Support Forum

Need better search results

MA mann
mann
Member

Whenever I post anything on this forum, or anywhere else, I ensure that I firstly search whether the topic/issue has been discussed earlier or not. I really don’t like starting new threads which are redundant.

However, whenever I search for anything using the search box above the forums here, I hardly get the search results I am looking for.

For example, i was trying to search for the “File downloads for registered users” thread which I started to check for whether there has been any progress on this but on doing a search I hardly get the thread in the search results even though I typed in the exact words which the topic title had. Then I have to use google to search.

So the search box results need improve. It’d also save a lot of time for you guys answering duplicate queries

5 Answers

New Answer

YS Yellow Swordfish
Yellow Swordfish
Member

search-results.pngMost curious… I just tried it with the term ‘File downloads for registered users‘ and got the results as shown in the image here. The original topic AND this thread – which is what I would expect. Although I DID set it for searching this as a phrase…. Having said that we are reviewing search as part of the 5.1 plans and are always looking for improvements…

MA mann
mann
Member

Oh I did not search using the advanced search option. I just typed in the text in the search box and hit “Search”. Seems like by default it is set to search for “words” . It’d be better if it can be changed to “phrase” so that it throws more relevant result.

YS Yellow Swordfish
Yellow Swordfish
Member

Not sure I really agree with that. Of more significance in your search example – the default is for posts only and that is simply this way because of the processing overhead needed when adding topic titles.

MP Mr Papa
Mr Papa
Member

most search engines I am familiar with default to OR for multiple terms…  you have to specify if you want it to be an AND (ie words setting)…  we could probably add an argument on the search template tag to allow you to change the default…