I will be posting some info on what is happening with Full Text Search function which has long been asked for.

I do have it enabled, however I have quite a lot to do with all the changes and such so I haven't fully tested it.

For those technically inclined, or simple interested, here is some background of what I am wading through with respect to Full Text Search and vBulletin.

Please post feedback from any 'tests' you do in this thread and maybe we can get it sorted out.

What's being said at the software developer's site:
Full Text Search - Not Impressed (http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=156946)

One current issue is a minimum seach word length of 4.

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I will post more as I read and test more.

Feel free to add your comments.

This may or may not be :topic: but:

The search criteria is now 4 characters minimum. This may be self serving but occasionally in the past I've searched "Rob" to see if in some (unsubscribed) thread I've been asked a question or been referred to, so I can go there and respond or assist. I cannot do that now.

Like I said, it might just be me - with a short name (or like Wes). Tiny issue.

If we can set the search minimum to 3 characters, that would help in searching the many acronyms we deal with such as spc, tqm, crt, mrb, cmm, etc.

Won't help much for WI (work instruction), though!

I moved the two posts here.

It is correct that it is set as 4 characters minimum - That's in the MySQL default. I have to change the MySQL ini file and reduce it to three characters. I'll check into that tonight.

I'll check into that tonight.

How's the ability to search for CMM, SQA, and Rob coming? :whip: :)

I have to get in touch with the fellow at ServerWizards to change the MySQL settings. I also want to read a few more posts by folks over at the vB site to make sure there won't be problems - Some bigger boards report significant slowdowns when they bump it down to 3 from 4.

Off hand, I suggest the Advanced Search and the Google search there.

http://elsmar.com/gif/Search Dropdown-1.gif

http://elsmar.com/gif/Google Search-1.gif

OR

Search The Entire Site (http://elsmar.com/search.html) - Note that the Google Search above will also search the entire site, but the forum Search page using the forum search engine will only search the forums.

I tried that option using "MySQL" from your post and could not find it. And the google search does not seem to be date sorted, nor provides the option to do so. Any ideas?

I tried that option using "MySQL" from your post and could not find it. There is no option you can change. It's set in MySQL - The database this forum runs on. I couldn't find the config file for MySQL so it is running on default settings which were set when it was compiled. So.... I have to get the fellow who does server administration to look at it for me.

And the google search does not seem to be date sorted, nor provides the option to do so. Any ideas?

Not off hand. I can rebuild the vB index and turn off the MySQL FullText search, but if I do that we loose boolean search, etc. And it is a weekend job as it takes several hours to rebuild the vB search database so it has to be done like on a saturday night when site traffic is slow.

Seems to me that a search engine in a Quality-oriented site that can't generate results for a search on "SPC" is embarrassing. Think of all the newbies who don't have a clue. How do we provide a service if one of the most basic acronyms in our industry doesn't show up?

I have reverted the search to the 'standard' vB search so 3 letter searches are again enabled.

I have reverted the search to the 'standard' vB search so 3 letter searches are again enabled.Terrific!:applause: :thanx:

Thank you, also. :thanx:

Full text search is working now with a minimum search term character length of 3. Boolean search is recommended for best results.