Forums > Help! > Help with the Search function
Login/Join to ParticipateLikes trees...
209 posts
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Ok. I may be slightly computer illiterate, but the search function on the forums doesn't like me! Things pop up, but not the stuff I am looking for! Or at least a lot of stuff pops up that seems completely unrelated to what I typed in. I did look at and use the "advanced search" tips, but it is still a long process finding out what I am looking for.
Is this problem for other people or am I just being lazy?
BTW, I DID do a search before posting
'n Boer maak 'n plan.
725 posts
Location: Chester, UK
give us an example of what you're trying to search for
It sometimes requires some lateral thinking, like trying different combinations of words that people might use to describe something. If its the sort of thing that might be in the title, then specify just the title
It also massively helps to add a + to any word you require, such as:
+jelly +wrestling
otherwise you'll get posts which have either of the words in, which is generally not very useful
Spoiling Christmas for small children since 2003.
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,533 posts
Location: Hampshire College, MA, USA
You'd be amazed at just how many results you get by searching for jelly +wrestling.
I kinda wish it organized the results by accuracy instead of by date, but
-James
"How do you know if you're happy or sad without a mask? Or angry? Or ready for dessert?"
Sporadically Prodigal
2,758 posts
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Also, keep in mind there are 2 search functions on teh site.. The one powered by Google, located on top RHS of your screen is far less friendly and accurate than the one that is linked on the level 2 task bar - next to links for "IRC chat" and "Who's Online".
Did that make sense?
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Classically British
5,689 posts
Location: Epsom, Surrey, England
Another random thing to add is this a muli-national site, and sadly this includes Americans with their crazy spelling
So for "Coloured Flames" you might have to search for "colored flames" (Er, that's the only example actually...)
Burner of Toast
Spinner of poi
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Pirate Ninja
3,882 posts
Location: Galway/Ireland
A l a m i n i u m
Aluminum
Love is the law.
Likes trees...
209 posts
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
LOL, I forgot about American English! I did a few more "trial" searches and it seems that the terminology varies as well. I didn't know that "Wirewool", "wire wool", "steelwool" and "steel wool" are all the same thing used by different people.
thanks for the advice!
'n Boer maak 'n plan.
with added berries
1,365 posts
Location: Manchester, England (UK)
Try limiting your search to the first posts only, then it tends to turn up only stuff that a thread has started on and cuts out a lot of the rubbish, rather searching the whole thread when the word may have been randomly mentioned.
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