??? Does anyone know how to search in the Off-Topic area now ???

sudoer · 12/30/2010, 10:10 PM

I'd like to be able to search in the Off-Topic area (at least using Advance Search) but this appears to be totally broken (perhaps as a side effect of Dieter's "fixes" to the "New Posts" logic).

I can't imagine the intent was to totally break advanced search. Does anyone know a workaround? (Is anyone on the P|C staff looking into fixing this?

thanks in advance!
--
(The Public)

Garrett92C · 12/30/2010, 10:11 PM

It's been like this for a while now (even before the New Posts changes). Off Topic does not show up in any search results.

**HelloNNNewman** · 12/30/2010, 10:14 PM

That is the nature of "Off-Topic"... the posts are excluded in the system as Dieter doesn't want OT posts showing up in on-topic searches for answers to phone questions.

The work around would be to use Google itself as the webcrawlers do cache these forums.

sudoer · 12/30/2010, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett92C

It's been like this for a while now (even before the New Posts changes). Off Topic does not show up in any search results.

That's totally fine, but when you click on Advanced Search and specifically ask for it, you should be able to drill into it. (Just my opinion.)

sudoer · 12/30/2010, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HelloNNNewman

The work around would be to use Google itself as the webcrawlers do cache these forums.

Yeah, I've been doing that (but it's a PITA). It's misleading to list Off-Topic as a forum in the lower-right area of advanced search if it cannot be searched. Ideally it should give a nice error message indicating why results are being excluded (along with a pre-formed URL for the search in Google instead).

thanks
--
Bob

sketch42 · 12/30/2010, 11:12 PM

Agreed

-- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums

Cantaffordit · 12/30/2010, 11:31 PM

add this to the beginning of your google search:

site:forums.precentral.net/off-topic/

and the add the text you are looking for, like this (but without the quotes):

"site:forums.precentral.net/off-topic frenzy alert"

sudoer · 12/31/2010, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cantaffordit

"site:forums.precentral.net/off-topic frenzy alert"

It's the "/off-topic" as part of the URL that was escaping my brain last night. (I was including that part among the search terms part and my results were predictably less than desirable. (thanks)

12/30/2010, 10:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
sudoer Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Boston, MA, USA (but in America's Dairyland for an extended visit) Posts: 1,727 Likes Received: 0 Thanks: 1,508 Thanked 369 Times in 302 Posts	??? Does anyone know how to search in the Off-Topic area now ??? I'd like to be able to search in the Off-Topic area (at least using Advance Search) but this appears to be totally broken (perhaps as a side effect of Dieter's "fixes" to the "New Posts" logic). I can't imagine the intent was to totally break advanced search. Does anyone know a workaround? (Is anyone on the P\|C staff looking into fixing this? thanks in advance! -- (The Public) __________________ I'm both super! ... and a doer!
	Liked by

12/30/2010, 10:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Garrett92C Homebrew Developer Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 126 Likes Received: 68 Thanks: 43 Thanked 3,128 Times in 2,009 Posts	It's been like this for a while now (even before the New Posts changes). Off Topic does not show up in any search results.
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12/30/2010, 10:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
HelloNNNewman Neumorator (Super Moderator) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Standing silently behind you on the streets of Chicago..... wearing a Cheesehead. Posts: 11,412 Likes Received: 1358 Thanks: 6,184 Thanked 4,799 Times in 3,119 Posts	That is the nature of "Off-Topic"... the posts are excluded in the system as Dieter doesn't want OT posts showing up in on-topic searches for answers to phone questions. The work around would be to use Google itself as the webcrawlers do cache these forums. __________________ Shortest. Marathon. Evar. Check out the new "Apollo" app (Pandora for the Touchpad)!! Please DONATE and show support to the great devs!
	Liked by Thanked By: sudoer

12/30/2010, 11:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
sketch42 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: in the dark recesses of the earth, awaiting "The Rise of the L@@T" Posts: 3,991 Likes Received: 184 Thanks: 2,996 Thanked 1,967 Times in 1,402 Posts	Agreed -- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums __________________ NEWBIES Check These Threads First WebOS FAQ • Export Contacts • Backup-Restore Patches/Apps • follow me on twitter • or Catch me at LOOT ATTN: If You like my Patches or Themes please feel free to DONATE
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12/30/2010, 11:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cantaffordit Moderator Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 15,149 Likes Received: 958 Thanks: 3,804 Thanked 3,910 Times in 2,776 Posts	add this to the beginning of your google search: site:forums.precentral.net/off-topic/ and the add the text you are looking for, like this (but without the quotes): "site:forums.precentral.net/off-topic frenzy alert"
	Liked by

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