Help and Search

[Helene]

Help and Search Options

There are four ways to search:

1. Site Search, from the Search link, the Search Box, or through My Assistant.
2. Forum Search, from the input box towards the bottom left of the forum screen.
3. Topic Search, from the input box towards the bottom left of the thread.
4. Help Search, from the input box that appears when you click the Help link at the top right of each page or through My Assistant.

General Rules:

1. Your search string must be at least 3 characters long. Sadly, that means a search on most companies' abbreviations won't work.

2. HTML keywords and extensions like ".img" and ".html" will be blocked by the search function.

3. The search should not be case-sensitive.

Error Messages:

There are two types of search error messages:

1. Incorrect Input, which occurred when search for +bolshoi + ratmansky (with an incorrect space between the "+" and "ratmansky"

"One or all of your search keywords were below 4 characters or you are searched for words which are not allowed, such as 'html', 'img', etc, please go back and increase the length of these search keywords or choose different keywords."

2. No results, which occured when searching for "ABT":

"Unfortunately your search didn't return any results. Try broadening the search parameters by searching by different keywords or altering the format of your search. Remember to use the wildcard '*' to increase the number of matches. Apple* will match 'apple' and 'apples'."

3. In addition, we've experienced "permissions" errors when using the search function when searching for three-letter keywords, and in other circumstances we can't isolate.

* It's not clear that search is entirely predictable. If you receive an error message, it's worth trying again.
* If there are no results found, a Search Again? link appears.
> If clicked, you will be navigated to standard Keyword Search method, regardless of the method used for the original search.

1. Site Searches:

Keyword Search from the Search Link

* When you click the Search link, the default search box will appear.

> Enter a text string into the search input box.
> Optional: Advanced Usage Help
+ The search function supports either/or, multiple words (any order), like, and exact string match searches.
+ By clicking the Advanced Usage Help link under the search input box, the syntax will appear in a pop-up box.


> Select Search Where or accept the default.

+ Options are "All Forums" (default), or a single forum which you may select from the drop-down box.


> Select Sort Order or accept the default.

+ Options (radio buttons) are "most relevant" and "most recent first" (default)


> Click the Perform the search button.

* The search results will be displayed by post, with the highlight word(s) displayed in bold red behind a yellow background.

Advanced Search from the Search Link
* Click the More options button at the bottom of the Keyword Search screen.
* Make the following selections or accept the default:

> Search by Keywords (required)
> Filter by Member Name (optional)

+ Enter part of or an entire username into the input box provided to the right of the keyword input box.
+ You may select "Match Exact Name" by clicking the checkbox under the member name input box.


> Search Where

+ Options are "All Forums" (default), or a single forum which you may select from the drop-down box.
+ The option to search in sub-forums is chosen by selecting the checkbox next to "Search in child forums if sub category is chosen?" (default=checked)


> Refine Search

+ There are four options:
(1) Search posts from...
* Select the date range from the drop-down box
> Options are "Any Date" (default), Today, or 7, 30, 60, 90, 180, or 365 days


* Select "Newer" (default) or "Older."

> Enter the keyword(s) into the input box in the upper left corner.
> The Advanced Usage Help link is visible from this screen.


(2) Search Where

* Options are “Search entire post” (default) or “Search titles only”


(3) Sort results by…

* Select the sort option from the drop-down box.
> Options are “Last Posting Date” (default), “Number of Replies,” “Poster Name,” “Forum Name.”


* Select “descending order” (default) or “ascending order.”

(4) Result Type

* Select “Show results as topics” (default) or “Show results as posts.”


* The search results will be displayed by post, with the highlight word(s) displayed in bold red behind a yellow background.

Search from My Assistant
* When you click the my My Assistant link from the upper right side of any page, the third option is Search posts for.
* Enter the search phrase and click the Go button.
> You can use the Advanced Usage syntax and wildcards, but there is no explanatory link to these options from My Assistant.


* The search results will appear as a list of threads without highlights, and the search word(s) appears in at least one post.

2. Forum Search

* In the bottom left of each forum and subform, there is an input box with the text "Enter Keywords."
* If you click on the input box, the text "Enter Keywords" will disappear, so that you can enter your search text.
> You can use the Advanced Usage syntax and wildcards, but there is no explanatory link to these options from the Forum Search.


* Click the Search forum button to start the search.

* The search results will appear as a list of threads without highlights, and the search word(s) appears in at least one post.

3. Topic Search

* In the bottom left of each thread, there is an input box with the text "Enter Keywords."
* If you click on the input box, the text "Enter Keywords" will disappear, so that you can enter your search text.
> You can use the Advanced Usage syntax and wildcards, but there is no explanatory link to these options from the Thread Search.


* Click the Search Topic button to start the search.

* The search results will be displayed by post, with the highlight word(s) displayed in bold red behind a yellow background.

4. Help Search

There are two ways to access the help files:

1. Through a Help Search from the Help link on the top right of the site or My Assistant

2. By clicking on a Help Topic link from the Help link on the top right of the site.

* To search, enter the keywords in the input box and click the Go button.
* The search results will appear as a list of help topic links.
> We've found this most reliable using a single word; the Advanced Usage options don't seem to work in Help Search.