How do you use Search Forums blank In upper right?

I searched for "search box" (with quotes around the phrase) and narrowed it down to posts by username chemocurl: http://davesgarden.com/forums/search.php?forum=&search_text=%22search+box%22&limit=0&limit_poster=chemocurl&Search=Search

Which led me back to this forum.

A search for "chemocurl" (no quotes) also brought me back here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/search.php?q=chemocurl

Can you give me an example of where you tried to search for this username (or another) and didn't get the results you thought you would?

The first hyperlink is blank for me. The second one shows 8 threads which contain "chemocurl." When I did the search before (at 8:20am) it only showed 7 threads. Now when I follow the same steps I did before it shows 8. I don't know what's happening. This is the first time it has shown appropriate results for me.

I just did a random search on a different member - TamaraFaye. Here's the results I got: http://davesgarden.com/forums/search.php?search_text=tamarafaye

However, she has also posted here, and it doesn't show up in the previous search: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/548640/

I wonder if Horseshoe is right - that it's an IE problem, not a DG problem.

Maybe this explanation will help (and then again, maybe not ;o)

When you use the main search box (upper left corner) for a word or phrase, it searches all posts (but not the names next to them) for that word or phrase.

So unless someone happened to include the user's name in a post, it won't come up in the results.

If you remember a word or phrase that was posted by a certain user, you can start by using that same search box to search for that word or phrase. Then - after your results appear - you can type their username in the third field to look for results that include that word or phrase posted by that particular username. (That's what I did with the first result, but apparently we can't "save" those results to send as a link. If you type "search box" (with quotes), then type "chemocurl" in the username field, you'll get the same results I did.)

As to the 7 vs. 8 results, my guess is it has to do with how frequently throughout the day the search engine indexes the site (I don't think it's an instantaneous indexing, but is scheduled to occur throughout the day.)

My point exactly:

"When you use the main search box (upper left corner) for a word or phrase, it searches all posts (but not the names next to them) for that word or phrase....unless someone happened to include the user's name in a post, it won't come up in the results."

What I expected was that "search" meant exactly that - it searches ALL fields for whatever you ask for. Too bad - it's what I've needed on more than one occasion.

Terry - Thank you very much for responding to this question, even though I can't do what I had hoped.

If you have the Google toolbar installed, you can do a Google site search. Make sure you are on DG and put the username and word or phrase in the Google search box and click 'Search only on the current Web site'. You can even include the forum name in your search criteria to narrow it down further. This will bring up all instances of the username paired with your criteria, including the username listings on the left identifying the person posting. You can then search each one of the threads using Control F to quickly scan it for the username or search criteria.

Duh! Now why didn't I think of that? THANK YOU, N0H20!!

Marilyn

Dave, folks using the Internet are used to seeing an activating button next to any search box. Those who are perplexed by DG not having one are NOT stupid! So what's the big deal about adding one already? Maybe as a Christmas present?
You have been striving to make this web site perfect since its beginning and we have come such a long way. Why stop now?
Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year to all.

I'm afraid that adding a search button will add too much to an already crowded bar. I have another idea, though, which I will do later.

dave

There - how's that? Call it a birthday present from me. :-) LOL

just stopped by to tell Dave he shouldn't have so much fun on his birthday. See my name up there. Maybe i should see what new tools the Man of the Day is making for his fellow gardeners...

Hah!

Love it! You got "smiles" at both ends of the 'Search Forums'. Good going!

Happy Birthday, Dave! Hope it's a great one!

Shoe.

OMG, i looked at Marylyn's search, and found a thread about me i didn't know was there!

glad i stopped in. now i gotta go see what Dave has done. although i had gotten accustomed to doing it the way Terry said, it was always a bit of a pain, and often turned up too many threads, or not the right ones.

Horseshoe, you have been around here so long and referred to so much, nobody could ever skim through all the search results on your name. I tired it a couple of times. :-)

tf

very cool! and all seems to be working.

hey, dummie lights [and buttons] have their places, and their fans!

tf

Kewl!!! And TamaraFaye, don't take it personally that I used your name!! HEHEHEHE I was just trying to find someone who had posted but whose name wasn't mentioned in the thread in order to test my conundrum.

Merry Christmas one and all!

it was a good choice, since i usually sign tf, and people rarely spell out my whole user name [can't blame them]

i have the same problem in searches... so much info, so little time

;-)
tf

What a great solution, Dave! I imagine Max is grinning from ear to ear... lol

Donna

uh oh, dave is using LOL again, how many does that make this year? 3? 4? happy birthday, dave!