Search not working on this website?

[OM2]

Wasn't sure where to post this message.
I tried searching for message I had posted.
I wanted a link someone had given in one of the replies.
The search came up with no results.
There must be something wrong with the search in that case...?

I found my message in the end anyways.

Can some let Mr Joomla and Mrs Joomla know their search isn't working. 

Thanks.


OM

[MMMedia]

Moving to Sites and Infrastructure Feedback.

[Tonie]

The Joomla search function is not being used when searching on the forum. We are using the default SMF forum search function, and more people have trouble finding the things they need.

[OM2]

The Joomla search function is not being used when searching on the forum. We are using the default SMF forum search function, and more people have trouble finding the things they need.

doesn't make sense what ur saying.
search not working?
hey.. get rid of the button!

default SMF?
what's that?

so... how do people search on the website for past posts...?

i'm sure i'm the one who doesn't understand properly! 

[Tonie]

SMF is the forum we are using, you can find a link on the bottom. It's not part of Joomla. The search function works, I usually find what I need. It's not easy though to find the correct search values. If you are looking for one of your own posts, it's easier to click the 'Profile' menu. Then click 'Show the last posts by this person' on the bottom. All your posts will be showed.

[OM2]

hmmm ok. 
sounds dodgy to me though.
i still say the the search button has no right be there if it doesn't work.

if u guys need any help programming a working search function, let me know. 

[benedikt]

Lots of people use Google to search the forum.

Type something like this:
searchterm site:forum.joomla.org

I've been told this works better then the SMF-search

Greetings,
Benedikt

[OM2]

i still haven't got my head round joomla properly yet.
but heck... i like what i see so far. 

i think it's soooo damn silly to have a non functioning website. 

there's lots of open source bulletin boards.
install in minutes.
but... ya the hard work is making it look and feel different to the same old bog standard.

no excuse i say.

[MMMedia]

What search string did you use?  What were you specifically searching for?

[OM2]

erm... well... i wasn't searching for anything critical and life threatening.   
i was just searching for my own posts.
i searched for posts that my username had made.
the search didn't work.
i posted here.
and was told that the search for the forum AND the website didn't really work... and that it was better to use google than use the websites own search facilities.

i spend my time worrying about the small things in life. 

[MMMedia]

Did you operate the advanced search properly by putting in a search string and then putting in your username?

Half of searches working correctly depend on the people doing the search to actually use the search correctly.

[unixboymd]

If I'm searching for one of my previous posts I used the advanced search and input 1 term and my username. If I'm searching for a particular post, written by another, I'll input their username along with the letter " a ". " a " is a popular letter and most posts contain it.

i was just searching for my own posts.
i searched for posts that my username had made.

[OM2]

erm... well since you guys ask... all i did was just type my username in and search.
this work with all other forums.
(i'm sure by using a common search term like "a" would do the trick... but besides my point still stands - the search facility should work!)   

[unixboymd]

I've tried to just type in only my username and search for it, but I always received a message that stated I had to input a search term. The general search feature appears to only search the content of the posted messages and nothing else - not the author, title, etc.

all i did was just type my username in and search.

[OM2]

well... ya... and i think this is a mistake.   
all other bulletin boards... you can just type in the username and search.

[MMMedia]

So it isn't really not working.

It just doesn't work the way you think it should work.

[benedikt]

i (...) was told that the search for the forum AND the website didn't really work... and that it was better to use google than use the websites own search facilities.

I think there's been a bit of miscommunication here.
I am not aware of any problems with the Joomla!-search function.
Apart from the forum, all official J! sites run on Joomla! and they can be searched just fine afaik.

The forum, on the other hand, runs on SMF (see footer).
If you do a search, you'll find quite some discussionson the search functionality 
I'm sure the SMF dev team are aware of this and working on a solution.

Personally, I've always been able to find what I need withe the advanced search function (the middle icon at the top).

Greetings

Benedikt

[OM2]

so i was right all along. 

[unixboymd]

You've tested them all? WOW! I'm impressed. 

all other bulletin boards... you can just type in the username and search.

[OM2]

welll someone had to do it. 

[ambika123]

someone had to do it. solve this as soon as possible

[MMMedia]

someone had to do it. solve this as soon as possible

What issue are you having?

[Websmurf]

Never had much problems with the search function.
Only thing to keep in mind is, that when you search, SMF will search in the forum you're currently in by default.

If you would like to search through all forums, you will have to navigate to the main forum page, or click the advanced link next to the search box.

[brian]

thanks for that tip.

[OM2]

Never had much problems with the search function.
Only thing to keep in mind is, that when you search, SMF will search in the forum you're currently in by default.

If you would like to search through all forums, you will have to navigate to the main forum page, or click the advanced link next to the search box.

hmmm... other forums... you can do a search from anywhere by username... and see all posts made by that user.
this was my original question: why you couldn't search for posts made by a user.

others replied saying that this was a known fault with the forums.

[Websmurf]

Well.. if you're looking for all posts by a certain user, you can find that link in his profile.
For example, when I view your profile (http://forum.joomla.org/index.php?actio ... le;u=73338), there's a link at the bottom that says "Show the last posts of this person.". This will in fact list all posts, sorted latest first.

[OM2]

hey... thanks for letting us know.

but... nevertheless... my original very small point still stands: there is a fault (a very very minor fault) on the forum. 

[unixboymd]

IMHO the forum search works just fine.

It may not work like you want it to or think it should, or like other forums that you have used but it does work like the SMF developers designed it to.

And as the Joomla! teams are not the creators of SMF - I'd suggest that you visit the SMF site and give them your feedback and add your suggestion to their wishlist.

[ot2sen]

Hi OM2,

The standard search can search for posts created by specific user. Just enter the username.

Another option is to use the 'Search member' option http://forum.joomla.org/index.php?actio ... ;sa=search
Then you could see all posts by that user, just like Websmurf said.

The search option might not work fully as you expect, but it do work 

[OM2]

guys... thanks for the replies.
i had no idea my question would snowball soo much. 

ok... the search might work as the smf designers intended.
but i would argue if it works differently to all other bulletin boards... then that is bad design and ergonomics on their part.
(assuming they are worng and the rest of the world is right.)

can we now concentrate or more urgent issues that need solving (instead of debating this important problem):

• how do we get rid of poverty?
• how do we solve the worlds ensuing energy problems?
• how do we get rid of george bush?
• how do we bring peace to mankind?

of course... if anyone further questions my original question... i'll be more than happy to reply.