Search doesn't work for 3-letter terms

[ColinJ]

You should learn how to use google, if the forum is indexed properly its actually easier to use google than the forum software. Example for gps

That's a good tip, but it would still be nice if the built-in search was more flexible.

Here's a question for you (I don't know the answer). Here are two Google queries:

site:cyclechat.co.uk gps -"garmin etrex" -"sat nav" -phone -route

This returns 115 results.

site:cyclechat.co.uk gps -"garmin etrex" -"sat nav" -phone -route -rides

This more restrictive search returns 1,180 results. Why?

 

[Shaun]

The vBulletin people are working on a whole new version which is due out later this year - hopefully they will have re-worked the search functionality a bit.

Even their own support forums are restricted to 4 letter words or higher - which can be really restrictive for some queries. Makes your brain hurt sometimes, trying to find a way of phrasing a search query without some of the key words you'd normally use.

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[ColinJ]

The vBulletin people are working on a whole new version which is due out later this year - hopefully they will have re-worked the search functionality a bit.

Even their own support forums are restricted to 4 letter words or higher - which can be really restrictive for some queries. Makes your brain hurt sometimes, trying to find a way of phrasing a search query without some of the key words you'd normally use.

Cheers,
Shaun

Hi Shaun.

So - were any helpful changes made to the vBulletin search functionality or do I have to carry on searching CC using Google as below?

site:cyclechat.net "what I want to find" -"not what I don't"

 

[Shaun]

Yes. I modified the config of MySQL on the server to allow 3 letter words in the search.

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[longers]

I don't think we can search for two letter words on the new software, is it possible to tweak it so we can?

 

[Shaun]

I don't think we can search for two letter words on the new software, is it possible to tweak it so we can?

No, sorry, that would add too large an overhead to the search database / process.

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[Panter]

Isn't it the case that you can add an asterix after the word if it's too short for the search function? or is that a function of completely different bulletin board software altogether?

 

[longers]

No, sorry, that would add too large an overhead to the search database / process.

Cheers,
Shaun

Fair enough, makes sense actually.

I had a go with an asterisk and it worked for just on* but didn't work for seen on* the ride, even in quotes.

 

[Shaun]

SQL searching can be a bit of a dark art at times, but I'm advised the software interface between the forums and the Sphinx back-end database is going to be shown some love by the developers in coming updates.

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[HLaB]

Its not perfect but what I've done before is searched for SpaceGPS (or ' GPS') turning it into a 4 letter search and it'll find things but you might have to do multiple searches ('GPS ' and 'GPS.' )and it might not catch everything ('GPS').

 

[sgw]

Example for gps

Have I missed something? I get:-

"Your search - "gps" site:cyclechat.co.uk - did not match any documents."

 

[Shaun]

Try "gps site:cyclechat.net"

Since the move I've only been able to run the site from one domain - cyclechat.net

There are 301 redirects in place for cyclechat.co.uk and cycle-cafe.net, and I assume Google has dropped most of the previous indexed content.

Cheers,
Shaun