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Old 04-14-2021, 07:17 PM   #1
Racer
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London, UK
Default Repeated flaws in Search Function ?

Okay it may be due to ancient operating system of my phone , but I noticed many search results just fail .

First off , I have to open a new tab to use Search (not a problem) , but then my typing 'jumps' between boxes in a very irritating way (annoying but I just double check everything) .

Then it all goes to pieces : multiple failures in searching through Thread Titles leads to much frustration ! I was looking across many sub forums for a thread with 'Dreams' in title - none of the results were the correct one . Had to go back over every single post I've made to 2016 to find it ( which in itself wasn't easy , as you have to "reset" pages search after you look through more than 20 pages of your posts ) .

Found the whole thing rather bizarre tbh . I know a load of archived material pre 2012 was apparently deleted , but fail to see how that could effect searches for more recent materials ?

Other searches just show no results : example 'Duke of Buckingham' from a GURPs Thread I posted around 2017 . Zero alternatives give in results , despite multiple tries . Could there be a bug/flaw in the algorithms that crops up every now & then ?

Thanks for any help on this .
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Old 04-14-2021, 10:19 PM   #2
fwcain
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Default Re: Repeated flaws in Search Function ?

Have you tried using Google instead?
http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=13377

I don't know what browser you are using, but I can highlight the text string I want to search for, right-click, and select "Search Google" which opens the search in a new tab.

Hope this helps!
Franklin
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Old 04-22-2021, 05:05 AM   #3
Racer
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London, UK
Default Re: Repeated flaws in Search Function ?

I'm using basic Google on Chrome Android phone . Operating system is very out of date . Phone shops in UK have just reopened post lockdown , & IF I can organise a lift/help to get to a local big town (disabled) , I can hopefully find a phone I can actually use & can afford . And is virtually indestructible , as I always drop them ...

Had to delete the Google App as it used up over 9% of memory storage available to me . Being very behind on mobiles in my late 40s , it's hard to get my head around many things .
Library's & their terminals still shut due to Covid (and refurbishment) - a pain as I'm sure I'd have an easier time on PC .

Did a google search for "Duke of Buckingham" for this website & it didn't provide what I was looking for . This was just a test & I'd already found it by tediously going through all my posts . Another person had had a similar situation in game to that thread topic , but I couldn't recall title . Never mind , we got there in the end .

It's just utter frustration I feel at times , I guess . I've had trouble on other Forums with search functions before ,
- defunct SFX forum & Specialist Games , Knights & Dragons etc - and on both PCs & mobile phones I've had a few issues . This predates my 2019 minor stroke , so might be partly way my brain is wired when asking questions etc . I can find stuff , but because my memories are mainly visually based , it's hard to put into search engine words .
Thirteen years it took to find 'Album of Dinosaurs' book - AKA 'Collins book of Dinosaurs' - is case in point : none of the word based Google searches worked , I had to go through every bloody single images of 'Allosaurus eating an Apatosaurus' on the web before finding it ! Thanks to a review of the book on 'Love in the time of Chasmosaurs' website/blog (thanks those guys !) .

Thanks for trying to help , and sorry folks for going on & on . Still stuck in doors bar one or two days a month & won't be able to visit anywhere or my Girlfriend until after 21st June now ... :-(
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Last edited by Racer; 04-22-2021 at 05:41 AM.
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Old 04-24-2021, 10:48 PM   #4
Fufu
 
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Default Re: Repeated flaws in Search Function ?

The search function doesn't work properly. The problem is not with your browser or OS. Everyone here has to use the "Google Search" method mentioned above.
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Old 04-24-2021, 11:31 PM   #5
Celjabba
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Luxembourg
Default Re: Repeated flaws in Search Function ?

The forums search is weak, and using google with site:forums.sjgames.com added to the search terms will give better result in most cases.

Also, the forum search will ignore words of 3 letters or less.

Although the advanced forum search is sometimes better when you seek a specific post by a specific person and are certain of the exact spelling of your search terms.

Both google and the forum find the same 2019 post by you with "Duke of Buckingham"
http://forums.sjgames.com/showpost.p...38&postcount=2

Advanced forum search
keywords: duke buckingham (Search entire Posts)
User Name: Racer (exact Name)
Show Results as: Posts

Likewise, the following search:

Advanced forum search
keywords: Dreams (Search Titles only)
User Name: Racer (exact Name)
Show Results as: Posts

immediately show two 2016 posts
http://forums.sjgames.com/showpost.p...&postcount=183
http://forums.sjgames.com/showpost.p...&postcount=191

while Google only find the first and a few irrelevant results.

The browser you use shouldn't matter, the search is done server side.

I hope this can help ?
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Old 04-26-2021, 05:24 AM   #6
Racer
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London, UK
Default Re: Repeated flaws in Search Function ?

Thanks you guys . Another possibility is myself spelling things incorrectly & not noticing . I have to often go over my posts multiple times & check spellings & grammar . Once it's posted that is - as mentioned previously Forum Preview Post function doesn't seem to want to work for me ?
Not really being able to see tiny Search boxes on tiny screen also a pain . Zooming in helps , but I often only spot mistakes when I read whole sentences . It's not end of world & I did wonder if it was just a temporary forum maintenance problem ? Question answered I guess !

I'm having other major issues with this phone & will upgrade as soon as I can .

[Edit] Phone trying to autocorrect Buckingham to Buckminster obviously doesn't help ...
(Buckminster in my user dictionary as friends live in that area)
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Last edited by Racer; 04-26-2021 at 05:31 AM. Reason: BC
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