Author Topic: Does the search box in this forum ever work?  (Read 3013 times)

Unionville

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Does the search box in this forum ever work?
« on: December 27, 2016, 04:58:28 PM »
Am I the only one who has never been able to get a response from the "search" function in this forum?  I usually get an error page, and the few times I actually get a result it's for about 1 item.  It's really disappointing because I'd like to look up different topics that might  have already been discussed.  In case it matters:  I'm using osx macbook air Yosemite.  I've also tried 3 browsers.

Here is the result for "recipes" (of which I know there are many posts about).

tralfamadorian

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Re: Does the search box in this forum ever work?
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2016, 05:00:27 PM »
It's never worked properly for me either.  I do google searches to search through the forum ie-

real estate site:forum.mrmoneymustache.com

khangaroo

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Re: Does the search box in this forum ever work?
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2016, 05:21:50 PM »
I've found that you have to keep it simple (only a few words) but if you do that then you get a massive amount of searches.

It worked today when I was trying to find a thread about other MMM's checking account balance so the only term I used was "checking" and BOOM it showed up with the exact thread that I was looking for. YMMV

omega13

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Re: Does the search box in this forum ever work?
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2016, 06:02:08 PM »
It's never worked properly for me either.  I do google searches to search through the forum ie-

real estate site:forum.mrmoneymustache.com

Same here. Except I automate by doing the following:

Firefox
1. Disable search suggestions to only look at bookmarks.



2. Create a bookmark as follows:

Location: https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Aforum.mrmoneymustache.com+%2B
Tags: mm (or whatever you want.)



3. To perform searches, type mm in the address bar, followed by TAB.



4. Now enter the keywords as you would in a google search e.g. landlord OR in quotes as "real estate". Then hit ENTER. You should see the following.



5. Profit!


Chrome (much simpler.)

Just create a custom search engine with a search URL of:

https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Aforum.mrmoneymustache.com+%2B%s


I don't know why Mozilla has complicated the custom search engine creation in Firefox. The bookmark solution above is the simplest one I've found.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2016, 06:20:07 PM by omega13 »

Unionville

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Re: Does the search box in this forum ever work?
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2016, 08:28:15 PM »
Omega13 -- THANKS for the detailed info.

Lews Therin

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Re: Does the search box in this forum ever work?
« Reply #5 on: December 28, 2016, 12:54:43 AM »
There is a post in the FAQ with an explanation for why the search doesn't work (The forum has gotten too big)

This shows you how to search, you just need to use the advanced version and target the specific portions you're looking for.

http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/forum-information-faqs/the-forum-'search'-feature/

Dicey

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Re: Does the search box in this forum ever work?
« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2016, 09:17:06 AM »
A couple of other ways to find things:

Click on your own name, then on "show posts" to find threads you've commented on.

If you know whose post you're looking for, find their name, click on it and scroll through their posts.

Neither of these methods are foolproof, just other things to try.

Also, I think it helps if you can search within the correct topic. Don't look for something that was in "Taxes" from "Ask A Mustachian". Although, if you can't find something, how the hell are you supposed to know what topic to search within?

I think MMM never expected the Forum, or the Blog for that matter, to become the monsters they have. Lack of searchability underscores that feeling. A little better organization would go a long way, but, hey, it's a free site, right? I'm thankful for what there is.

 

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