t enough

Hold on! There was just a >5min delay. Search suggestions ARE on for “request desktop” enabled tab.

 

[gus-lopez]

.

 

[gus-lopez]

Sounds strange. Give me a search term you have struggled with and we'll see how it goes.

" Things that you should know about me" even put in Jim . Nothing comes up even remotely like it.

 

[Riverbankannie]

In fact I just tried it without the titles and its the first thread promoted

It works now ! Maybe it was a turn off and turn on again! The computer technician’s friend!

 

[Jim]

" Things that you should know about me" even put in Jim . Nothing comes up even remotely like it.

OK "you should know about me" It comes up for me in the search results, but not in the suggestions It is handicapped heavily because it is so old. The algorithm rightly rates content made in the last 3 years higher than that which is over 10.

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[Gellyneck]

....... keep breaking their Hymer's.

This place is getting worse!

Folk are now posting about virginity as well!

Oh bu**er, I must read post content more carefully!