new forum search

Hello!

Is there a new forum search? This night I tried to search something and it comes with preview and all that stuff. It's very good, but this one shows me on one thread all posts. So if I search for something and it's found in a thread that has 100 replys, all of them will be shown. I'd like to have just the title and maybe the preview of the last post, not every post 'cause I get lost in so many.

Thank you!
Boby

Not sure what you mean, but you can check 'show results as threads' if that's what you want.

I have the same problem, Search normally just showed titles of post. Now it has previews and a bunch of other junk??? Haven't checked my settings yet, but it never use to be like that.

The default changed from "Show results as threads" to "Show results as posts" (which is a bit less resource intensive). digiot is correct though, you can get the old functionality simply by checking the "Show results as threads" box.

--jeremy

I didn't see an option in the User CP to not use forum default for searching - I guess it's not much of a hassle to change it each time but that's going to be an extra amount of processing for the server each time I forget, is there an option to change this on a per user basis?

I don't understand why 'Show results as posts' is less CPU intensive though - I'd have thought that having to generate the text from the original post is more CPU intensive than just the thread title. Still, I assume you're right since you wouldn't have made the change without knowing this first, but could anyone explain this?

by SBing
but could anyone explain this?

im no database expert but i'll take a stab at it - when you do a search it displays (i think) the first 30 matching records, if you list each post (Show results as posts) then for each post you'll have a matching record hence it will stop after it finds 30 matching posts eg 1 thread with 30 matching posts would stop the query. if however you list only the thread titles (Show results as threads) then it finds the thread with 30 matching posts, has to do the same work as above but has only generated one record and has to keep going till it generates 30 hence a lot more work. if you think about it the 'by post' search only becomes as bad as the 'by thread' search when each thread contains either 0 or 1 matching posts but normally this isnt the case so 'by post' is less work

anyway to the reason i posted - could we please have a poll on this and see what the general concensus is because i keep forgetting to press the 'by thread' button and not only is it really annoying for me to go back and click 'by thread' but it is also more cpu intensive for you because both kinds of searches are being run rather than just one.

The search by threads option requires a JOIN that the search by posts search does not. I can change it back if that is the consensus. I usually use the search by posts option myself as it seems much more useful. Finding a word in a thread with 100 posts means you have to dig for it. Finding the actual post (with a text preview) gets you right there. What do people think?

--jeremy

FWIW, PQO will default to search by post, but will have an option to save all of your search preferences.

Cheers for explaining that Kev and Jeremy, it makes that little bit more sense now - not that I understand databases...

I'm all for a poll, I think every search I've done today has had to be done twice, sorry LQ! Personally, I just find that the default makes it harder to find what I'm looking for :(

We certainly don't want to make it harder to find what you are looking for. The search is a very important part of the site, and it working in a way that members like is imperative. Any other feedback on this? Should it be switched back (with the understanding that it will default to by post at some time in the future, but with an option to save all your search settings). Doe anyone prefer the by post option?

--jeremy

I personally don't like these defaults at all for forum search. I have two problems:

1. Where is the checkbox to turn off the Preview?

2. I used to check up on my own questions and other's questions to my answers and the like by searching for my name, then seeing who the most recent poster was. This no longer shows up. Is there a way to turn it on?

The rest of the site redesign looks nice, but I think the search forum results page has taken a turn for the worse.

Originally posted by mijenks 1. Where is the checkbox to turn off the Preview? 2. I used to check up on my own questions and other's questions to my answers and the like by searching for my name, then seeing who the most recent poster was. This no longer shows up. Is there a way to turn it on?

I do this as well :), just set up your search as normal, but before you search, select:

"Show results as threads" instead of "Show results as posts" (It's at the bottom left of the main search box)

It's not a redesign, this option has been there all the time - LQ has just changed "Show results as posts" to be the default :( :(

Edit: Oh dear, I've just realised I am helping someone with the search feature - doesn't this demonstrate how bad the new default is? The next time someone asks this question, am I still supposed to reply, "Search for it"?

The default has been reverted.

--jeremy

Cheers Jeremy, much appreciated!

I suppose many other people won't care and even more will think I'm being silly over an extra click - I don't mind pressing back (or pressing mouse button 4 :P !) and resubmitting the search, but what a waste of LQ's resources!