WebmasterWorld search

the weakest link..

[musicales]

Apart from the tremendous quality of posting, the reason WebmasterWorld is so successful is the easy-reading layout of the posts. There are a heck of a lot of forums around, but to this day I haven't come across a single one like this, which by some rather mysterious quality in its deceptively simple layout, actually entices you to read more, rather than struggling angrily before giving up, as happens elsewhere - size 1 text, cluttered interface, you name it.

Now the one aspect of the site that for me doesn't match up to this is the search facility. I've seen elsewhere regulars complaining that new users don't check the search facility before asking a question. The simple fact is it doesn't match the intuitive level of the rest of the site. The search button is tucked away right up in the top there with lesser used links like glossary and library, and it goes to searchengineworld, even having a different style - all in all, fields a bit 'forgotten', and not something you use with enthusiasm. For all the talk of Internet Search Engine layouts and designs here, I'm amazed this isn't something which has been more thoroughly thought through.

just my two pennies..

[lazerzubb]

Earlier thread:
[webmasterworld.com...]

[musicales]

thanks lazerzubb - but that thread is about the quality of the results which is not really what I'm saying. I'm talking about the presentation of the search facility itself. Why for example isn't there simply a traditional search box in the header of each page?

[brotherhood of LAN]

sometimes you don't need to use the site:webmasterworld bit, or webmasterworld in the query at all, the threads are just ranked highly for the subject matter.

>search facility itself

Ever tried making a search engine? :) AFAIK Brett has said there are a good few gigs of data on here, if the SE wasn't prepared properly it might bring the rest of the system to its knees?

[pshea]

music, we are experiencing/participating in a work-in-progress. This forum in constantly morphing on the back of pretty much a single individual. I consider myself awfully lucky to have a seat in the theater as I watch this forum continue to unfold. Improvements to the Site Search is likely an Act with players waiting in the wings.

[musicales]

I know google site search is very good. I've seen some high profile programming sites use this as their main onsite search option and it works fine. But as I say, I'm not complaining about the results here, just the tucked away in obscurity appearance. It strikes me as the 'worst actor' in the great show that is WW.

brotherhood_of_lan - I have built many search facilities and you're right it does get very hard to search quickly when records get into the several tens of thousands, but hey, they could offer free subscription or something - I'm sure someone could contribute some interesting solutions!