Does the 3 letter limit on search annoy anyone other than me?

Skeeter

Skeeter

Skeeter

Caporegime
Joined
8 Mar 2007
Posts
37,146
Location
Surrey
Hi

Just wondering the reasoning behind a 3 letter limit on search terms on this forum. Yes, I know it stops spamming etc, but for a technology based forum, with a lot of abreviations, and products with single and double letter names, its annoying. Especially seen as one of the most commonly used operating systems in the world cannot be searched for! (Windows XP, for iBot-esque levels of IQ)
 
It is annoying but I see it as a necessary evil, as I believe the engine searches parts of words too. a search for IT for example would bring up thousands of results.
 
I think it's a limitation of MySQL, which this forum probably uses on the backend.

And yes, it does annoy me. I think it's fair enough, and I understand the reasoning, but it bugs me that the search just craps out if you include any two letter words. Fair enough, if you search for just one two letter word, but if you put in a few words, it's a pain to have to pick out the two letter ones.

I prefer how Google gives you the results of the search without the short words, and tells you that it's ignored those words.
 
I fully understand the reasoning, but think there could maybe be a bit of leway built in. Like google does, remove the shorter terms yet still search for the rest. because long search with 2 letter word + search error + resubmitted search + 10 second rule = Frustration!
 
Very annoying indeed, I suppose one way round it would be to introduce a CAPTCHA system every time you do a search, that's if it is there to stop spam.
 
Any forum techies in here, OcUK ones a bonus, know if implimenting a removal of short words rather than a block is possible to impliment? Im sure there must be a vBulletin plugin?
 
I got really annoyed the other day because i wanted to find info about the Nintendo DS wireless setup; search will allow 'nintendo' and 'wireless' but not 'DS', and so returned a couple hundred threads involving DS or Wii multiplayer online.

Unfortunately i'm sure there's a good reason, as long as people don't get annoyed and tell you to use the search function when you post a new thread thats been answered before yet is impossible to find.
 
Gaverick said:
Very annoying indeed, I suppose one way round it would be to introduce a CAPTCHA system every time you do a search, that's if it is there to stop spam.
Click to expand...

Argh don't talk about CAPTCHA.. christ what is going on with the insanely warped use of that on some forums.. its beyond even any human figuring out exactly what the characters are! Its like them 3D patterns where you need to cross your eyes and even then only 30% of us can see it :D.. I find I have to be smashed to even stand a chance at figuring out what the characters are.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom