How to Search Heroscapers.com (Doesn't work. Use Google now)

[netherspirit]

The information below is too cool to just toss, but please note:
The search page shown below is gone, please use the Google custom search box about one inch below the top of this web page




Before starting a new thread or asking a question its always a good idea to do a search to make sure that your question or topic hasn't already been addressed.

Most of the time you can not just put your topic in the search box and get usable results. This isn't Google.

This post will explain how to effectively use search to get the best results possible. The problem with searching is that if you don't try to limit your search with the different options you will likely get too many results for it to be helpful. So the first thing you have to do is learn what all the different options do and how they can help refine your searches.

Lets look at the different options and how to limit your searches.

Search for Keywords: This is pretty explanitory. There are some tips under it to explain it. This is where you put what you are searching for. You can use AND to define words which must be in the results, OR to define words which may be in the result and NOT to define words which should not be in the result. Use * as a wildcard for partial matches

The two radio boxes under the keyword could possibly be the most important thing.

Search for any terms or use query as entered: Keep this one checked if you are only searching for one word or you are using the AND or OR operators.

Search for all terms: If you are searching for a phrase such "Movie Trailers" it will find only things that have Movie Trailers in them, not everything with the word Movie and then everything with the word Trailer. This selection can really limit the number of results you get.

Search for Author: This can help you limit your search if you know of someone that created a post on the topic you are looking for. This one probably doesn't get used much.

Forum: This is another way to limit the number of results you get. Lets say you are looking for topic on Taelord's cost. If you search for Taelord AND Cost you will get a lot of results in sections of the forum that don't have anything to do with it. If however you make the same search and limit it to the "Official Units" section you will get more relevant results.

Category: This works similarly to the Forum but its more broad and will limit the searches, but not as much as choosing a Forum section.

Display Results As: Topics or Posts It defaults to topics, but if you change it to posts it will acutally show you the posts rather than just the topic lists. This is good if you are looking for a specific post and not just a topic. I prefer to switch it to posts when I search. This contradicts what I said about limiting your search results because it will actually give you more results, but like I said its better when looking for one specific post.

Search Previous: This can help you limit your search by only looking in a specific time period. If you know something was posted in the last week its better to limit it otherwise it will search all the posts since the board started. Again any limiting you can do is good.

These next two radio selections let you determine where in the posts where the search will be preformed. These are pretty self-explanitory.
Search topic title and message text
Search message text only

Sort By: This will just define how you want the results sorted. I don't use this very often but it can be usefuly.

Return First: This is only in use when you select the "Posts" radio box that I talked about earlier. You can display lots of the posts or just a little. I think 200 (the default) is fine for finding what you are looking for.

Remember that in order to make the most of your searches you have to limit them as much as possible or you may get too many results.

If you have any questions or other tips for searching post them here.

[Chimpy]

I thought this kind of stuff belongs in the Scapers online forum.

Great thread though Nether. Much needed additon to the site.

[DarkSpade]

Hey, I've looked everywhere. Can someone please tell me how to search for stuff?




:P

[netherspirit]

Originally Posted by Chimpy

I thought this kind of stuff belongs in the Scapers online forum.

woops, thats where I meant to put it. Thanks

Originally Posted by DarkSpade

Hey, I've looked everywhere. Can someone please tell me how to search for stuff?

Me -> <- Darkspade

[ChaosChild]

Nether, if you keep moving this thread I am going to have to use the search function find it. :P

(Seriously, you should move this thread every couple of days.)

[bunjee]

Beautifully written, nether, thank you!

Originally Posted by ChaosChild

(Seriously, you should move this thread every couple of days.)

Or maybe we should randomly disable and enable your profile and see how long it takes you to post on anything... :P

[ChaosChild]

Originally Posted by bunjee

Or maybe we should randomly disable and enable your profile and see how long it takes you to post on anything... :P

Yeah... Well... -insert appropriate comeback here- :P

[Mycophycophyta]

Do we have to use Google to search 'Scapers now?

[netherspirit]

Yes. I think that Cavalier has a thread for how to do it now. I will update this thread.

[Just_a_Bill]

Isn't all of this moot? The only Search function I can find is Google Custom Search, which seems to give me no options at all.

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by Just_a_Bill

Isn't all of this moot? The only Search function I can find is Google Custom Search, which seems to give me no options at all.

That's what happens when you look at threads that are nearly a year old. You can still use google to refine your search.

[Just_a_Bill]

Originally Posted by Cavalier

That's what happens when you look at threads that are nearly a year old.

So, the rules are ... look for old threads before posting, but don't read old threads?