Then may I ask why it is being displayed?

Well, now we have the best of both worlds. Search is unusable, and we're getting the timeouts as well.

Reminds me a bit of Candide, ou l'Optimisme.

I'm going threw search withdrawal. (I'm shaking as I type this)

Thank goodness the Google search is working.

Except that doesn't work for OMNI.

That's where having a search FAQ would be a great help.

It is a tool that indicates the relative likelihood that it has what you're looking for. The weird thing, unless you look at it compared to the other relevancy numbers, it doesn't make much sense. I guess they could only display it when that sorting option is used, it can be helpful when compared to the other numbers.

Search server is down, they are aware of it and it's being worked on now. (I just got an answer to my PM).

ed1, I think you know what I was referring to, the inconsistency in post count total (Under Quick Links/My Posts). Just to make sure we are on the same page.

I do remember folks reporting the numbers associated with certain specific posts being off but that was not what I was talking about. The thing I see probably is part of the "broader" problem you are describing. They might be intertwined and closely related siblings. Not sure if this would make any difference, I was/am using Firefox for my FT viewing pleasure.

As for the phantom forum pages, I didn't know much about that. But well before the most recent beta search problems, I already notice the Phantom Thread Page Phenomenon in one particular I've been actively participated in. The "Phantom Thread Page Phenomemon", which has been ongoing there since around 12/10/07 (after the 2nd page on that thread), is forcing this thread to "prematurely" generate a new page link/count which doesn't have enough posts to support the page yet. (Again, hoping you are following me.) For example, when there are only 25 posts or something, Page 3 has already being generated with the link that only takes you to the top of Page 2, when Page 3 shouldn't be produced before post#31. This is a bug that not only confuses readers but bugs OP as well.

What's interesting is there's a magic number for this thread I am referring to as well. The total post count under the subforum overview is always 4 count off (for example, 27 viewable posts but showing 31 posts under the forum summary overview page). When I contacted the mods and Mikel, I was told it was a "rare" glitch in the system and was due to deleted posts in the thread. That doesn't make sense to me since (1) I know for sure there were more than 4 deleted posts in that thread and the deletion didn't happen all at once; (2) I've been observing countless threads that recoup themselves and display accurate thread & post numbering, after certain posts being deleted. I finally gave up reporting that problem after 7 reports within two weeks and seeing no difference. What else can I do? I am just a regular non-techie user instead of a programmer!

I would think this is certainly a bug. I have no extra time (nor know how) to experiment your scenario but IB folks should definitely take a look at it!

The currently viewable deleted posts (with phantom post links), however, gives me another thought on the "Phantom Thread Page Phenomemon". Please pardon my non-techie logic first. If the deleted posts are still accounted for under Quick Links/My Posts thus viewable to the users, no wonder I am observing "Phantom Thread Page Phenomemon" for that thread! Since they still "count" somewhere in the background and the system, it makes sense (in this funny way) "the thread page generator" would release the next page link prematurely. I suspect others are witness the same problem in other threads as well. I still don't know why the trigger/magic number is 4 for that thread though. I am not sure if this is a search problem either. I only know these are tech problems.

I do hope IB hamsters are really reading all of our problem reports and get them fixed.

The problem appears to be corruption in the search index. We're still looking into why that happened, but resetting the index appears to have fixed the problem. Unfortunately, that means that that the index started out empty. The indexer is currently processing, but its going to take a while to fill back up.
Kevin

Kevin, may I ask which problem are you referring to? It's bit confusing since folks are reported more than ONE bug/problem here. Thanks!

That would be the error messages on the search page for most of today instead of actual results.
Kevin

We have now had this garbage search for a week and no improvements, although they were promised in a weeks time.

Can we have the old search back while IB a.k.a. (whatever) tries to fix their beta search?

Speaking soley as a member and not as a volunteer moderator, I am a little disturbed by the lack of civility shown by some on this thread (and other related ones). I share everyone else's frustrations over the lack of a functioning search engine, but I don't see how name-calling and throwing general abuse at those working at fixing the problem is going to help any. If anything, I think it reflects badly on us. I do want to thank those who have posted constructive advice; I've found it to be of great help.

FlyinHawaiian, I agree, especially when the there is an alternative search function that is working. Yes, the Google search takes a bit more time to find items, but the feature works.

Not for OMNI.