Search functions

[tippy]

Man this sucker almost never works for me. Although one time it did and it was fabulous but one thing that doesn't let me through is deciphering the characters - it says I deciphered them wrong a lot of times. Does anyone else have problems running searches? I know it's something I'm doing, but I would like to know how to correct this cuz I haven't figured it out thus far by myself.

[bluenoter]

Tippy--

I'd like to help if I can, but I'd need specific examples of unsuccessful searches.

As your thread title suggests, there are several search features--

1. Search This Forum

2. Search This Thread

3. "Search" in the menu at the top of every page

4. Advanced Search, which is an option that appears in the drop-down box under "Search"

5. "Do it yourself searches," such as clicking on a header in a list of threads to sort by thread title, thread starter, etc.

So I'd need to know

--what word(s) you were searching for and

--which search feature you were using.

one thing that doesn't let me through is deciphering the characters - it says I deciphered them wrong a lot of times.

I don't understand what you mean.

[Vince Kargatis]

How do people track responses to one's own posts (when they try)? Search used to return posts including "originally posted by X", but now in searches for 'X', they are studiously ignored (a bad software decision, imo). You're stuck searching for personal uses of your name (at best a subset of actual responses).

[bluenoter]

How do people track responses to one's own posts (when they try)? Search used to return posts including "originally posted by X", but now in searches for 'X', they are studiously ignored (a bad software decision, imo). You're stuck searching for personal uses of your name (at best a subset of actual responses).

I don't track responses to my posts in any systematic fashion, nor do I know how to do so. Maybe someone else does.

However, if X = Vince Kargatis, the easiest way to find posts by X is to click on your name on the left side of any post of yours, then click on "Find all posts by Vince Kargatis."

You can also use Advanced Search and fill in "Vince Kargatis" for User Name, along with any restrictions you want to impose (e.g., forum, date range). The Advanced Search option appears in the drop-down box under "Search" in the menu at the top of every page.

(I hope that's what you meant!)

If X is someone other than yourself, you can find posts by X in any of these ways:

--by clicking on X's name on the left side of any post by X
--by filling in X's name in Members List Search Members
--by using Advanced Search.

In each case, you'll soon reach "Find all posts by X."

[Ron Thorne]

But, if your name is Malcolm X, all bets are off.

[bluenoter]

The only thing worse than a smartass post is a smartass post with a typo.

Ron, do you know of a way to track, or systematically search for, responses to one's posts?

[Ron Thorne]

The only thing worse than a smartass post is a smartass post with a typo.

Ron, do you know of a way to track, or systematically search for, responses to one's posts?

Do you really expect me to help after that smartass, gleeful post?

Ummm . . . I find that the Search engine at JC is sometimes hot and cold, but usually provides what I'm after. I recently discovered that I often asked for help in finding thread info when I really wanted/needed post info. In fact, I got some very important info yesterday by altering my search for words within a post.

[Ron Thorne]

Ron, do you know of a way to track, or systematically search for, responses to one's posts?

No.

[bluenoter]

I recently discovered that I often asked for help in finding thread info when I really wanted/needed post info. In fact, I got some very important info yesterday by altering my search for words within a post.

I find Advanced Search really useful because it allows one--and "forces" one--to make that distinction.

Thanks.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

I ONLY use the advanced search function, usually set for POSTS rather than THREADS.

[Vince Kargatis]

thing is, it used to be trivial, because the search used to return hits of posts that contained 'X' in the text "originally posted by X". No longer, though.

[bluenoter]

thing is, it used to be trivial, because the search used to return hits of posts that contained 'X' in the text "originally posted by X". No longer, though.

You mean the line that automatically appears when someone quotes X? Vince, I think that would be metatext and not in the same database, you know? I'm surprised that any of JC's search features ever returned such results (I didn't know that they had or could).

But anyway, you can search for your own posts by any of the methods I described earlier (as you may have known).

Maybe someone else knows a systematic way to track, or search for, responses to one's posts from within JC. But for want of a better method, try Googling for X and specifying JC as the site to be Google-searched! I've done that sometimes, and I know that others have too. That might at least give you the "Originally posted by X" hits.
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Edit: Vince, if Lois doesn't chime in on this thread, you could PM her and ask her whether the current search features could be edited so as to return hits for X in "Originally posted by X." Maybe it's not only possible but simple, practical, etc.

[Vince Kargatis]

You mean the line that automatically appears when someone quotes X? Vince, I think that would be metatext and not in the same database, you know? I'm surprised that any of JC's search features ever returned such results (I didn't know that they had or could).

The user id is theoretically accessible (you see it in a quote), but it appears like "X;nnnnnn", which may stop a simple search from hitting on X. But you can see for yourself that it used to work before they put those post link-codes in - search on a user name and go back a few years, you'll see "originally posted by" hits.

But anyway, you can search for your own posts by any of the methods I described earlier (as you may have known).

Yes, I'm aware - not my issue here.

Edit: Vince, if Lois doesn't chime in on this thread, you could PM her and ask her whether the current search features could be edited so as to return hits for X in "Originally posted by X." Maybe it's not only possible but simple, practical, etc.

Did a while ago, iirc, she was unaware of any changes - I think it happened with a software update when post-links were put in automatically.