Search (dys)function??

CloWithTheFlow23

Has anyone else noticed that the search function (both versions) is now looking for segments of URL's rather than the complete link?

This means that results are coming back with all posts that include a word, such as 'giveaway' or 'page' and the only way to find an exact match is via the 'Best Match' option. 

Ok I suppose for unique comps but tricky for repeating ones....

Am slightly concerned that this will lead to more dupes.

(This has only just started happening in the last few days or so)

CloWithTheFlow23

Commenting to 'bump' the thread....

One-Eye

Search had an update on 24/04 - the first stage of a multi-stage upgrade.

The main change that effects Competitions Time is the searching of and within URLs. It used to work best enclosing your search term within quotation marks, but now it only works without them.

Searching a domain - do not use quotes

www.deliaonline.com finds 87 results - the first 3 of which are live.

"www.deliaonline.com" finds No Results

Searching a full URL - do not use quotes - leave off the https://

www.deliaonline.com/competitions/make-your-tea-time-fabulous-with-our-cath-kidston-competition

accurately finds the one relevant thread.

Use quotes for multiple word strings

"how many large eggs" 
 
accurately finds the same thread from the previous example

CloWithTheFlow23

Thanks @One-Eye but there's something else going on that's started happening much more recently.

For example, I just tried to search for the latest Sunday Times Where Was I? comp, using the up to date url without quotes, it didn't come up at all using either search box. The only way I could locate it was by going to Etch's profile.

Trying not to dupe myself whilst catching up on a weeks worth of comps so have been searching today and noticed something weird going on....

One-Eye

These worked well to find Etch's ST Where Was I comps:

"where was i?"
www.thetimes.co.uk
www.thetimes.co.uk/travel/

This works, but not as well as above due to finding other comps with "travel" in
www.thetimes.co.uk/travel/where-was-i

It's tricky and annoying trying to get a handle on Search's foibles. I may post a guide once all the upgrades have been implemented and are working.

____________________________________________________________________________
The following is a note for my own future reference:
(www.thetimes.co.uk/travel/where-was-i) see that "was" not in bold thus not being searched, also note different treatment of punctuation marks (./-) and spaces with/without quotes - needs testing outside a URL for proof.

CloWithTheFlow23

One-Eye said:

Search had an update on 24/04 - the first stage of a multi-stage upgrade.

The main change that effects Competitions Time is the searching of and within URLs. It used to work best enclosing your search term within quotation marks, but now it only works without them.

Searching a domain - do not use quotes

www.deliaonline.com finds 87 results - the first 3 of which are live.

"www.deliaonline.com" finds No Results

Searching a full URL - do not use quotes - leave off the https://

www.deliaonline.com/competitions/make-your-tea-time-fabulous-with-our-cath-kidston-competition

accurately finds the one relevant thread.

Use quotes for multiple word strings

"how many large eggs" 
 
accurately finds the same thread from the previous example

Thank you so much. 

Now I have read this properly, removing the https:// has sorted my issue!

CloWithTheFlow23

One-Eye said:

These worked well to find Etch's ST Where Was I comps:

"where was i?"
www.thetimes.co.uk
www.thetimes.co.uk/travel/

This works, but not as well as above due to finding other comps with "travel" in
www.thetimes.co.uk/travel/where-was-i

It's tricky and annoying trying to get a handle on Search's foibles. I may post a guide once all the upgrades have been implemented and are working.

____________________________________________________________________________
The following is a note for my own future reference:
(www.thetimes.co.uk/travel/where-was-i) see that "was" not in bold thus not being searched, also note different treatment of punctuation marks (./-) and spaces with/without quotes - needs testing outside a URL for proof.

A guide to Search function would be a most invaluable tool indeed ❤