Tips on using ASF's search function

[rederob]

G'day Joe,

For some extra functionality on the search for stocks, can there be a search stock threads only check box?
Or similar

An example is; a ticker of MAY.
A search of thread title only using MAY brings numerous irrelevant hits such as competition pages.

I think I found the stock thread at the bottom of the third search page, despite it probably being the most MAY titled thread posted in.
So even most recent postings threads can be way off in the bowels of the search abyss.

Or perhaps a sort by most recent posting check box?
I dunno, but in this case I could remember the ticker was Melbana, so searched that instead.

Cheers.

I have the same issue searching for "Gold".

 

[Joe Blow]

G'day Joe,

For some extra functionality on the search for stocks, can there be a search stock threads only check box?
Or similar

An example is; a ticker of MAY.
A search of thread title only using MAY brings numerous irrelevant hits such as competition pages.

I think I found the stock thread at the bottom of the third search page, despite it probably being the most MAY titled thread posted in.
So even most recent postings threads can be way off in the bowels of the search abyss.

Or perhaps a sort by most recent posting check box?
I dunno, but in this case I could remember the ticker was Melbana, so searched that instead.

Cheers.

The solution to your problem is the "Title Only Search". See below. I have checked the box in the screenshot for illustration purposes.



99.9% of my searches are title only searches because I am always looking for threads so i search for keywords in the thread title and I always instantly get the results I am after. Just put "MAY" in the search box, check the "Search titles only" box and click search. The "Mayne Group" thread will be the first result returned.

I only use the regular search when I am looking for something someone has posted in a specific post, and these searches will almost always be accompanied by the forum member's username which is entered where it says "Member" in the screenshot above. This will search for a particular word or phrase posted by that specific member.

See where it says "Everywhere" in the screenshot above? If you click that and are searching from within a thread, you'll see the following:



You can use those options to further refine your search so you are only searching particular areas of the forum. You can even search for something within the thread you are viewing.

The search is more powerful than people sometimes give it credit for, but like all search engines you have to tinker with the options to make the most of it. If you click "Advanced Search" you get a whole array of other options.

Spend some time with the search. It wants to be your friend, but you have to explore it fully to really understand it and get the most out of it.

 

[frugal.rock]

The solution to your problem is the "Title Only Search".

I didn't mention it, but ~ 99.9% of my searches are title only searches, with the check box ticked. The example was a title only search.

99.9% of my searches are title only searches

It seems to be the common search preference.

Can the title only search be checked by default ?
Not sure if that's easy or not.

Just put "MAY" in the search box, check the "Search titles only" box and click search. The "Mayne Group" thread will be the first result returned.

My exact process.
Only issue, I wasn't searching for Mayne Group. ?
Or any May monthly competition threads.

An example is; a ticker of MAY.
A search of thread title only using MAY brings numerous irrelevant hits such as competition pages.

in this case I could remember the ticker was Melbana

My apologies for incorrect terminology, the ticker code was MAY, company name Melbana.

I guess, my thoughts are, on a stock forum, I would think a title only search would default to displaying stock ticker code threads first, followed by most recent instance of that search string etc

Spend some time with the search. It wants to be your friend,

I only know one Dave at the moment.
I'm gonna name my new friend "Ser Dave Sergio" ?

 

[Joe Blow]

I understand your concerns. Searching can sometimes be tricky, especially for ASX codes like MAY and AND. In these cases I just search thread titles for company names. The challenges can be overcome with creatine thinking.

The problem is that no matter what I do to change it some users are going to be unhappy. For example, if I pre-check the "Search titles only", I will have some users posting in this thread saying, "Your search is broken, it is only searching thread titles not post content." I don't mean this as an insult to anyone, but most people don't read detail. Take the monthly competition, almost nobody reads the rules. I guarantee you that with a pre-checked "Search titles only" checkbox, some people would not read the text next to the checkbox.

Do you use the Advanced Search at all? Or is it too much hassle to navigate to a dedicated search page?

 

[Joe Blow]

Just another approach I mentioned briefly in my post the other night. If you click into the "Stocks I-P" forum and the search for "MAY" like this:



You will get these results:



By clicking into the relevant forum and selecting "This forum" as the area you wish to search, you will not get all the MAY competition threads. Just another tactic to get more focused results with an extra click.

 

[frugal.rock]

Do you use the Advanced Search at all? Or is it too much hassle to navigate to a dedicated search page?

I usually just use goggle site search... unless already logged in to the site.
Thanks Joe, I appreciate your efforts.