11 replies to this topic

[steve6375]

How do I use the Quick Search? Say I want to find all posts that have the word RMPrepUSB in them?
I get the list of forums/topics - but how do I get to see the post that has the word in it? All I seem to get is links to the first post or last post???

Am I missing something?

[was_jaclaz]

How do I use the Quick Search? Say I want to find all posts that have the word RMPrepUSB in them?
I get the list of forums/topics - but how do I get to see the post that has the word in it? All I seem to get is links to the first post or last post???

Am I missing something?

Yes.

You use advanced search. ("More Search options")

In it you specify "Show results as posts" as opposed to the default "Show results as topics".

Also make sure you are viewing the board in "Linear" mode. ("Standard")



jaclaz

[Brito]

I'd recommend using google for that.

Type something like:

site:boot-land.net RmPrepUSB

On my case, I use the internal search tool for quickly reading the topics where a specific word is located.

Does this help?

[steve6375]

I'd recommend using google for that.

Type something like:


On my case, I use the internal search tool for quickly reading the topics where a specific word is located.

Does this help?

Thanks, I have been using Google but it is not always up to date and I don't see why a user has to go to such lengths using advanced search options to find a post? Most forums return results as links to individual posts - why not this one?

Several people have emailed me to say they can't find RMPrepUSB on this site (although it's not that hard to find the download IMO).
S

[was_jaclaz]

Most forums return results as links to individual posts - why not this one?

I don't want to doubt your word for it, but I have to say that ALL boards I am (or have been) member AFAICR return results as thread.

Several people have emailed me to say they can't find RMPrepUSB on this site (although it's not that hard to find the download IMO).

Well, that's perfectly normal, if you think at it a bit it is a good thing, a bit like a safety measure:

• if you can find the topic you can use RMPREPUSB (knowing what you are doing)
• if you cannot find it you CANNOT use it, as you'll probably destroy something

However (just try it) if you go on home page:
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/
and click on the Search link, and you input "rmprepusb" first result is a topic called (strangely) "Frequently Asked Questions, Topics with relevant informations.":
http://www.boot-land...?showtopic=8195

Boot related


Boot and Install Vista/Windows 7 from USB
Boot and Install Windows XP from USB
Boot and Install Windows XP from network (PXE using XP & TFTPD32)
Boot and run full XP from CD/DVD
KonBoot - Log onto windows/linux machines without knowing password.
RMPrepUSB - Bootable USB format utility, tool to replace HP Format Utility
WinNTSetup, A Winnt32 Replacement for installing windows XP from Windows PE, LiveXP, etc.

And the actual topic is 5th from the top, it was actually 4th before someone started a new topic including the word:

How do I use the Quick Search? Say I want to find all posts that have the word RMPrepUSB in them?

I feel that the most has been done to easily find the relevant thread, but of course:

A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.

jaclaz

[Brito]

Yes, I can confirm Jaclaz results.

Have you checked with the people that send you those emails if they wrote "rmprepusb" right?

I stumbled in sporadic cases where users would swear to have written everything correctly and then when I asked them to repeat the exact same steps for me to watch - they would search the keyword with a typo and of course find none of the expected results.

On their opinion, everything was done correctly, you don't know that you're writing with a typo until someone else points the detail to you.

One other alternative is starting a new topic pointing to the old topic. This way you might get better ranking on the search listings for rmprepusb.

Even at google your topic is listed in first place for people searching "rmprepusb".

[steve6375]

Yes, I can confirm Jaclaz results.

Have you checked with the people that send you those emails if they wrote "rmprepusb" right?

I stumbled in sporadic cases where users would swear to have written everything correctly and then when I asked them to repeat the exact same steps for me to watch - they would search the keyword with a typo and of course find none of the expected results.

On their opinion, everything was done correctly, you don't know that you're writing with a typo until someone else points the detail to you.

One other alternative is starting a new topic pointing to the old topic. This way you might get better ranking on the search listings for rmprepusb.

Even at google your topic is listed in first place for people searching "rmprepusb".

MSFN's main search uses google and so does return individual posts. Perhaps Boot Land could add a Google search box like MSFN ??

[was_jaclaz]

MSFN's main search uses google and so does return individual posts. Perhaps Boot Land could add a Google search box like MSFN ??

Nice idea.

Let's add something more on the pages, I suggest also a small "Space invaders" game and a (tiny) streaming video viewer.

Please do compare the result of this (simulation of the Custom Google Search MSFN has):
http://www.google.co...h=boot-land.net

With the result of this:
http://en.lmgtfy.com...d.net rmprepusb

And with the result of this:
http://en.lmgtfy.com/?q=rmprepusb

Was it the question HOW to find rmprepusb or HOW can I find the MOST pages referring to rmprepusb?



jaclaz

[steve6375]

The original question is at the start of this topic.

How do I use the Quick Search? Say I want to find all posts that have the word RMPrepUSB in them?

Searching for RMPrepUSB was an example . If you want to search the forum for a particular app or keyword using either the Quick Search box or the Search default settings at the top of the page, what you get is a list of topics but NOT the sections that contain the app or keyword that you are looking for!!!. Some of the topics contain 30 or more pages, so scanning through these is not easy when you are looking for a particular post.

As I said, the MSFN forum main search box uses Google to return the post that contains the keywords. Presumably they do this for a good reason - i.e. so that new visitors to the forum can quickly find the information they are looking for (which I thought was the purpose of a Search engine?).

The examples you gave all requires the user to use Google or use the Search Engine page and tick the 'Show results as Posts' checkbox - this is not user friendly.

If the default was to just list the posts, then the user could easily read the relevant and latest posts. If they wanted the starting post for the topic, they can just click on the topic title. Is this not more intuitive and user friendly?


Whether you 'add something' or just change the default behaviour, or ignore my comments completely is up to you - but you may find that you get more visitors/hits/members if people could quickly find what they are looking for?

[Brito]

This internal function has neat features that you don't find on google.

Try this:
http://www.boot-land.....te=+rmprepusb

The only thing I did was adding "rmprepusb" and selecting the Result Type as "Show Results as posts"

This is the best solution to skin over huge topics.

[was_jaclaz]

We need a disambiguation on a couple of points

As I said, the MSFN forum main search box uses Google to return the post that contains the keywords. Presumably they do this for a good reason - i.e. so that new visitors to the forum can quickly find the information they are looking for (which I thought was the purpose of a Search engine?).

As I see it that is the MSFN custom Google search.

The examples you gave all requires the user to use Google or use the Search Engine page and tick the 'Show results as Posts' checkbox - this is not user friendly.

The intention was only to show how results are not that much different, I did not get that it was a "general" comment on the way the board is setup, I read it as the reference for the several lamers people that e-mailed you for the specific RMprepUSB problem. Sorry , I evidently misunderstood the meaning you wanted to give to it.

If the default was to just list the posts, then the user could easily read the relevant and latest posts. If they wanted the starting post for the topic, they can just click on the topic title. Is this not more intuitive and user friendly?

Yes it is, as long as you are not looking for the threads.

In a perfect world all threads would be appropriately named, and that would help, I'll give you an example, try a default search for rmprepusb now.
Then try a search for rmprepusb from "Advanced" search, with "Return results as posts".
See the difference?


Now imagine that the thread was NOT meaningful titled.....
And also note how by putting the word "rmprepusb" in the present post and in the "dummy" one I effectively shifted FIRST reference to the actual meaningful thread 2 places down the list, another few posts mentioning rmprepusb on various thread, and the only meaningful ones will go on second page of results, let some time pass, and noone will ever manage to get to the main thread.

Now, if in advanced search you select "Search only in titles" things go a little better, whether you select "Return results as posts" or "Return results as topics".

Whether you 'add something' or just change the default behaviour, or ignore my comments completely is up to you - but you may find that you get more visitors/hits/members if people could quickly find what they are looking for?

Here you are missing the target.

I am not going to add (or remove or change) anything, simply because I have no powers on the issue, no interest, nor the technical capbilities if I had interest.

As well I don't get more visitors, the board may, but it is NOT "my" board, it's Nuno's home, and he was so kind as to let us in and use it's facilities, just to clear the roles:
http://www.boot-land...?...c=2399&st=6

My personal opinion does not necessarily reflect Nuno's one, who has in the past, and will in the future, take the decisions he sees fit for the best possible "experience" of users on the board, independently from what I think on the specific matter.



jaclaz

[steve6375]

This internal function has neat features that you don't find on google.

Try this:
http://www.boot-land.....te=+rmprepusb

The only thing I did was adding "rmprepusb" and selecting the Result Type as "Show Results as posts"

This is the best solution to skin over huge topics.

Thanks Nuno - I know this (now) - my point is that other users may not know this and that the QUICK SEARCH box at the top left does not use this by default, but just lists whole topics.