Author Topic: ZillaRank: An improved search for smf forum (Read 236658 times)

mouser · « **Reply #75 on:** August 05, 2007, 08:27 AM »

I know i posted this before but it is so useful i have to post again.
If you are reading a long multi-page thread, the new ability to search within a thread is invaluable:

note: a normal ctrl+F from within your browser is not comparable, this can search multiple pages and do full highlighting. really wonderful.

Darwin · « **Reply #76 on:** August 10, 2007, 09:56 AM »

Wow! I was in Belgium when this was originally posted - thanks Wordzilla (and mouser for posting this)! I'll be testing it out and posting about my experiences shortly.

Mouser -

As many of you know, we often joke that the SMF search function on the forum sucks, and seems to miss returning search results that we know are there.

The SMF search function DOES suck, and it's no joke

!

Wordzilla · « **Reply #77 on:** August 10, 2007, 10:07 AM »

Thanks in advance, Darwin!

We are still improving the forum search and all members are welcome to report bugs/inconveniences, post feature requests, and talk about your search experience here. DonationCoder will have the best search in the SMF world.

"The biggest room in the world. is the room for improvement." -- Anonymous

cranioscopical · « **Reply #78 on:** August 10, 2007, 11:11 AM »

The biggest room in the world. is the room for improvement.

And the smallest is where you go to read about it...

mouser · « **Reply #79 on:** August 13, 2007, 12:59 PM »

You can follow discussion of the ZillaRank smf mod on simplemachines.org forum here:

http://www.simplemac...dex.php?topic=188513

Darwin · « **Reply #80 on:** August 13, 2007, 01:21 PM »

So far my experience with the new search features have been positive!

Don't take this the wrong way, but simply getting a return on a search for terms that I KNOW are in the forums elevates this above the default search capability!

Darwin · « **Reply #81 on:** August 23, 2007, 12:07 AM »

It's like someone opened the blinds and threw the window open! Fresh air and sunshine where before there was only stale air and gloom... Thank you Wordzilla, thank you!

After usig the new forum search feature for a week or so all I can say is "Wow!" What a difference.

lanux128 · « **Reply #82 on:** August 23, 2007, 02:05 AM »

btw, is the controversy over the packaging of ZillaRank still on-going? in fact, i think DC members should post the same response in the SMF forums to drive home the point..

Wordzilla · « **Reply #83 on:** August 24, 2007, 07:07 AM »

Darwin, lanux128, I'm so happy you guys find it to be an improvement!

As for the controversy, I have managed to make a mod for it that complies with SMF guidelines and is perfectly compatible with their license.

So ppl over there are trying it out: http://www.simplemac...x.php?topic=188513.0

Darwin · « **Reply #84 on:** August 24, 2007, 09:25 AM »

OK guys... time to show our appreciation to Wordzilla for this fabulous mod (you all know what I mean! What are donationcredits for, if not to spread around?!).

Thanks Wordzilla

Wordzilla · « **Reply #85 on:** August 24, 2007, 09:47 AM »

Thanks Darwin!

I really really really would like thank all folks here on DC who offered me feedbacks and suggestions, and showed their care for this project. (Please continue to do so!

)

Special thanks to jgpaiva - who's been debugging and offering constructive ideas for the improvement of our search engine from the very beginning, and he even managed to point out a flaw in the ranking algorithm during his vacation!

lanux128 · « **Reply #86 on:** August 24, 2007, 11:34 PM »

coming back from reading the ZillaRank thread at SMF, i'm really happy for WordZilla and DC in general that things have taken off well..

btw, a nice "Proud member of DonationCoder.com" banner would come in handy when frequenting other forums as well as help spread the word..

lanux128 · « **Reply #87 on:** August 27, 2007, 11:05 PM »

another idea, how about an option to open search results in a new tab/window?

Wordzilla · « **Reply #88 on:** August 27, 2007, 11:32 PM »

Thx lanux, but what'd be the most appropriate way to add such an option (for all forum users)?

Darwin · « **Reply #89 on:** August 27, 2007, 11:36 PM »

Thx lanux, but what'd be the most appropriate way to add such an option (for all forum users)?
-Wordzilla (August 27, 2007, 11:32 PM)

I remember Google, when it first came out used to return a page full of "hits" and provided a direct link and a secondary one that was labelled something like: "Open link in new window".

Don't know how easy/hard that would be to code. For me, I just use mouse gestures under Maxthon if I want to open a link in a new tab.

lanux128 · « **Reply #90 on:** August 27, 2007, 11:38 PM »

maybe a setting in the user's profile and/or a check-box next to the search button?

lanux128 · « **Reply #91 on:** August 27, 2007, 11:46 PM »

I remember Google, when it first came out used to return a page full of "hits" and provided a direct link and a secondary one that was labelled something like: "Open link in new window".

Don't know how easy/hard that would be to code. For me, I just use mouse gestures under Maxthon if I want to open a link in a new tab.
-Darwin (August 27, 2007, 11:36 PM)

i didn't mean opening links from the hits returned.. i myself use middle-click to open them in a new tab..

i'm not sure of the terms so i'll use a scenario: let's say, i'm reading a post and i want to to use the search feature. normally i'd go to the top of the page & type-in the keyword and click on the Search button. then a page is generated with the search results, i want this page to be in a new tab/window so that i can continue reading the post..

Darwin · « **Reply #92 on:** August 27, 2007, 11:59 PM »

Ah gotcha. I like it. Yeah, that does sound harder to code, because of course that kind of functionality would be great in the context menu ("Open search in new tab") and would need to be setup as an IE/FF/Opera plugin, which makes it less universal across the membership because its unlikely Opera will permit it and there are probably lots of Linux users and other people using different browsers. An alternative might be to have a static left hand pane containing links to the search feature (and other important areas/features of DC). This way you scroll down the page but the links to the left are always there on your screen and visible from wherever you are reading... Just a thought.

lanux128 · « **Reply #93 on:** August 28, 2007, 12:07 AM »

that's why i was hoping to do the suggestion part and leave the implementation/coding part to Wordzilla..

but the mention of plugins reminded me of this extension: SubmitToTab.

mouser · « **Reply #94 on:** August 28, 2007, 12:08 AM »

oh that's a cool find, lanux!

just installed it and it works perfectly. very simple, very useful (i dont like middle mouse button so i hold control and click, nice feature).

i think this SubmitToTab deserves a post of it's own -- if you have time to do it please do, otherwise let me know and i'll post it.

lanux128 · « **Reply #95 on:** August 28, 2007, 12:14 AM »

thanks, mouser..

in case you're wondering why i didn't just use the extension instead, i'm on an extension diet since more extensions cause stability problems in Firefox (at least for me)..

lanux128 · « **Reply #96 on:** August 28, 2007, 12:16 AM »

i think this SubmitToTab deserves a post of it's own -- if you have time to do it please do, otherwise let me know and i'll post it.
-mouser (August 28, 2007, 12:08 AM)

no problems, mouser.. i'll post it in a while..

edit: posted here - https://www.donation...dex.php?topic=9747.0

Lashiec · « **Reply #97 on:** August 28, 2007, 01:55 PM »

Opera users can use the Control + Shift + Enter combo to achieve the same results.

lanux128 · « **Reply #98 on:** August 28, 2007, 07:13 PM »

cool tip, Lashiec.. Opera devs are a genius lot..

Wordzilla · « **Reply #99 on:** October 13, 2007, 10:11 AM »

Survey: anyone having problems with forum search?