Searching the forums? How?

[jorrit]

I have been looking for a 'search' button or link everywhere on these forums but it doesn't seem to be there. The forum FAQ however seems to suggest that there should be a search link in the forum toolbar but I can't find it.

So who can help me point to how I can search these forums? Thanks a lot!

 

[Aeson]

Community Supporters get the ability to search. It's a way to get people to support the site.

 

[jorrit]

Community Supporters get the ability to search. It's a way to get people to support the site.

Hmm ok. I didn't know that.

Personally I'm not sure that is a good idea. On other forums the search ability makes sure that noobs and such don't repeat questions that have been asked before. Without that ability it is likely to degrade the amount of useful threads somewhat.

Greetings,

 

[Aeson]

Hmm ok. I didn't know that.

Personally I'm not sure that is a good idea. On other forums the search ability makes sure that noobs and such don't repeat questions that have been asked before. Without that ability it is likely to degrade the amount of useful threads somewhat.

Greetings,

I agree that some features should have been available to everyone but it is what it is. You just roll with it i.e. ask your questions anyway.

Chances are any question including this one about searches have been asked several times. Don't worry about repeating something said already.

Welcome aboard.

 

[Desert Hare]

You could try it with google. Type enworld in the search field and then the subject matter.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Hmm ok. I didn't know that.

Personally I'm not sure that is a good idea. On other forums the search ability makes sure that noobs and such don't repeat questions that have been asked before. Without that ability it is likely to degrade the amount of useful threads somewhat.

Greetings,

Another issue is that Search costs EN World bandwith (and probably more than an accidentally re-asked question.) Limiting it to supporters means not only less bandwith, but that the bandwith they might use extra is payed for.

I think one of the most commonly asked questions is "How do I search"

And we have lots of topics that got brought up again and again, even by people with a Community Supporter Account.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

You could try it with google. Type enworld in the search field and then the subject matter.

Even better: use site:enworld.org together with your search term.

 

[Aeson]

A search uses bandwidth?

 

[hafrogman]

A search uses bandwidth?

I believe the actual issue is server strain, but the idea is the same. We never delete old threads, so searches are very processor intensive. The search used to be for everyone, but it was restricted to Community Supporters when the site first began experiencing major slowdowns.

For the same reason there's a per user time limit between searches.

And the difficulty in searching large threads is why we're restricted to 1,000 posts.

It's all related.

In the end, it's not even about asking people to pay for their searches, it's just about limiting the number of searches being run.

 

[jorrit]

I believe the actual issue is server strain, but the idea is the same. We never delete old threads, so searches are very processor intensive. The search used to be for everyone, but it was restricted to Community Supporters when the site first began experiencing major slowdowns.

For the same reason there's a per user time limit between searches.

And the difficulty in searching large threads is why we're restricted to 1,000 posts.

It's all related.

In the end, it's not even about asking people to pay for their searches, it's just about limiting the number of searches being run.

While I respect that decision this is the first forum I've subscribed to that does this. And I am subscribed to more forums that I can count. But perhaps the hosters of this forum have slightly worse hardware then the others then.

Greetings,