dnewton3
Staff member
We get a lot of comments about the "search" feature not working, or not returning the results you desire, etc.
Here is an explanation as to why the search isn't working right for you ...
First of all, the search tool cannot correct for misspelled words, poor grammar, and other similar errors, etc.
Second, the search tool cannot read you mind, obviously.
Third, it will search for exactly what you put into the search tool, but it cannot expand nor interpret for you.
IOW ... the search tool is a function of the age old adage of "garbage in; garbage out"; both the existing text on BITOG and your search criteria matter.
The search tool is a very capable function IF you understand how to use it properly.
- it can search entire threads or by titles only
- it can search for full or partial words
- it can search by keywords and also by user (member) name
- it cannot delineate multiple criteria in one search effort; (don't put "prefill" and "pre-fill" into the same search; it can't do that multi-task)
We highly recommend using the "advanced" search function, as it allows you to better refine your search and actually get more accurate results.
This is also a moment for us to emphatically implore you to USE CORRECT AND ACCURATE TITLES WHEN CREATING THREADS ... because doing so greatly enhances the results when others search for your thread, or you search for others. This is where click-bait thread titles raise the ire of the Moderators; you are not helping anyone by creating these vague and ill-defined thread titles, and will be chided for doing so.
It is important to know that when you search, you can use a wildcard character to open the search up, otherwise you must exactly match the words you seek to find. The wildcard character is the asterisk " * ". (example: rather than typing "shenanigans" you can just type "shenan*")
Also, using the "search threads" filter tab in the advanced search function is often the most accurate way to find what you are looking for.
It is very important to understand that using different words for the same concept of the search will actually yield different results because of the way other members put info into the thread. Just spelling words differently will return different answers ...
As an example for yourself, try using the advanced search tool with four different word inputs for the search criteria:
"prefill"
"prefil*"
"pre-fill"
"pre-fil*"
Note that the asterisk is the wildcard in two of the four words. These four search words will actually return some unique results simply because members were not consistent in the way the spelled the word when they created the thread title. If you choose not to search the titles only, then you're going to get a large slew of results; that may or may not be what you want, so just be aware that using the "search titles only" function has both benefits and limitations.
The point is that you (the person doing the search) have to expand your input criteria for the search to find the largest (or even single example) return you seek. Just because you search one word and come up with nothing, does not mean the topic doesn't exist here; it often does, just not in the manner in which you sought the topic.
We get a lot of threads here that are duplicate threads which were started simply because the OP thought that there was no other existing thread covering that topic. That's because they either didn't bother to search, or they did a poorly defined search. Please, before you post a topic, spend a moment doing a full, credible search. And if you find that posting a new topic is warranted, be accurate and concise in your thread title, as it helps other in finding your thread as well.
Here is an explanation as to why the search isn't working right for you ...
First of all, the search tool cannot correct for misspelled words, poor grammar, and other similar errors, etc.
Second, the search tool cannot read you mind, obviously.
Third, it will search for exactly what you put into the search tool, but it cannot expand nor interpret for you.
IOW ... the search tool is a function of the age old adage of "garbage in; garbage out"; both the existing text on BITOG and your search criteria matter.
The search tool is a very capable function IF you understand how to use it properly.
- it can search entire threads or by titles only
- it can search for full or partial words
- it can search by keywords and also by user (member) name
- it cannot delineate multiple criteria in one search effort; (don't put "prefill" and "pre-fill" into the same search; it can't do that multi-task)
We highly recommend using the "advanced" search function, as it allows you to better refine your search and actually get more accurate results.
This is also a moment for us to emphatically implore you to USE CORRECT AND ACCURATE TITLES WHEN CREATING THREADS ... because doing so greatly enhances the results when others search for your thread, or you search for others. This is where click-bait thread titles raise the ire of the Moderators; you are not helping anyone by creating these vague and ill-defined thread titles, and will be chided for doing so.
It is important to know that when you search, you can use a wildcard character to open the search up, otherwise you must exactly match the words you seek to find. The wildcard character is the asterisk " * ". (example: rather than typing "shenanigans" you can just type "shenan*")
Also, using the "search threads" filter tab in the advanced search function is often the most accurate way to find what you are looking for.
It is very important to understand that using different words for the same concept of the search will actually yield different results because of the way other members put info into the thread. Just spelling words differently will return different answers ...
As an example for yourself, try using the advanced search tool with four different word inputs for the search criteria:
"prefill"
"prefil*"
"pre-fill"
"pre-fil*"
Note that the asterisk is the wildcard in two of the four words. These four search words will actually return some unique results simply because members were not consistent in the way the spelled the word when they created the thread title. If you choose not to search the titles only, then you're going to get a large slew of results; that may or may not be what you want, so just be aware that using the "search titles only" function has both benefits and limitations.
The point is that you (the person doing the search) have to expand your input criteria for the search to find the largest (or even single example) return you seek. Just because you search one word and come up with nothing, does not mean the topic doesn't exist here; it often does, just not in the manner in which you sought the topic.
We get a lot of threads here that are duplicate threads which were started simply because the OP thought that there was no other existing thread covering that topic. That's because they either didn't bother to search, or they did a poorly defined search. Please, before you post a topic, spend a moment doing a full, credible search. And if you find that posting a new topic is warranted, be accurate and concise in your thread title, as it helps other in finding your thread as well.
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