We've updated the search function

thingamaBob

heatherw_01 said:

Search doesn't work at all now. Takes forever then gives this error

Search service: cURL error 28: Operation timed out after 25000 milliseconds with 0 bytes received (see https://curl.haxx.se/libcurl/c/libcurl-errors.html) for https://int-yul1-vanillasearch-prod1-elasticsearch.v-fabric.net/{{idx:category}},{{idx:discussion}},{{idx:comment}}/_search?ignore_unavailable=true

Working OK for me following the steps I posted above.

remote_control

I can't seem to search the competitions board like we used to a couple of years ago, it seems to search the whole site. I used to search the board e.g. 'holiday'.

For me, it means I cannot easily use the competition forum any more

Abbafan1972

I have tried the search function and managed to figure out the filtering to search a certain category as above.  But if I click on a post, when I've finished looking at that, if I want to go back to search results, I click "back" on my browser and it resets everything and deletes my criteria. 

Is there a way of going back to my search results, so I don't lose what category and everything I want to look at?

Sorry if I've not explained that very well!  I can't see the changes as an improvement at all. 

thingamaBob

Abbafan1972 said:

I have tried the search function and managed to figure out the filtering to search a certain category as above.  But if I click on a post, when I've finished looking at that, if I want to go back to search results, I click "back" on my browser and it resets everything and deletes my criteria. 

Is there a way of going back to my search results, so I don't lose what category and everything I want to look at?

Sorry if I've not explained that very well!  I can't see the changes as an improvement at all. 

Instead of just clicking on a result to open it you need to open it in a new tab. 
Have you read through the thread in Compers Chat Corner? A number of problems highlighted (including this one) and a few tips.https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6289028/new-search/p1

KeithP

Abbafan1972 said:

I have tried the search function and managed to figure out the filtering to search a certain category as above.  But if I click on a post, when I've finished looking at that, if I want to go back to search results, I click "back" on my browser and it resets everything and deletes my criteria. 

Is there a way of going back to my search results, so I don't lose what category and everything I want to look at?

Sorry if I've not explained that very well!  I can't see the changes as an improvement at all. 

You have explained the problem very well.

It is a reasonable expectation that when using the browsers back function, one is taken back to the previous screen.

If, for example, one uses Google to search for anything then we are usually presented with a long list of possibilities.
Clicking back returns us to the search results list, not back to asking for all the search criteria again.

In other words, it would certainly be good for this forum's search facility to retain all search arguments that have been previously supplied by the user. It makes little sense to do otherwise.

In fact, all it needs to do is redisplay the previous screen when back is clicked. Instead it takes a significant time processing the 'null' search arguments and showing a results list which is of no interest to anyone.

Blulu

Yeah, I agree. I do get that some here use work arounds to get, more or less, what they want from the search. I am not savvy with things like that and I don't use search enough to get used to work arounds. I need it to be simple to use, to get the right results and to be able to sort those results in useful ways. I wish it followed the standard searching from popular sites like Google, as KeithP says above.

MSE-Laura-F has posted an update here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78588430/#Comment_78588430

Blu XXX

MSE_James

You should find that using the 'back' button to return to a search results page works better now. 

Blulu

I posted in Site Feedback on the 8th asking if it would be possible to have an update on how things are progressing re the search issues. I know there have been some changes made, but I am hoping that this isn't as good as it's going to get?

I am now able to use a get-around for searching, thanks to this post: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78682499/#Comment_78682499

The trouble is that there are bound to old and new users who won't see that post, and I doubt that many will work out for themselves all the steps it takes to get the right results out of the search.

We were told that the search issues should be fixed by the end of July. That's why some of us are wondering if the way it is now is what MSE think of as being 'sorted'. I don't mean to be mean. It's just hard to keep waiting and hoping for it to be sorted. So an update would be really helpful, even if just to confirm whether you are/aren't still working on it.

Thanks and best wishes

Blu XXX

westv

When I search on a single word I get a number of results in random date order. When I then select to out them in date order it tells me there are no results!

MSE_Laura_F

Hello @westv. Thank you for this. It's one of the glitches our Product team is aware of and I'm waiting on an update to find out when it can be sorted. We'll make sure to post as soon as we hear of any progress.