Forum Search Functionality

[cattman]

This site has gold in it, and I consider myself fortunate to be a member- thank you, Pelican!

However, the nugget of info one seeks can be inordinately and unusually hard to find. The knowledge, experience and wisdom available here is extraordinary, but it should be accessible via a simple search, and it is not. The search function on this site is not helpful; in fact, the results seem almost random. If you need examples, I'll provide them.

I know that money is important to improving such site functionality, and I hope that my purchases from our host and their sponsors will render my suggestion to improve Forum search results credible.
Thank you, Pelican.
CATTMAN

[Alan Lindquist]

The forum works perfectly.

First you search and realize that the search doesn't work. Then you post your question to the forum. Next, someone will comment that you could have looked that up. Then 20 knowledgeable people will chime in with the answer within 24 hours.

It takes longer than finding a relevant thread, but the interaction is worth it.

[James Brown]

First, you must have knowledge of what you are searching for. The engine looks for matching words like if I wanted to look for problems I was having with my brakes I would search for calipers, brake pads, spongy brakes, ect. until I find the answer. But, if you do not use the proper Porsche language, you might miss some good stuff.

[Geronimo '74]

True, the search function is not always flawless or very user friendly.
But if you need to find a nugget of info, the collective knwowledge of the Pelican braintrust is unmatched!!

GO PELICAN!!

[James Brown]

from Quicksilver:
If the search function is driving you nuts go to Google and click the "Advanced Search" link and search from there. At the bottom in the "Search within a site or domain:" field put in forums.pelicanparts.com. This will allow you to search for 2 character words and use more advanced syntax.

Additional helpful tips are: Put phrases in Quotes; Put a leading Plus sign on a word/phrase to force only items containing that to show; Put a leading Minus sign on a word/phrase to ignore all pages with items containing that.

[James Brown]

Great...

[Kroggers]

What does the post by shenhuan have to do with this subject?

[Grady Clay]

I think part of the reason for difficulty using the Search Function is knowing how to search.

I would like to see a “How to Search” button when in Search. That might include the “Rules of Search” and examples. Few (including myself) know how to properly search.

Most difficult is differentiating discussion containing keywords from the actual technical information about the subject. I think this is (was?) the idea behind Pelican WiKi, Blog and Permalink.

Google made its fortune by recognizing what subjects were most searched. Perhaps Pelican can use number of times linked, most quoted, highest rated or other to improve the search result. Google also orders the result by most relevant while Pelican is chronological. Of course Google does a wonderful job of correcting your mispellin of keywords.


When posting, we all need to use simple English and limit using slang. We also need to use proper Porsche (automotive) terms: “ignition distributor” and not “dizzy”. I suspect the Search Function does not search on both terms when one is used.

Posting links within discussion greatly helps finding useful information. A few years ago Pelican started having the link title displayed, a great improvement over the “[URL=” function.


I agree with the above premise: Pelican is too difficult to search. Somehow we need to improve the access to the wealth of information.

Best,
Grady

[patssle]

Use Google with a specific site search, much better. Check the link.

Google

[djpateman]

The search function on the site is okay, but not great. There does not seem to be any Boolean search capability; example 911 AND rsr turns up as 911 OR rsr
No matter how I try, I cannot get it to work. As much as I dislike Google, sometimes it can be useful.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by patssle

Use Google with a specific site search, much better. Check the link.
Google

This is what I do for any forum that uses vbBulletin, like Pelican. vbBulletin's search function just plain sucks.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by Kroggers

What does the post by shenhuan have to do with this subject?

Spammer. Has been reported.

[RWebb]

I like Grady's idea - and it is easy to implement.

Pelican has a better search engine than some other car sites, AND some other sites cannot be searched using Google's site specific search engine.

Finally, Pelican will never have as good a search engine as Google, unless Wayne can steal not only the Google algorithms, but their server farm as well.

I hope the wiki plan gets implemented -- that would solve many problems for people.

[andyt11]

A separate problem that contributes to the difficulty of finding a particular post, is the shear amount of traffic in the 911 Technical forum. It's as if the other forums don't exist. It would be nice if people could use the correct forum to begin with.

How many posts today belonged in the Drivers Lounge or the Off Topic forum?
Threads that are "just photos of one colour of car", unfortunate tales of accidents, posts about cars that are not 911's, obituaries, requests for PPI's, "my new porsche" threads, this thread for that matter.... none of them belong in the technical forum, and when one does have a technical issue, it gets bumped off the bottom of the forum before anyone gets a chance to contribute.

I'm as guilty as the next, I posted my "my new Porsche" thread in the technical forum and a request for a PPI prior to the purchase. Both of which don't belong there. The latter was out of necessity, since the other forums don't get much traffic and I needed an answer, but I still contributed to the problem.

I see why people do it, its because the other forums don't get much traffic, but that's a problem that feeds itself. No one posts there because not many go in there to read, and we don't go there to read because there are so many good posts to read in the technical forum.

Other than that, this is a great website and a one of a kind resource that cannot be replaced with books or any other medium. I dare say you can find out just about anything from people who have actually done it. So rant over, great site and I agree with the other posters, you kind of need to learn what to search for if you are looking for a particular topic. The tip about google advanced search sounds promising. I may have to give that a try.