**SEARCH FAULT - NOW SOLVED** - After FIFTEEN days everything is now OK

One-Eye

New posts created from 4am 25/10 to 4am today are not being returned in Search Results.

An example in Site Feedback is the "Stretchy?" thread (just below this thread) which was posted 11:27pm 25/10. Suitable search terms that should show this thread are stretchy sunglasses headaches

A better example is on Competitions Time. Searching for "win" should return almost every thread. Taking only threads with no replies, there is a gap from 03:57am 25/10 to just after 4am this morning. There should be hundreds of threads with "win" between these two that search does not find.

Former_MSE_Andrea

Just checking this now One-Eye.

Former_MSE_Andrea

I've tested the same search as you for Competitions Time and it's working for me - I can see posts made between the times you've given.

Search parameters I used (using the advanced search) were:

Keyword: "win"
Search: Titles only (switched from "search entire posts")
Boards searched: Competitions Time and child forums

A large number of people searching for the same term around the same time can sometimes cause this. I suspect that may be what happened for you.

Hope that helps

One-Eye

Andrea - The fault is real and still exists

I can also find the "win" threads if I select "Search Titles Only", but this is not good enough - I want to search the contents of the thread.

On Competitions Time, try searching for bauerweb which does not appear in any titles.
These threads in the "blank" period should all be found, but none are.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5914888/e-26-10-9am-15-entries-win-2-000-borders
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5914889/e-26-10-6am-6pm-15-entries-win-000-n-scotland-only
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5914890/e-26-10-6am-to-6pm-30-entries-win-3-000-dd-ph-ky-postcodes
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5914891/e-26-10-6am-to-6pm-30-entries-win-2-000-ab-dd9-dd10-only

Also with the "Stretchy?" thread in Site Feedback, how can you search the title for sunglasses ?

Search is also failing to find threads in that period if you search by username. Midnighter, JamboDP, One-Eye all posted multiple threads on Competitions Time during the relevant period and search finds none of them.

A large number of people searching for the same term around the same time can sometimes cause this. I suspect that may be what happened for you.

I totally reject this argument - I spent a lot of time researching the problem before reporting it here.

One-Eye

FAULT GETTING WORSE - NEW INFORMATION

All new threads posted from early morning 26/10 to early morning 27/10 are now also missing from search results, so now two full days of threads can not be found by search - from approx 4am 25/10 to 4am 27/10.

Note that the newly missing threads could be found by search throughout yesterday and into the early hours of 27/10, but now they can not be found. Even this thread is now invisible to search.

Speculation for MSE's IT boffins
Some systems have a two stage process for searching. New posts are indexed in a temporary search tree, and an overnight batch process transfers these to, and rebuilds a permanent search tree. The temporary tree is then cleared for the next day. The search function looks through both trees to produce results.

I suspect the MSE forum works like this and the batch process runs sometime between 3am and 4am each night, and the temporary search tree is being cleared but the permanent search tree has not been rebuilt during the previous two nights.

I suspect that if nothing is done, today's threads will disappear from search results overnight.

One-Eye

Another day's threads have disappeared from search results - now three days missing.

One-Eye

Another day's threads have disappeared from search results - now four days missing.

One-Eye

Another day's threads have disappeared from search results - now five days missing.

Former_MSE_Andrea

Thanks One-Eye.

Just to add to my post on the other thread, my colleagues are investigating but it appears to affect a very small number of people.

One-Eye

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

it appears to affect a very small number of people.

It is not working for everyone I have been in touch with. It doesn't even work if you are logged off.

I may believe you if you can show someone who can find the following using Search.

1) On Site Feedback (f=50) search sunglasses
... in the top 3 results should be "Stretchy?" https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5914879/stretchy

2) On Credit Cards (f=11) search wannabe
... in the top 3 results should be Annb's "25,000+ in credit card debt" https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5915914/25-000-in-credit-card-debt

3) On Competitions Time (f=72) search vaccines
... in the top 3 results should be chloeadkins "Win Killing Joke Tickets" https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5916577/e-10-11-win-killing-joke-tickets-email

Just to add to my post on the other thread

Try going to Compers Chat Corner (f=215) and search by username MSE Andrea
It doesn't find the thread in question https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5915066/search-fault-after-fifteen-days-this-is-now-solved
(Your post is #16)

toniq

I comp from where I have previously left off but if I do look at what One-eye has posted above I can't see any of the examples given.


This happened a few years ago too if I recall correctly.


With hundreds of advent competitions soon descending upon us this is the worst time for this too have happened.


Hope it gets sorted soon, thanks One-eye for spotting the issue.


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