SMF Search cant find things posted why?

[sombra]

i have notice nad people on my forum that smf search not always find the things posted in the forum somtimes i look for somthing i know i posted and i cant find it from the search from smf a little strange is this normal?

how can i get this search to find anything posted in my forum

smf 2.0 rc1-2

[Norv]

Please try resetting the search indexes, or building one, if none, in Admin > Search > Search Method.
Remove the index if any (set "no index" and save), then re-create an index ("create a fulltext index").

If you have a very significant number of posts, perhaps try a custom index.

[sombra]

thanks for the reply is there a manual or somthing i dont know erally what your talking about hehe can you be more especific im a little lost

[Norv]

Perhaps this can help: Search

Eventually, go to your Admin > Search > Search Method and make a screenshot with what is says now.

[sombra]

ok so full text search is the best option?

do i will need to chek this mark ?

Force the use of a search index: Checking this will force the use of a search index.

and this option is good to use it?

Match whole words only: - Using this will match only full words when searching. An example can be if a post has the word 'strictly' in it. When searching for 'strict' with this option checked, you will not get any results back, but with the option unchecked, you will get results.

i already did a full text index nnow for what i understand i will need to update this often?

is there any way to jump the 1 letter restriction for 3?

[Norv]

ok so full text search is the best option?

For small to medium-sized forums, I'd say it is rather a good idea.

do i will need to chek this mark ?

Force the use of a search index: Checking this will force the use of a search index.

Using a search index is generally a good idea for forums when they get a little bigger than new startups. You don't have to, though.

and this option is good to use it?

Match whole words only: - Using this will match only full words when searching. An example can be if a post has the word 'strictly' in it. When searching for 'strict' with this option checked, you will not get any results back, but with the option unchecked, you will get results.

You can use "match whole words only" if you want. Do you want to only find the results where the word you search is a full word? Then use it. Or do you want to find all results, where the text you search can be part of a word? Then don't. Please see exactly the example about "strict" and "strictly".

i already did a full text index nnow for what i understand i will need to update this often?

You usually don't need to update the search index yourself, it is updating itself. However, when search doesn't seem to work right, it can help to remove the index, and re-create it.

is there any way to jump the 1 letter restriction for 3?

This has been asked before, it requires a little manual edit in the .php files, though I don't remember exactly where.

[sombra]

Quote from: sombra on Today at 10:00:00 AM

    is there any way to jump the 1 letter restriction for 3?

This has been asked before, it requires a little manual edit in the .php files, though I don't remember exactly where.

someone that knows were and what i need to edit for this to work

and thanks for the replys its been of a lot of help

[Norv]

Sources/Search.php:

Code (find) Select Expand


// Don't allow very, very short words.
elseif (strlen($value) < 2)
{
$context['search_errors']['search_string_small_words'] = true;
unset($searchArray[$index]);
}

To have a 3-letter limit instead of 1-letter limit:

Code (replace) Select Expand


// Don't allow very, very short words.
elseif (strlen($value) < 4)
{
$context['search_errors']['search_string_small_words'] = true;
unset($searchArray[$index]);
}

Also, the error message should be adapted, for English that is in ./Themes/default/languages/Errors.english.php:

Code (find) Select Expand


$txt['error_search_string_small_words']

Instead of 'Each word must be at least two characters long.' the message should be changed to 'Each word must be at least four characters long.'.
The same for other languages, for example for Spanish, the same should be done in a file like ./Themes/default/languages/Errors.spanish.php.