How To: Get Better search results on ubuntu forums

[Bakon Jarser]

Every day the same questions get asked over and over again. I believe that this is mostly due the poor search results provided by the search engine. By default the search engine searches entire threads for your keyword, lists any thread that has that keyword, and lists them in order of the thread which was most recently posted to. Many people have there hardware specs in there signatures, so if you are searching for a common piece of hardware you will get lots of threads that have absolutely nothing to do with your problem.

However, there is a way to get useful results from the search engine. In the menu click on the search button and click on advanced search.

http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=108732&stc=1&d=1238900561

Now click the drop down arrow next to 'Search Entire Posts' and change it to 'Search Titles Only'

http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=108733&stc=1&d=1238900599

Enter your search in the box and press enter. That's all there is to it. This should provide some meaninful search results. Please let me know if this gets you better results.

[JavaBeanHead]

I agree. Thank you for this tip. :)

[doas777]

the forum search/advanced search has never worked well for me.
I usually use google to find what I need, on or off the forums.

[cariboo907]

I've found that the search function is hit or miss, I use Google, the term I search for is usually the first or second link.

[1clue]

I usually give the search a quick try just to see what happens, then resort to Big Brother just like the previous posters. Sometimes I think to try what was suggested by the OP, but sometimes that filters out things I want too.

It would be handy to have a box you could click, "ignore signatures."

[LookTJ]

I use the "ubfs `query`" command on yubnub.org to search ubuntuforums.org.

[dealcorn]

By default, search returns threads with any of the search terms. Is it possible to return only threads will all search terms?

[Tipped OuT]

I've found that the search function is hit or miss, I use Google, the term I search for is usually the first or second link.

Hey Cariboo, Google "ubuntu forums Tipped OuT" and look at the first result. xD

[cariboo907]

See how well using Google to search the forums works. :)

[JBAlaska]

Results 1 - 10 of about 7,860 for ubuntu forums jbalaska

Damn spammer lol