Search Engine, Ambigous searching, weak topic filter, etc. Options

[Squeakurs]

The Problem

Here lately I've been adding stuff to my game and looking around for things, and as such my best friend has been the Search Engine in the RPG XP Scripts section.

Unfortunately, there is a problem.

I've noticed that the search engine does not, in fact, search more than it simply re-displays all of the topics (submissions, requests, the whole shabang) on one screen, meaning it doesn't filter out topics very well, and most of the results are ambiguous to the search criteria, or do not even cover the search criteria at all.

The Test

Now, you may be thinking that my search topics are not specific enough... well I decided to conduct a test to be double sure something might be up.

(1) I searched for the following sets of terms:

[Show/Hide] The list

Here are random search topics

"Jump"
"Swimming script"
"Icons"
"Menu Icons
"Splash Screen" (This one did pretty well)
"weapons"
"custom weapon system"

Here are focused search topics varying in complexity

"Class"
"Custom Battle"
"Custom Class"
"Custom Battle Results"
"Custom Class System"
"Custom Battle Results Screen"
"Class System"
"Battle Results Screen"
"Modified Class System"
"Battle Results"
"Unique Class System
"Battle"
"Custom Classes"

(2) All (except the one marked) of these search criteria returned to me a conglomeration of both submission topics and request topics (which is fine), but what got me was how around 75% of the search results were completely irrelevant topics such as "Skill Shop" , "Law's Custom Save System" , "Ending Credits Script" , "Kingdom Hearts Title Screen" , "Visualizer XP Online" and etc. (I could list more, but why don't you check out for yourself?)

Note that when viewing the search results, I went as deep as the 5th page of results, even though there were more than that.

Some of these topics didn't even discuss the search criteria, and some didn't even use words from the search criteria. I thought maybe it was displaying Hot Topics first, regardless of relevancy, but several topics are not even a decent display of a "lukewarm" topic, much less a hot one ( pun).

I know that this may be a minor issue, but with as much (forgive me for the bluntness) complaining about people not using the search engine, I'm beginning to see why they neglect it sometimes.

The Request

I simply would find it neat if the search results were more refined and/or there was a bit of a better filter that held back most of the irrelevant topics.

This post has been edited by Squeakurs: May 7 2010, 05:08 PM

[Scriptless]

The search in this forum is quite primitive all it does is searching EVERY GOD DAMN LITTLE WORLD in each topic. Because of this, the topic you actually want may not show up at like the first few pages.

[Amy Pond]

I'd argue that your results are actually too relevant - to what you typed in. Search works by not reading your mind, but reading which posts have those words in. There isn't really anything that can be done.

You can however fine tune your results if you click "search" at the top:

- search full text, or topic titles only (or just text)
- search subforums, or untick to not search them
- advance keyword usage help is useful


I'm guessing you somehow haven't seen this page o.O since most of your post is answered on it.

http://www.rpgrevolution.com/forums/index.php?act=Search



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[Squeakurs]

facepalm.jpg

Yeah, I haven't found that page until just now lol.

And now I feel like quite the un-observant one, but hey I guess now I know how to search lol

Much thanks, Wyatt!

[Guest_From_Ariel_*]

wow awesome call Wyatt i couldn't have done it better

as a matter of fact very likely i would have been worse...