Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26776
Using the site search facility...
I have absolutely no problem with people asking basic questions about the Discovery 3 or 4, it keeps the site alive, and there should be no stigma applied to anyone who does ask an apparently 'stoopid question'.
If everyone new how to use the search engine on the site, the site would become a pretty quiet and peaceful place.
However, if you are researching a project, or want to find a specific post or topic, then some knowledge on how to use it will be extremely beneficial.
The quote below is from the help screen, but gives you the general idea about making a specific search.
Use word1 word2 to find all posts which contain either word1 or word2.
Use +word1 +word2 to find all posts which include both word1 and word2.
Use +word1 +word2 -word3 to find all posts which include both word1 and word2, but not word3.
Use "word1 word2" (with the double-quotes) to search for an exact phrase.
For example, if I want to find out about front wheel bearings, and type Front Wheel Bearings into the search box, it will return me a whole load of irrelevant topics. This is because the engine will think you are looking for any topic that contains any of the words you included. Obviously no good!
So, you could then type "Front Wheel Bearings" and you will then get a much more focussed return of results. This is because the engine has found only the posts that contain the phrase Front Wheel Bearings.
Alternatively, you could type +Front +Wheel +Bearings and you will get a slightly wider return, as the engine will give all the posts that contain all three words, but in any place or order in the post. You can also use the - sign to exclude a word.
There are also a number of options to restrict the search by Forum, or Category. The category option is VERY useful if you are looking for a specific model information. For example if you are looking for D4 info, you can exclude all the returns that match your search, but are D3 or off topic. The "Search Previous" option is also very useful if you know the subject you are looking for has been discussed in the past week, you can filter out all the older returns.
One common complaint about the search facility is that when you click on a post that you have found, if it does not contain the info you want you have to start the search over again. This can be easily overcome by right clicking on the returned result, and choosing "Open in a new window" This means that if the post is no good, you can go back to the returned results, and pick another post to look at.
I hope this proves useful to someone, but please don't be afraid of asking a basic question. Some of us have been here a long time I know, but we are all enthusiasts who enjoy helping others. Well, I am anyway
25th Jun 2011 11:17 am
Ent
Member Since: 12 Oct 2007
Location: In the cack
Posts: 6488
Gareth
You made your point much better than I did but essentially we are singing from tge same hymn sheet. Ive found the search facility a pretty good resource for information.
btw there are stupid questions because there are stupid people Club Exped trailer
Club Timed Climate
Club Flappy paddle steering wheel
Club 300bhp
Club Prospeed test pilot/lab rat
Club National Luna Stella conditioner
25th Jun 2011 11:55 am
JDB
Member Since: 25 Mar 2010
Location: NW Hampshire
Posts: 2486
What would be useful though is the ability to search "titles only" as per other forums - just a thought.
25th Jun 2011 12:02 pm
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50978
Like this ?
EDIT: Ah ...I note that doesn't work
Gareth has asked Martin if this is possible 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
25th Jun 2011 12:14 pm
JDB
Member Since: 25 Mar 2010
Location: NW Hampshire
Posts: 2486
Brilliant - you learn something everyday, maybe a few words beside it would have got me there sooner!
Cool - now what do I need to search today.....
EDIT - I did think I had looked at everythiing as to how to do it......
25th Jun 2011 12:17 pm
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50978
Doesn't seem to work as I would expect it to though JDB we'll see what Martin can come up with 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
25th Jun 2011 12:20 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26776
Which bit doesn't work? I just tried a few searches, and the "sort by" option seems to be working.
25th Jun 2011 3:59 pm
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50978
Well I assumed that JDB meant that the words used in the search string would feature in the thread title but it doesn't seem to do that ?21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
25th Jun 2011 4:05 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26776
The sort by "Topic Title" and "Post Subject" seem to do the same thing. In as much as they sort the returned threads either ascending or descending alphabetically.
The "Sort by" Author - Ascending or descending option is interesting, as if you are looking for posts from an individual, they are dead easy to find.
I'm not sure what the "Return first xxxxx characters of posts does though
25th Jun 2011 4:05 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26776
No, I think what he means is to be able to restrict the search to thread titles only.
EG +Front +wheel +bearings would only return results for threads that had those specific words in the title of the thread. At the moment it is searching the entire thread for the string.
25th Jun 2011 4:08 pm
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50978
Still think in-site Google searching would be best 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
25th Jun 2011 4:12 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26776
Righty ho! I just went to Google.co.uk, and clicked on advanced search. You can enter the string you are looking for, and specify which domain you want it to go and search. I entered Front Wheel Bearing, search in domain DISCO3.CO.UK and hey presto! you get a whole load of front wheel bearing posts from DISCO3.
Maybe Martin doesn't need to do anything?
25th Jun 2011 4:21 pm
Bill Wright
Member Since: 03 Nov 2007
Location: Glorious Devon
Posts: 3254
That's a pretty good tip.
I just put my own name in and it came back instantly with 705 of my posts. A similar deal with Pirelli.
BillNever take life too seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
D4 SDV6 SE Tech Kaikoura Stone MY15.
25th Jun 2011 4:38 pm
JDB
Member Since: 25 Mar 2010
Location: NW Hampshire
Posts: 2486
I was after the ability to just search titles only as DG says.
25th Jun 2011 5:02 pm
Hairy Dan
Member Since: 19 Jan 2011
Location: Co. Durham
Posts: 12319
I'm sure Martin knows about Google custom search but you can place a Google search box on a site and restrict it's results to the Domain.
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