Search Function Manual

[Precise1]

Simply put, the search function is a bit... frustrating. I can't seem to find a thread that is up to date or covers everything so I'm going to try to search/copy/edit together a brief manual for using the search function. This is what I have so far, but please say what is missing so I can add it.

 

 

 

I remembered a trick from our good friends at Google. I use google to search this site by doing the following:

 

If my question is: "what are the best biggest tires I can put on my stock rig?"

 

you just have to go to google and enter the question followed by "site:http://npora.ipbhost.com"

 

Like this: "what are the best biggest tires I can put on my stock rig site:http://npora.ipbhost.com"

 

Then google knows to limit the search to our forum. These are the results for that.

 

This will also allow a search for a 3 (or less) letter word, which the forum search doesn't allow.

 

ModiFinder

 

 

if you want the search to require a term put a + with no space infront of the term

example +radiator

 

if you need to search for an exact phrase put quotes around it.

Example "torque converter"

 

if you want to find info that does not contains terms put a minus in front of it

example -poho

 

If you want to make a term optional simply type it in with out any modifiers

example support

 

If used properly this becomes a really powerful search feature.

Hope this helps some lazy bastards that don't search and keeps the search nazis quiet for a while.

 

ejin4499

 

 

We've added a new feature to help you find more of what your after and less of what your not.

 

It does not exactly make the search feature better (that is limited by its design), instead it limits where it can look for the information your looking for.

 

 

There is a new listing in everyone's UserCP ("Settings" from the drop down menu in the upper right corner, next to your profile pic)

 

 

Once in "Your Options" click the "Forums" tab. There you should see at the bottom of the left column, a new selection called "Block Forums" click it.

 

 

Now by selecting one or more (hold down the CTRL button while selecting to highlight more than one) of the forums and/or sub-forums listed and clicking the "Block/Unblock Forums" button it will exclude all selected forums from your search results, both New Content AND regular/advanced searches.

 

 

Yes I know it only mentions "View New Content" but it does BOTH, just keep that in mind

 

 

 

Give this a try, if your searching for something and keep getting a bunch of unrelated material, try excluding the forums that material is located in and search again. It should refine your results

 

RedPath88

 

 

 

Most of this either still applies and/or is an example how to approach using it.

 

Try searching using quotes, asterisks for wildcard searching, and +/- signs for including or disincluding terms. It's a dynamic search engine, not a text-only engine.

 

"clear corners" as a search term will get you matches for ONLY the words inside the quotation marks, in the order they are written. That's a very precise search, only to be used if you know exactly what you're searching for but don't know where it went.

 

clear corner* will also get you a lot.

 

clear +corner is another good idea.

 

clear +corner* -hardbody -hb -truck will give you info on the first two words, MINUS any entries that also have the words "hardbody", "HB", and "truck" in them.

 

This stuff is all available any time if you click the "Advanced Usage Help" link on the Search page...

 

 

A wildcard search is a search in which the term or words you're searching for contains an asterisk placed before or after the words. The asterisk is a blank "wildcard" symbol that tells the search engine to return any matches with any character in the place of the asterisk.

 

pathfinder* will return any entries containing the word "pathfinder" plus another character, like "pathfinders", "pathfindering", "pathfindero", etc. As you can see, one asterisk will serve for multiple additional characters. Got it?

 

88pathoffroad

 

 

Agreed, the search function is a bit funky and finiky, BUT if you use the advanced search mode and READ the help then play with it a bit, you'll find that you will enjoy success more often than not. There are plenty of tricks to learn.

For example, you want to find a thread that Pezzy started but you cant remember the name but you know it was about 2 months ago...

Leave the 'Find words:' field empty,

Enter Pezzy for the 'Find author' field,

Set the search date parameters appropriate range via the calendar icon to the right of the field,

Search title only and search entire forum by checking the box and not highlighting particular sections in the 'Find in forum',

Click on 'Perform the search', and voila.

 

You will get every Pezzy thread in the forum for the last 90 days...

 

You have to manipulate the search parameters, just entering tire won't get you anything useful.

 

Precise1

 

 

Thought I would read through this and see what has been said. I think this is mostly old information from the old style board. As far as searching goes now, use the Advanced Search. Check the box that says "Search titles only". For me, this has been the best way of finding something, or a certian thread. Try it with the word "lift". See all the threads?

Now this might not work for everything, but may get you more results initially(before pulling all of your hair out).

 

5523Pathfinder

 

 

 

ATTENTION NPORA!!!

Adamzan proudly offers his services as official search engine of NPORA. Any time you wish to have the results of a comprehensive search delivered to you, please PM and email Adamzan with the search criteria, key words and desired information and he will deliver the results within 4 hours, 24/7-365!!!

 

 

 

 

Search ettiquette is recommended

 

 

B

[5523Pathfinder]

Here is another one, B.

 

Search function

 

I added at the bottom about checking the titles only box when searching. Works well for me.

[nunya]

dont forget the google trick someone brought up as well B

[Precise1]

Duly noted and added.

 

That is the first quote you mean, right??

 

B

[nunya]

That is the first quote you mean, right??

 

B

go back to ignoring me... i guess my eyes decided to give up working right for the rest of the evening