Question for my learned 0's and 1's friends

[Ozz]

When I search for something, how do you do a multiple query? Like maybe I want Batteries, solar, 6 volt, maybe a brand; Trojan. like that.
Now I just put in 6 volt Golf cart batteries and take what it gives me.
Not a good example but I am wanting to search multiple things.
Do you put something in-between words?
Thanks, Ozz

[bncinwv]

Ozz,
I use commas, but I don't think it really matters, the key is what you select for the search terms. Match all words, match any words, or match exact phrase. For instance I did a search for "hughes, autoformer" and selected each of the three search terms separately and got three sets of different results. Hope this helps.
Bingo

[Ozz]

Well, it does, but isn't there a way to do it on like Google, that gets multiple results?
Maybe it is the commas, I just don't know.

[BB_TX]

A google type search? Or a forum search?
For a google search, I don't think it matters. The search will be for all words listed and in no particular order. UNLESS. If you put the words inside quotation marks, it will only search for the exact phrase.
I sometimes use individual words in combination with words in quotes to narrow down the search and minimize the hits.
Another tool is to use a minus sign. If you get a lot of hits with a certain word or words that are not relevent to what you want, then put those words in the search box also with a minus sign in front of each one. Then it will exclude those hits.

[doofus]

It's funny. Not too many forums have "advanced" search functions. IP.Board allows the use of the "-" (not) in a search. phpBB lets you use AND, OR, and NOT. SMF (my favorite) has the same basic search that we have here.

On edit, a search for "learned friends" would not even return this thread. Bummer. Take that, Ozz!

I guess in a really big database, a complex search could eat up resources. In a shared environment like MOC's forum, the host may restrict the type of search allowed. Or the admins could, depending on how much authority the vendor grants them.

Hey Admins, a suggestion! If you could increase the number of searches returned on a page, it would be easier to scan through them. Right now we're limited to ten on a page.

[Ozz]

OK, good answers, appreciate it.
I just always assume everyone but me knows how to do something, so I ask..

[Montana_9856]

The "Search" function is broken and continues to be so. Until it starts working, I doubt anything will be done. It is hard to tell what keyword matching operands do what given the current situation.

[racerjoe]

Ozz, try this : Batteries+solar+6volt+Trojan

and you should get something like below. I did this on Google. Hope it helps.


Trojan L-16 Deep Cycle Battery - Solar Electric Supply

[Ozz]

quote:Originally posted by racerjoe

Ozz, try this : Batteries+solar+6volt+Trojan

and you should get something like below. I did this on Google. Hope it helps.


Trojan L-16 Deep Cycle Battery - Solar Electric Supply

Thank you! That is what I was looking for.

[racerjoe]

Every once in a while I hit one.