Search Functions

[Zip247]

A way to possibly lower the number of duplicate posts is to change the main page search function to display results by relevancy instead of posting date.

As a test I search for "lamp" with the main page search function. The current top results are

1. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=520091&highlight=lamp
2. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=565461&highlight=lamp


a bunch of posts that do not give me any help!!

I went to the advanced search page and search "lamp" with sort results by relevancy selected and the top results were

1. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=668010&highlight=lamp
2. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=666689&highlight=lamp


A much better result by far.

wdecker

[gettinoriginal]

There is also a new search engine called "Googlubuntu", I use it frequently, it only searches Ubuntu and it's derivatives. :p

[jerrrys]

good point, search by relevancy...
add 'search titles only' and you can really tune in...

[Zip247]

good point, search by relevancy...
add 'search titles only' and you can really tune in...

On the advanced search page you can search in titles only.

wdecker

[jerrrys]

On the advanced search page you can search in titles only.

wdecker

exactly, thanks for making that clear

[hyper_ch]

I'd google it:

KEYWORDS site:ubuntuforums.org

[Zip247]

Im not trying to figure out how to search the forums, I am just saying that maybe duplicate posts could be cut down if the search function on the index page was set to relevancy.

wdecker

[jerrrys]

x

[jerrrys]

plus titles only? maybe?

[jenkinbr]

A way to possibly lower the number of duplicate posts is to change the main page search function to display results by relevancy instead of posting date.

As a test I search for "lamp" with the main page search function. The current top results are

1. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=520091&highlight=lamp
2. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=565461&highlight=lamp


a bunch of posts that do not give me any help!!

I went to the advanced search page and search "lamp" with sort results by relevancy selected and the top results were

1. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=668010&highlight=lamp
2. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=666689&highlight=lamp


A much better result by far.

wdecker

:lolflag: I had a laughing fit over the first bit...

Seriously, though, there is something wrong with the search tool if the bump thread and the 10000 game are at the top of the list for 'lamp', a search term that should turn up more posts on installing a Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP server, not a thread that is to be continuously bumped.

I just ran a search, and it turned up The BUMP Thread, The 10000 Game, The Banning Game, and the You Know You're A Geek When.... threads all at the top, before getting into legit results.

The same search, with relevancy:
What to do with old CD's? [irrelevant]
Ubuntu VMserver [possibly relevant]
[more [3] entries on 'what to do with old CD's'


Hmmm, still not very helpful.

I think the ubuntuforums built-in search tool is a bit flaky. I personally use "KEYWORD[s] site:ubuntuforums.org" to search google's index of the forum.