Originally Posted by
mwarden
I think we are missing the point here. If the search feature requires an entire thread of explanation of syntax and strategy methods, I would say that's a pretty good indication of a very flawed search feature.
I realize you are using a packaged forum solution, but that does not mean the search feature cannot be modified easily. One feature would go a long way to make the search useful and would take very little effort: append a + before each keyword not preceded by " +" or " OR " beyond the first keyword. This would effectively make it an AND search by default, which is what the user expects. If you take this translation approach, the effort is extremely minimal.
The approach of the FT mods should be: fix the search. Documentation DOES NOT FIX ANYTHING, as pointed out by the message quoted above. You have a good % of people here who are IT consultants (including myself). I am sure many of us would be willing to lend a hand, as the FT search feature is even more annoying to people who design software for a living...
I do not necessarily disagree with you,
mwarden.
The administrative team that tends to the technological issues of FlyerTalk know that the search engine of the vBulletin bulletin board software is weak. However, the problem, as they told me in person in Washington, D.C. only yesterday, is that FlyerTalk is now one of the largest Internet bulletin boards that is powered by the vBulletin bulletin board software. While many — or even most — other Internet bulletin board web sites may function flawlessly either with the current search engine or with one modified by “hacking” the main software application program or with “plug-ins”, FlyerTalk could very well encounter unknown and unique problems simply due to its sheer size and traffic. The effort may indeed be minimal, but its potential longer-term effects and resulting problems could possibly far outweigh the advantages, and I know that they are currently not willing to take that chance.
For additional information, I recommend that you contact one of the technical administrative staff that takes care of FlyerTalk. Hopefully, one of them will post here to address your thoughts.
The bottom line is that the search engine for vBulletin is certainly far from perfect, and everyone is in agreement with that assessment. In the meantime, until a better solution is available — and a better solution to the search function is being actively sought for FlyerTalk — this thread exists to assist those FlyerTalk members with the current search engine.
If this thread assists even one FlyerTalk member in facilitating the use of its search function, then it has served its purpose.
By the way, a
+ can be used for more detailed searches, but it still is far from perfect.