Difference between revisions of "Using Forum Search Function More Accurately"

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== Creating Using Forum Search Function More Accurately ==
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The InfinityMU Forum has two different ways in which you can find yur information faster and easier.
  
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The top menu has 2 icons similar to a magnifying glass that has this function:
  
== Search Function ==
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[[File:FjEZOHJ.png]]
  
* '''The best way to find anything you want or if you have any question, you could use it to get a faster answer instead of making another thread in "Help Section" and wait for answers. An effect of using the search function is that, the duplicated threads will be reduced 90%, we guarantee you.'''
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Both work the same way but it’s displayed a bit different, still they both have the same functionality.
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I’ve color coded it for make it easier to see the similarities and later explain what does each thing.
  
=== The Search Bar ===
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[[File:W2kdIsb.png]]
  
* '''In our main panel, we have a little white box with a magnifying glass.'''
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1st of all, what is this function for?
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Well, it’s for searching ofc. But what can you search and why would you use it?
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Let’s say you want to create a new thread, you have to check first if that thread isn’t already created, if there’s nothing like it great, start that new thread. What if the thread is created but incomplete or you want to add something? Just post on it. What? That thread is closed? No problem, ask a moderator to open it for you explaining why you want that thread open.
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Another use let’s say you want to know how something is done, you can use the search bar to search that specific thing quick and easy.
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Another use can be for example that you know that a certain thread exists, but you don’t remember where is located, use the search bar to locate it.
  
[[File:usb1.png]]
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Extremely nice that search bar, but how the hell it works?
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Don’t panic! I’m here to help.
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What does each thing of the search function?
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Search Bar (Red): Here you type what you want to search ex “Forum Rules”.
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Note: Words with less or equal to 3 characters don’t get processed by the search function.
  
* '''If you have a question about "Bone Blades" you could write it, then click the "magnifying glass" or just click "ENTER".'''
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Constraints (Orange): This option only appears if you are in a subforum, does not show up on the main forum page. You have here 3 options, Everywhere (recommended), Threads, This Forum.
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Everywhere: This one is self-explanatory; it searches in the whole forum.
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Threads: searches on the threads that are on that forum section (not including subsections).
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This Forum: Searches in that whole forum section including its subsections.
  
[[File:usb2.png]]
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Title Only (Green): Simple enough, if you check the box you will see the results matching your search with the titles of the threads and not the content.
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If you don’t check the box your search will bring every thread that has what you searched on the title or in the thread content in any post.
  
=== Search Results ===
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Member (blue): This box is optional, if you want to search for threads of a specific user type his name in this box.
  
'''This will search in the whole forum post/thread that got the words "Bone Blades". It will give you a high rate of search right, and maybe it will be hard to find or read all those thread. Maybe there are thread where people is buying or selling or just nothing that we need.'''
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Search (White): Pressing this button or pressing enter is the same thing, this will start the search.
  
[[File:usb3.png]]
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Advanced Search / Filters (Purple): this is another optional thing for narrowing down the search. Later in this guide I will teach you how it’s used.
  
* '''So there is another easy way to do it and more specific, let's come back to our control panel.'''
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Normal Search Procedure:
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In this example I want to find the forum rules thread.
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Type in the search bar what you are looking for, “forum rules”
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If I’m in a subsection of the forum I will set the constraint to Everywhere
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I know that a lot of threads contain the words Forum Rules in it’s content so I wil check the box that says Search title Only.
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I know for a fact that the thread in question is made by @Djinny I could fill that box or not, the thread I’m looking it’s going to pop in the search results either way.
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Now we press enter or the search button and we have our thread in the results for sure, if not try being more specific on your search bar.
  
* '''Now let's click "Advanced Search", there will appear a window like this.'''
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[[File:BOHmZ7E.png]]
  
[[File:usb4.png]]
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[[File:OL1CDRs.png]]
  
=== The 2 Sub-Windows ===
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Advanced Search Procedure:
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Once you’ve clicked the search bar or the search icon go and click the Advanced Search or Filter Button and you will encounter with [[ https://forum.infinitymu.net/search/|this page]].
  
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[[File:VYFH4Gc.png]]
  
* '''There will be 2 sub-windows (Search Single Content Type and Search Multiple Content Types).'''
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In this first tab you have your classic search with the addition of searching by date where it says “Newer than:” there you can select a date and the search result will show only threads newer than the date you’ve selected.
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This is the same for Profile Posts tab.
  
[[File:usb5.png]]
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Search Thread Tab:
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You use this when you want to search a specific thread in a specific place.
  
* '''The best way to search and find what we need is Search Single Content Type. If you click it a sub-window will open and you will see something like this.'''
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[[File:HqB3Cw0.png]]
  
[[File:usb6.png]]
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ll the first part it’s already explained in this guide.
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Minimum number of replies (Red): Here you can set the minimum number of replies that the thread you are looking fore has. Default Value is 0
  
* '''Now let's search again "Bone Blade". We have Additional Options to search like "Search in Forum (s):", this is the most important part of the search. We have to have an idea where we want to search. So if I want to search any News about "Bone Blade" I'll select News&Information, If I need a guide I'll select Guides or Items Guides. So in this case, let's search in Help Section, we select it and click "Search'''
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Prefixes (Orange): [/B] Set here if you are searching for threads with a specific prefix. Default Value is Any.
  
[[File:usb7.png]]
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Search in forums (Yellow): Here you set the place where to look for, you can also check the box that says “Search sub-forums as well” this will look for sub-forums within the main forum you’ve selected before, if not it will search only in the forum you’ve selected.
  
=== Search Results on Advanced Search ===
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Order By (Green): Here you choose if you want to view the threads, “Date” will show the results from newer to older, “Most replies” will show the results from most popular to less popular according to number of replies the thread has.
  
* '''And here you go, the rate of search is lower than before and you will see only threads about problems with Bone Blades.'''
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Display results as threads (blue): This will show you, if you check it, the results as threads, meaning that if the content matches your search in many posts of a thread only 1 result will show up (the thread where a post has matched), instead of showing the same thread multiple times but with different posts.
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This only works if you have the box “Search titles only” unchecked.
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Here you can see the difference of this option checked and unchecked for the same search:
  
[[File:usb8.png]]
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[[File:3fUQL2A.png]]
  
  
=== The Tag Cloud ===
 
 
 
* '''Now that we are promoting the way to use Tags in threads.'''
 
 
* '''There is another easy way to search if we put a correct and helped Tag in the thread. You have to click again Advanced Search, and all you have to do is scroll down and you will see something like this. Search Tag Cloud.'''
 
 
* '''If we use it in the correct way there will be a good tag that will direct us to a specific thread.'''
 
 
[[File:usb9.png]]
 
  
 
[[Category:Forum & Web Guides]]
 
[[Category:Forum & Web Guides]]

Revision as of 07:58, 28 September 2021

The InfinityMU Forum has two different ways in which you can find yur information faster and easier.

The top menu has 2 icons similar to a magnifying glass that has this function:

FjEZOHJ.png

Both work the same way but it’s displayed a bit different, still they both have the same functionality. I’ve color coded it for make it easier to see the similarities and later explain what does each thing.

W2kdIsb.png

1st of all, what is this function for? Well, it’s for searching ofc. But what can you search and why would you use it? Let’s say you want to create a new thread, you have to check first if that thread isn’t already created, if there’s nothing like it great, start that new thread. What if the thread is created but incomplete or you want to add something? Just post on it. What? That thread is closed? No problem, ask a moderator to open it for you explaining why you want that thread open. Another use let’s say you want to know how something is done, you can use the search bar to search that specific thing quick and easy. Another use can be for example that you know that a certain thread exists, but you don’t remember where is located, use the search bar to locate it.

Extremely nice that search bar, but how the hell it works? Don’t panic! I’m here to help. What does each thing of the search function? Search Bar (Red): Here you type what you want to search ex “Forum Rules”. Note: Words with less or equal to 3 characters don’t get processed by the search function.

Constraints (Orange): This option only appears if you are in a subforum, does not show up on the main forum page. You have here 3 options, Everywhere (recommended), Threads, This Forum. Everywhere: This one is self-explanatory; it searches in the whole forum. Threads: searches on the threads that are on that forum section (not including subsections). This Forum: Searches in that whole forum section including its subsections.

Title Only (Green): Simple enough, if you check the box you will see the results matching your search with the titles of the threads and not the content. If you don’t check the box your search will bring every thread that has what you searched on the title or in the thread content in any post.

Member (blue): This box is optional, if you want to search for threads of a specific user type his name in this box.

Search (White): Pressing this button or pressing enter is the same thing, this will start the search.

Advanced Search / Filters (Purple): this is another optional thing for narrowing down the search. Later in this guide I will teach you how it’s used.

Normal Search Procedure: In this example I want to find the forum rules thread. Type in the search bar what you are looking for, “forum rules” If I’m in a subsection of the forum I will set the constraint to Everywhere I know that a lot of threads contain the words Forum Rules in it’s content so I wil check the box that says Search title Only. I know for a fact that the thread in question is made by @Djinny I could fill that box or not, the thread I’m looking it’s going to pop in the search results either way. Now we press enter or the search button and we have our thread in the results for sure, if not try being more specific on your search bar.

BOHmZ7E.png

OL1CDRs.png

Advanced Search Procedure: Once you’ve clicked the search bar or the search icon go and click the Advanced Search or Filter Button and you will encounter with [[ https://forum.infinitymu.net/search/%7Cthis page]].

VYFH4Gc.png

In this first tab you have your classic search with the addition of searching by date where it says “Newer than:” there you can select a date and the search result will show only threads newer than the date you’ve selected. This is the same for Profile Posts tab.

Search Thread Tab: You use this when you want to search a specific thread in a specific place.

HqB3Cw0.png

ll the first part it’s already explained in this guide. Minimum number of replies (Red): Here you can set the minimum number of replies that the thread you are looking fore has. Default Value is 0

Prefixes (Orange): [/B] Set here if you are searching for threads with a specific prefix. Default Value is Any.

Search in forums (Yellow): Here you set the place where to look for, you can also check the box that says “Search sub-forums as well” this will look for sub-forums within the main forum you’ve selected before, if not it will search only in the forum you’ve selected.

Order By (Green): Here you choose if you want to view the threads, “Date” will show the results from newer to older, “Most replies” will show the results from most popular to less popular according to number of replies the thread has.

Display results as threads (blue): This will show you, if you check it, the results as threads, meaning that if the content matches your search in many posts of a thread only 1 result will show up (the thread where a post has matched), instead of showing the same thread multiple times but with different posts. This only works if you have the box “Search titles only” unchecked. Here you can see the difference of this option checked and unchecked for the same search:

3fUQL2A.png