Improve the search function

opusman

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2006
Posts
6,013
Since time immemorial the search function on AFF has annoyed me.

Want to search for a thread referencing BA? Sorry, that word is too short! Same for QF, CX, MH, or surprisingly any other airline code, since they are all two characters long.

What is the point of this artificial limitation on a forum specifically devoted to flying?

I normally just use Google with "site:" but this finally got on my nerves enough to make my feelings known.
 
I suspect it's a 'feature' of the Xenforo software to reduced the number of words indexed and thus improve search times.
Not sure if certain two letter words could be whitelisted for searching.

But you also have the various subforums for all the major airlines typically talked about.
 
But you also have the various subforums for all the major airlines typically talked about.
Sure, but try searching for a particular thread referencing BA in the Qantas forum, for example. Can't be done.
 
But it has been happening for years. an example from this morning. i was looking for mr TR 54 Days on the Moon.
Search for 54 days on and nothing shows up when I have ticked search titles only by drron. But search Moon and it comes up with the TR and it's full title. just frustrates at times.
 
Since time immemorial the search function on AFF has annoyed me.

Want to search for a thread referencing BA? Sorry, that word is too short! Same for QF, CX, MH, or surprisingly any other airline code, since they are all two characters long.

What is the point of this artificial limitation on a forum specifically devoted to flying?

I normally just use Google with "site:" but this finally got on my nerves enough to make my feelings known.
This was discussed at a recent mod meeting, so we are well aware of the search limitations. Whilst a fix/workaround is being sought, unfortunately I can't give a timeframe.
 
Google is a good workaround - try searching 54 days on the moon site:australianfrequentflyer.com.au and it'll come up as the first result.
 
I suspect it's a 'feature' of the Xenforo software to reduced the number of words indexed and thus improve search times.
Not sure if certain two letter words could be whitelisted for searching.

But you also have the various subforums for all the major airlines typically talked about.
I believe 2 and 3 letter words can be indexed in Xenforo Enhanced Search, which leverages ElasticSearch, but that's all add-ons.
 
This was discussed at a recent mod meeting, so we are well aware of the search limitations. Whilst a fix/workaround is being sought, unfortunately I can't give a timeframe.
This was discussed also a few years ago wasn’t it? I have a vague memory of Support agreeing to introduce or allow a limited number of three letter airline codes to be searched. I can’t recall what happened if it happened at all but it probably got enhanced away in a Xenforo update.
 
This was discussed also a few years ago wasn’t it? I have a vague memory of Support agreeing to introduce or allow a limited number of three letter airline codes to be searched. I can’t recall what happened if it happened at all but it probably got enhanced away in a Xenforo update.
What do the forum software developers have to suggest? I’m surprised that xenoforo don’t provide an enhanced search function to leverage off of some external search engine such as Everything as with windows searches?

Edit: a look around seems to say that an advanced search is available for xenoforo as used on this forum thread?

 
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So how is it going to provide a better search function?
 
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