Thinkpads Forum

Doesn't support 'search for exact string'?

I want to search for the exact phrase "boot block".

I don't want boot OR block. And I don't want boot AND block (the two words potentially very far apart).

I want the exact phrase "boot block".

But so far as I can tell the Search function does not support this. Google does of course, and I would expect the PHP modules out of which this is built (and have become increasingly standard for a roll-your-own forum) could. But it may be that you need a tweak to a given module; turn some property on; or a completely different module.

thanx.

pat

try selecting "search for all terms" and use "boot block" in the search field..

Just to clarify, be sure to use the quotation marks at the beginning and end of the string that you are trying to search.

No just tried it again with the same results

put "boot block" (with quotes) in Search for Keywords.

select "search for all terms".

In the resulting responses I see many highlighted "boot" only's. I.e. it's split the string apart and found components.

Try it for yourself and see what you get.

pat

Odd, as I have used this function before and I am pretty sure that it worked.

without quotes around boot block

OK tried that (but I'd tried it before).

boot block (no quotes). Search for all terms.

Various threads (topics) result. Pick one's that's shorter (but not too short) so that I don't have to scan in 4 or 5 pages before I find a hit.

Plenty of "boot"s with no "block".

pat

I just tried it. "boot block" (without the quotes) entered in the search for keyword blank produces 2,712 results if "Search for any terms or use query as entered" is picked and 12 results if "Search for all terms" is selected.

Yes and I just tried what you tried

boot block [no quotes]
search for all terms.

Yes 12 topics returned.

BUT, look inside those topics. I looked three places. I did not find the phrase "boot block" (which is the whole point of the exercise [for me at least]).

I find, say, boot in a first paragraph, then block in the next.

pat

I'm not expert at phpBB, but a discussion of phrase search is here:

http://php.resourceindex.com/Complete_S ... _Web_Site/

[SPOIL] - As commented by someone the Google trick is pretty slick!

Hope that helps.

I have found that some search engines will take "boot-block" and give you finds for "boot block" and "boot-block", but not for "boot" or "block" (Do not enter the quotes, I just used them for clarity). You might want to give it a try

for some reason most forums dont support the most useful search feature of them all-> search by title only. simple yet most dont enable it

nutjobox wrote:for some reason most forums dont support the most useful search feature of them all-> search by title only. simple yet most dont enable it

EXACTLY. I want that here!

As I pointed out in another thread just recently about restricting the search to subject-line information, it is useful only IF the OP is very succinct about how the title is worded. There are only 60 characters allowed for the subject line, not much space to put anything fully descriptive in most cases. And as this is a function that has been left out by the creators of phpBB, we can't do much about it (besides changing to another system).

Do a google with "boot block".
If there are any relevant posts from our forum, Google will list them.
They 'spider' this forum daily.

Be sure to add the string "site:forum.thinkpads.com" and that will limit the hits to the ones found at this site. (Thanks for this tip goes to one of the other mods; can't remember who mentioned this recently).