Feature request: change in Search interface

DaveF · 06-12-2007, 08:03 AM

I've got a (modest?) request for an HTF interface change:

Move the HTF search from its menu to the page proper. And make its default behavior to search only the sub-forum you're currently in.

* There's a search box up by the quick-links menu. I tend to enter search terms there without thinking. Except this is for Amazon. I'm not sure why Amazon search is right where HTF search should be. Or why I'd want to search Amazon when I'm reading HTF threads.

* HTF search, requiring an additional click to find, defaults to whole-site search. Typically, I'm in the Movie forum looking for the review thread for "Something about Mary". The search gets me a squillion results, including threads in AHL about member Mary's family problems, and "something" new about Macs in the Mac section, etc. But all I care about are related results in the Movies section.

I know the search function has been a thorny problem over the years. But I find it useful, and would enjoy seeing some tweaks to really make it more useful.

Mike Frezon · 06-12-2007, 01:01 PM

I think that's an interesting idea, Dave. I just noticed the other day that it's an "amazon" search on the index page of each forum...but a "google" search on the actual thread page.

I use the search function a lot as well. I don't particularly mind the current set-up. You CAN set up a default set of parameters for each time you access the search function.

I actually think it would be cool if the search function & results opened in a new tab or browser page...so that you don't "lose your place" in the HTF thread which prompted your search.

Maybe you could have a search function on the pages as you suggest...plus still keep the rather general "advanced" search function as it exists now in the menu.

Greg_S_H · 06-12-2007, 03:02 PM

Unless I'm using it wrong, another thing I'd like the search to do is find someone's actual posts in a thread. Right now, if I type in "user name" and "topic," I get a list of all of the threads in which that user talked about that subject, but I have to manually try to find the posts. If it's a thread with hundreds of pages, that's a tall order.

Scott_J · 06-13-2007, 11:22 AM

Dave, if I am understanding your post correctly, you are looking for a way to easily search a specific forum, as opposed to a site-wide search, correct? If so, that's already an option.

When you''re in a forum, there is a blue bar above the stickied announcement(s). At the far right of that bar, there is a Search This Forum box. Click that, and a box appears where you can enter your search terms. Enter your search, click Go and it'll search just that forum. If you click Advanced Search in the search box, it will also default to search that specific forum.

There is also a similar search option in individual threads, with a Search This Thread option in the far right of the blue bar above the first post. Enter a search there and it will search that thread (but there's not an advanced-search option for individual threads).

If I'm misunderstanding you, I apologize, but I think that's what you're asking.

DaveF · 06-14-2007, 02:36 PM

Tell you what, I never saw the "Search This Forum" link. Thanks. That's essentially what I want.

Nor did I know I could configure default behavior for forum searches.

So, while I can quibble over the UI for these tools, the functionality I want is right there.

**HTF Ads**

Holadem · 06-21-2007, 06:53 PM

Quote:

I actually think it would be cool if the search function & results opened in a new tab or browser page...so that you don't "lose your place" in the HTF thread which prompted your search.

Definitely.

Quote:

Unless I'm using it wrong, another thing I'd like the search to do is find someone's actual posts in a thread. Right now, if I type in "user name" and "topic," I get a list of all of the threads in which that user talked about that subject, but I have to manually try to find the posts. If it's a thread with hundreds of pages, that's a tall order.

I don't know if this is what you need, but on any listing of threads (forum or search results), if you click the number of replies for a thread, you will get a new window listing the posters in that thread, sorted in descending number of posts. A click on the number of posts for any participant (in the new window) yields all their posts in the thread.

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H

Cees Alons · 06-24-2007, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg_S_H

Unless I'm using it wrong, another thing I'd like the search to do is find someone's actual posts in a thread.

That functionality is already there too. On the advanced search page, at the left below, under "Show results as", choose "Posts" (default is "Threads"). You'll get the individual posts.

Cees

TonyD · 07-09-2007, 04:12 PM

Dave, how long have you been here?