Does the DU search function work?

[Orrex]

I routinely try to use it to revisit past topics of interest, and I very seldom succeed in my search.

I search, for instance, for posts by me containing a real but uncommon word that I know I used ( like "environs" ) and come up blank. This is true for posts from a few weeks ago or from years past.

Is there some basic function that I'm missing? Or is this an artifact of the various attacks that DU has weathered over the years? Or something else?

Do I use enough question marks?

[FakeNoose]

1. It has been working for me all this time

I find that it's best to search only one word and see how many hits you get. For example if I search for "Joe Biden" then I get all the "Joe" hits plus all the "Biden" hits.

Maybe try to search a longer time span, because the default 1 month sometimes isn't enough.

[Dr. Strange]

2. How far back are you trying to look?

If I look for the classic "mainly because half the people I was with believed it until I explained it to them" thread, I only get threads that reference it. I can't get the original.

On the other hand, if I search something like "oval face dune", I get this fairly old thread:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=208x7149

The search mechanism is a weird thing.

[Orrex]

3. It's really hit or miss, and that's what's so weird

I searched for a thread from the start of the pandemic with no luck. I remember several of the key contributors, and I was looking for one of their posts in particular, but nothing.

But if I wish to reflect on my timeless wisdom re: elfin features, I can find it no problem.

[abqtommy]

4. To me it's like any search function, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

Sometimes I just go to my browser's search function and repeat whatever original search I used. And I've started saving my posts to my bookmarks that I think I may want in the
future.

[Kali]

5. use the DU specific google search when trying for words or posts by two people

"Orrex + environs" gave me a thread you started but the "environs" was in a reply by somebody else...are you sure you used it?

I find that the "search terms" in the Advanced Search is hit or miss. Advanced Search it is great for pulling up all OPs and/or replies an author makes, and refining by date or forum, but that top line for words doesn't work very well.

[Orrex]

6. Ok, here are two specific examples of recent-ish threads that I can't find on DU's search

In one, I complained about the myriad shortcomings of the Ipads that my company has inflicted upon its field employees. A search for "orrex" and "ipad" or "ipads" yields nothing.

In another, I posted a pun involving magnetic ore, but a search for "orrex" and "magnetic" likewise comes up empty.



Weird.