![$vboptions[bbtitle]](../../gifs/tdpr-headTRANS.gif)
TDPRI
January 12th, 2012, 06:04 PM
Searching on the TDPRI is a pretty massive topic to try to help with. So, I'm going to break this up over time. So, here's part 1.
Which Search to use?
The TDPRI has a number of ways to initiate a search. There is the main Search link on the main menubar above, then there is the "Search Forum" option on each individual forum index page. And lastly, there is the "Search Thread" option when you are inside a thread.
http://www.tdpri.com/gifs/help/menubarsearch.jpg
As you would expect, the search on the main menubar searches the entire forum website (all forums). The Forum Search searches only in that forum and Thread Search only searches within that thread.
Search isn't perfect
Besides that there are some oddities of our search system. First, it is limited in what it can find with abbreviations. So searching for a "66 lpb tele" could bring you pretty lousy results. The search engine doesn't like 2 and 3 letter words. So, you can't ask it things like "my blue amp" and get much if anything. Even if you put those exact words in a post this morning.
But lets leave that alone right now. We hope to fix this one of these days. It's not for lack of trying. Just lack of success.
Google Custom Site Search
For better search results without the limitations above, you can search using Google's massive search engine by conducting your search from the main menubar and using the Google Custom Site Search function.
http://www.tdpri.com/gifs/help/googlesearch.jpg
This works very well and only searches the TDPRI in Google. But Google has over 500,000 threads indexed so you get good results.
Limiting Search results to Posts not threads
Available on the Search link on the main menubar (or if you click on Advanced Search) you can select either Threads or Posts.
http://www.tdpri.com/gifs/help/searchpoststhreads.jpg
Searching threads can be daunting because you have no idea what post to look for. However, If you select "Posts" you'll see results as a listing of posts that contain your info. Don't click on the Thread title, but the post content just below it. You'll see that the first few words are a link. That link takes you to the exact post that has your result in it.
http://www.tdpri.com/gifs/help/postsearch.jpg
Using Advanced Search to search in Thread Titles only
If you want to search for words in a Thread title only -- which is a helpful way to search -- you have to click on Advanced Search and then select the "Search Titles Only" box in the drop down window.
http://www.tdpri.com/gifs/help/titlesonly.jpg
Using Advanced Search to search by Username only
If you know the username of the poster that's posted something you can use the Advanced Search to look only for Posts or Threads by that user. You'll see a drop down box for the options of searching their posts or their threads.
http://www.tdpri.com/gifs/help/searchusername.jpg
Usernames can be tricky to get right - as you type you'll see a list of relevant usernames to chose from.
Whew, that's a lot of topics to cover. That should help a little for most new users. We'll revisit this help subject at a later date.
Which Search to use?
The TDPRI has a number of ways to initiate a search. There is the main Search link on the main menubar above, then there is the "Search Forum" option on each individual forum index page. And lastly, there is the "Search Thread" option when you are inside a thread.
http://www.tdpri.com/gifs/help/menubarsearch.jpg
As you would expect, the search on the main menubar searches the entire forum website (all forums). The Forum Search searches only in that forum and Thread Search only searches within that thread.
Search isn't perfect
Besides that there are some oddities of our search system. First, it is limited in what it can find with abbreviations. So searching for a "66 lpb tele" could bring you pretty lousy results. The search engine doesn't like 2 and 3 letter words. So, you can't ask it things like "my blue amp" and get much if anything. Even if you put those exact words in a post this morning.
But lets leave that alone right now. We hope to fix this one of these days. It's not for lack of trying. Just lack of success.
Google Custom Site Search
For better search results without the limitations above, you can search using Google's massive search engine by conducting your search from the main menubar and using the Google Custom Site Search function.
http://www.tdpri.com/gifs/help/googlesearch.jpg
This works very well and only searches the TDPRI in Google. But Google has over 500,000 threads indexed so you get good results.
Limiting Search results to Posts not threads
Available on the Search link on the main menubar (or if you click on Advanced Search) you can select either Threads or Posts.
http://www.tdpri.com/gifs/help/searchpoststhreads.jpg
Searching threads can be daunting because you have no idea what post to look for. However, If you select "Posts" you'll see results as a listing of posts that contain your info. Don't click on the Thread title, but the post content just below it. You'll see that the first few words are a link. That link takes you to the exact post that has your result in it.
http://www.tdpri.com/gifs/help/postsearch.jpg
Using Advanced Search to search in Thread Titles only
If you want to search for words in a Thread title only -- which is a helpful way to search -- you have to click on Advanced Search and then select the "Search Titles Only" box in the drop down window.
http://www.tdpri.com/gifs/help/titlesonly.jpg
Using Advanced Search to search by Username only
If you know the username of the poster that's posted something you can use the Advanced Search to look only for Posts or Threads by that user. You'll see a drop down box for the options of searching their posts or their threads.
http://www.tdpri.com/gifs/help/searchusername.jpg
Usernames can be tricky to get right - as you type you'll see a list of relevant usernames to chose from.
Whew, that's a lot of topics to cover. That should help a little for most new users. We'll revisit this help subject at a later date.