New Search Functionality - Need Feedback please!

nadreg · Mar 7th, 2009, 07:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haylo

BUT - is this new search intended to replace the existing advanced search?

No, that isn't my immediate intention. The is meant to be different in a few ways:
1. This is a broader search engine than the existing one, mainly because the existing one only searches the forums. Within the next few weeks, this search will be expanded to include journals and photos as well.
2. The engine within the new search functionality is much better than the existing one, and returns more relevant results.
3. Eventually, all the search features within the existing engine will be incorporated into the new one. So, there shouldn't be any drop off in functionality.

Haylo · Mar 7th, 2009, 12:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by nadreg

Within the next few weeks, this search will be expanded to include journals and photos as well.

That is extremely good news, I'm sure a lot of people including myself will find that feature helpful.

edwardseco · Mar 7th, 2009, 22:42

My test returned mucho gusto

. Thanks Nadreg!!

dhans · Mar 7th, 2009, 22:45

I did a search for "India with kids" (how predictable) and got the article as th first result. "India with children" does return a result, a bit lower.

Chronological order would indeed be helpfull, but not allways. Could be an option (relevance / date)

Hans

nadreg · Mar 8th, 2009, 07:42

FYI -

I've made a few more changes to the algorithm, so it should return more relevant results overall.

I've also added the ability to do advanced searches (see checkbox on right side bottom), which allows you to Boolean searches, and so on. This should allow give geeks amongst us more power to mix and match our queries.

Swapnil · Mar 8th, 2009, 08:29

Nice Work !

How about having option to display certain no. of search results per page ?

nadreg · Mar 8th, 2009, 09:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swapnil

Nice Work !

How about having option to display certain no. of search results per page ?

You mean the ability to page through results?

Swapnil · Mar 8th, 2009, 09:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by nadreg

You mean the ability to page through results?

Yes ... what I mean is ..say after searching particular term - 580 results were found then how about giving user a option to view say 10/50/100/250/500 results/page. (for which I think current default setting is 100)

dhans · Mar 8th, 2009, 16:36

Used some obscure searchterms. Seems to work allright!

Hans

nikhilsegel · Mar 8th, 2009, 17:06

Just one strange thing. If you search for a user name the list seems terribly short.

Also if you search the same user name in threads and then in posts you get different counts?

I assumed that posts would be more since people might make a reference using the user name but in actuality threads show up with a higher count?

nadreg · Mar 9th, 2009, 00:14

Some more new features added to the search engine:

1. Now you have the ability to retrieve photos in the search results as well. The images will be incorporated into the search results along with the rest of the content.

2. I've added the ability to page through the results as well.

Again, I'm testing this new functionality out, so please report any issues or suggestions on this thread.

Thanks.

nadreg · Mar 9th, 2009, 00:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardseco

My test returned mucho gusto

. Thanks Nadreg!!

Glad you like it.

nadreg · Mar 9th, 2009, 00:36

Here's the link again, in case anyone was looking for it:

http://www.indiamike.com/india-search

Nick-H · Mar 9th, 2009, 02:05

Same old test (best to stay with the same to compare results) and much the same results: 1/10.

"Register Office" --- in quotes, search limited to forum, and list by posts.

Out of the first ten results, I get one hit; the first one, plus three where the phrase has been found in the list of similar threads from the bottom of the page.

IndiaMike standard search: worse.

IndiaMike standard search with quotes: better

Google search of IndiaMike, no quotes: hit after hit after hit after hit after hit.

I chose this test data because I know that we have a number of marriage threads, that the specific words will occur in at least some of them, but that the results should not be overwhelming, like taj mahal or waitlist

Do a similar and see what you think of the results.

One thing I'm sure of: those quotes really should not be necessary; many, many people would not think of them.

Hey! I'm picking holes because that's the brief! Keep up the good work

nadreg · Mar 9th, 2009, 12:09

Try again, Nick. Did some more tweaking, and the results should be a lot more relevant now.

Mar 7th, 2009, 22:42	#18
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,840	My test returned mucho gusto. Thanks Nadreg!!

Mar 7th, 2009, 22:45	#19
dhans Uru Buru member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,842	I did a search for "India with kids" (how predictable) and got the article as th first result. "India with children" does return a result, a bit lower. Chronological order would indeed be helpfull, but not allways. Could be an option (relevance / date) Hans __________________ Tips for trips to India with (young) children: India with kids Stories about our travels in India: Journal

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Greetings! Need some feedback...	nadreg	Introduce Yourself	20	Mar 31st, 2006 06:30
Search facilities - feedback for Indiamike	IndyBoy	Forum Help and Announcements	2	Jul 31st, 2003 04:46

Mar 8th, 2009, 07:42	#20
nadreg Administrator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NY, USA Posts: 2,137	FYI - I've made a few more changes to the algorithm, so it should return more relevant results overall. I've also added the ability to do advanced searches (see checkbox on right side bottom), which allows you to Boolean searches, and so on. This should allow give geeks amongst us more power to mix and match our queries.

Mar 8th, 2009, 08:29	#21
Swapnil Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pune ,Maharashtra , INDIA Posts: 1,258	Nice Work ! How about having option to display certain no. of search results per page ?

Mar 8th, 2009, 16:36	#24
dhans Uru Buru member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,842	Used some obscure searchterms. Seems to work allright! Hans

Mar 8th, 2009, 17:06	#25
nikhilsegel Maha Guru Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,107	Just one strange thing. If you search for a user name the list seems terribly short. Also if you search the same user name in threads and then in posts you get different counts? I assumed that posts would be more since people might make a reference using the user name but in actuality threads show up with a higher count?

Mar 9th, 2009, 00:14	#26
nadreg Administrator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NY, USA Posts: 2,137	Some more new features added to the search engine: 1. Now you have the ability to retrieve photos in the search results as well. The images will be incorporated into the search results along with the rest of the content. 2. I've added the ability to page through the results as well. Again, I'm testing this new functionality out, so please report any issues or suggestions on this thread. Thanks.

Mar 9th, 2009, 00:36	#28
nadreg Administrator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NY, USA Posts: 2,137	Here's the link again, in case anyone was looking for it: http://www.indiamike.com/india-search

Mar 9th, 2009, 02:05	#29
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,189	Same old test (best to stay with the same to compare results) and much the same results: 1/10. "Register Office" --- in quotes, search limited to forum, and list by posts. Out of the first ten results, I get one hit; the first one, plus three where the phrase has been found in the list of similar threads from the bottom of the page. IndiaMike standard search: worse. IndiaMike standard search with quotes: better Google search of IndiaMike, no quotes: hit after hit after hit after hit after hit. I chose this test data because I know that we have a number of marriage threads, that the specific words will occur in at least some of them, but that the results should not be overwhelming, like taj mahal or waitlist Do a similar and see what you think of the results. One thing I'm sure of: those quotes really should not be necessary; many, many people would not think of them. Hey! I'm picking holes because that's the brief! Keep up the good work

Mar 9th, 2009, 12:09	#30
nadreg Administrator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NY, USA Posts: 2,137	Try again, Nick. Did some more tweaking, and the results should be a lot more relevant now.