New Computer Hope search

[Computer Hope Admin]

I've been and also have had other working on the development of a new search engine for Computer Hope. Unfortunately it's been time consuming and difficult to do, especially now with the new forums being on another server and in MySQL. While it would not be impossible to do this I'd think the time and money could be better spent elsewhere so I've started to look into alternative solutions.

Below is a solution that up to now I've been really happy with and something I believe could work for Computer Hope. This search is utilizing Google's custom search feature that utilizes Google to search specific sites. Of course one of the biggest advantages of incorporating something like this would be that the search would not only search Computer Hope pages but also all forum pages (I excluded the old forum). Something I believe all of us want. In addition of course the search would be using Google's engine and page ranking system, which is one of the best, if not the best engines on the Internet today.

Please give it a shot and let me know what you think. You should be able to find results on both the main site and forum posts, you can also search for forum members to get a variety of results.

New search test page:

http://www.computerhope.com/googtest.htm

http://www.computerhope.com/search.htm

Right now it's just basic Google code with not many changes to the look or feel of the page. In addition if this is something that appears to work I'd probably upgrade to the business package to give it even more capabilities.

Some other benefits:

• Spell checker (Did you mean: ...)
• Some searches will be faster
• Boolean and string searches
• Searches old news and other sections not previously indexed

[Jonas Wauters]

I like it but it just doesn't have the CH looks. (but that's because its a beta wright?)
It would be helpful if you knew how old the post is and who started it.(Maybe next to the result.)

Next to that I think this is a good solution.

Jonas

[CBMatt]

Very nice.  Once you customize it a little, I think it will be a great addition to the site.  It really is handy getting both site and forum results!

[Zylstra]

Well, one thing I have been meaning to request is:
Could the ComputerHope Forum Search be replaced, or possibly a ComputerHope search be placed on the top of the Forums pages next to Dictionary, Forums, etc?
It would make it a lot easier if the searches combined.

Also, it might not be a bad idea to search the old forums, since they are a gigantic database of FAQ's. Too bad you cant sell the answers

Edit: Ack! I disabled Ad-Block-Plus, and there were... *gasp* ads
Are the ads going towards ComputerHope? I know one of Googles marketing programs offers a search that contains ads that bring you income... or at least aim towards ads related to ComputerHope

[soybean]

Edit: Ack! I disabled Ad-Block-Plus, and there were... *gasp* ads

Do you mean the box at the upper right of the screen, labeled Ads by Google?

[Zylstra]

Edit: Ack! I disabled Ad-Block-Plus, and there were... *gasp* ads

Do you mean the box at the upper right of the screen, labeled Ads by Google?

*checks*
Yes

[soybean]

Having looked deeper into the Google search services, I see that an ads-free service is available but it is not free.  With the ads, it is free.  I see no problem with the ads.  It's just that small box at the upper right of the screen.

The search service works well; it's fast, surely faster than an internal search would work. 

[Computer Hope Admin]

I've updated this and implemented it on some of the Computer Hope section. First, I've updated and change the look and feel of the page. Second, as you may or may not have noticed all the search links within the forum section have been changed to this new destination. If the results are not working or you want to use the original forum search it's still available as a link within this page. This has also been added to the Computer Hope online help section.

Finally, I've also added an exclusion to *not* display forum results for any matches of previous posts on users profile pages. I found that it was confusing to get link to a users past posts page and often the results were not good. Example of my past posts page that would not be displayed in search.

I like it but it just doesn't have the CH looks. (but that's because its a beta wright?)
It would be helpful if you knew how old the post is and who started it.(Maybe next to the result.)

Yes, it's just an initial test so the looks and feel of it are real basic. However, I've updated it a little more. As far as adding who started a post, I don't believe that will be possible.

Well, one thing I have been meaning to request is:
Could the ComputerHope Forum Search be replaced, or possibly a ComputerHope search be placed on the top of the Forums pages next to Dictionary, Forums, etc?
It would make it a lot easier if the searches combined.

Also, it might not be a bad idea to search the old forums, since they are a gigantic database of FAQ's. Too bad you cant sell the answers

Edit: Ack! I disabled Ad-Block-Plus, and there were... *gasp* ads
Are the ads going towards ComputerHope? I know one of Googles marketing programs offers a search that contains ads that bring you income... or at least aim towards ads related to ComputerHope

As far as adding a search on the bar at the top that would be possible and I'll do that. The reason it was removed before is because of the two different search engines going.

Since the old forum posts are all contained within the new forums (may not yet all be indexed) I believe it would be best that they keep out of the search results to help prevent duplicates in the results, which undoubtedly would cause frustration.

Ads should be associated with Computer Hope's adsense. Unfortunately this would add a little advertising to the forums. Maybe if this works I'll remove ads from any searches preformed within the forum section since the forums have been 100% ad free.


Any additional feedback, suggestions, comments, or information about bad results is always welcome.

[Zylstra]

Since the old forum posts are all contained within the new forums (may not yet all be indexed) I believe it would be best that they keep out of the search results to help prevent duplicates in the results, which undoubtedly would cause frustration.

Ads should be associated with Computer Hope's adsense. Unfortunately this would add a little advertising to the forums. Maybe if this works I'll remove ads from any searches preformed within the forum section since the forums have been 100% ad free.

*Un-literally smacks head*
I forgot about that  I guess they already have been copied over

I don't think that many people really mind the ads, I do appreciate that you don't include them on the forums (Keeps a less-distracting look, and keeps up from feeling like your making money from our posts)

(I think that a majority of us know not to click on ads anyways, especially since there are more frauds showing up on Adsense all the time)

[Computer Hope Admin]

All the companies advertised on Computer Hope should be legitimate. If they're not let me know and I can block them from being advertised on Computer Hope.

There was a company advertising on Computer Hope that claimed we recommended their product in their advertisement on our page, which was completely false. I banned them from being able to advertise on any page and submitted a trademark infringement with Google since they used the "Computer Hope" trademark without consent.

Believe me I try my best to protect Computer Hope users from fraudulent or otherwise intrusive ads (e.g. embedded page link ads). 

[Computer Hope Admin]

Fixed and refined the Google search test some more. One of the new changes is the addition of refinements, which right now displays a "forum" and "news" link clicking on either of these after a search will refine the searches so they only display results for that refinement. For example, in the case of forum it will only display results that are on the forum.

So far after a few hours of hard core testing it looks promising that something like this will become the new search on Computer Hope.

[Zylstra]

Looks workable!

The only cons I can see is that, possibly, it could take about a day for new results to show up on the Google search, but there is still the old forum search.

I do certainly like how it is capable of organizing things down to the forums, and news.
Are you going to add the possibilities of having the ComputerHope "Questions and Answers Pages" "Dictionary Pages" and "Computer Game Page" filters?

(I couldent help but mention, <not a complaint> that when you get your search results, it shows all the posts at once.)

[Computer Hope Admin]

You're correct about it potentially taking a few days to index the pages. Not sure if this would be improved or not if the business edition is used, only time will tell.

Added "Q&A" and "Dictionary" to filters. Thanks for the suggestions.

(I couldent help but mention, <not a complaint> that when you get your search results, it shows all the posts at once.)

Not sure what you mean by this?

[Computer Hope Admin]

Added some additional exclusions to filter out results for indexed forum pages that are only sorts of a page and other misc. results to help clean up forum results.

[Zylstra]

(I couldent help but mention, <not a complaint> that when you get your search results, it shows all the posts at once.)

Not sure what you mean by this?

When you find a multipage post, it just shows all the posts at once (using the ALL action)

Compare this:
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,32889.0.html
with this:
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,32889.0/all.html
(Just an observation, I think its fine that way)

[Computer Hope Admin]

I've upgraded the search to the business edition and have created a new search that should appear very similar to the original test version. The latest and likely home of the new search will be at the below address.

http://www.computerhope.com/search.htm

I'll be working on tweaking it a little more and discussing some options with Google before implementing this on all Computer Hope pages.

In addition I've been kicking around the idea of implementing a search box into the default layout of the forum. This search box would allow users to quickly type in what they're searching instead of having to click the search button. This could also potentially promote more users to search before asking the question. Let me know if you approve / disapprove of that idea as well.

As always feedback is appreciated.

[Richenstony]

I think thats a pretty good idea whether it will deter people or not before posting is another story , people never seem to read the rules of the fourm , i dont know whether this is a good idea or not , but sending a copy of the rules automactially to the members when they join ..... you got more chance of them reading them then ...... but the search pluged into the main page is a great idea on the terms of a boast search , rather than being directed to a search box.....

Tony

[Comp Guy]

How do I search for posts by a certain memeber? I used to be able to do that.

[Computer Hope Admin]

How do I search for posts by a certain memeber? I used to be able to do that.

Try searching for just the users name. For example, this search was for "comp guy" and refined to just forum searches. Of course the page has to be indexed, before it will show on the search, so more recent posts may not be found immediately.

[Zylstra]

I like the idea of putting a search box directly on the top boarder, (across from Dictionary, Forums, etc)

Its in an area where people can see it

As for forum rules:
A lot of frequent forum and internet users that are experience (even at a lower level) with registrations are used to ignoring rules.
Why ignore them?
Its always the same thing. Don't use vulgar expressions, don't go about posting anything illegal, don't post spam or unhelpful things.

On this forum, users should be wary on which section they use, and searching first. I don't think that there is a very easy way of getting to do this, without causing others inconvenience.

Implementing an easy to notice search, and a welcome email sounds great, and less inconvenient to our users.

[Saving disk space -  old attachment deleted by admin]

[Dilbert]

I like that, but I don't know how easy that is to implement...

[Computer Hope Admin]

I've added a search similar to the one you suggested Zylstra. As far as creating a welcome message / e-mail. Still working out the details on that with this forum system. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Zylstra]

The search box looks great, hopefully that will get the new registrants attention.

[CBMatt]

I didn't even notice the addition!  Heh.  That's great, Nathan, I really like it.

[Comp Guy]

Yay, it worked! I found the thread!

And I agree, that little search box is really nice.

One more thing, I hope this isn't hyjacking the thread, but I attempted to put my AIM name in my profile, but apparently it was too long, and I couldn't fit it all in.

[CBMatt]

One more thing, I hope this isn't hyjacking the thread, but I attempted to put my AIM name in my profile, but apparently it was too long, and I couldn't fit it all in.

What you're putting into the AIM field is an e-mail address.  And the maximum length of an AIM username is 16 characters, which your e-mail address exceeds.  Are you sure it isn't supposed to be just [name] (without the @[email provider].com)?

It may be "too little too late", but Comp Guy is correct in the below post.

[Comp Guy]

Umm.... didn't you just post my address for everyone to see?

And no, when I singed up, it had the option of just using your email address.

[Chris99]

Cool....... exept i really really need help now please check computer hardware for "Please Help!" it has to do with network cards/internet

[CBMatt]

Umm.... didn't you just post my address for everyone to see?

Sorry, I didn't think much of it because you have it in your profile (in my defense, I posted it in segments...heh).  Well, in any case, Dilbert removed it.

And no, when I singed up, it had the option of just using your email address.

Wasn't aware they ever did that; I've never seen it before.

[Comp Guy]

Umm.... didn't you just post my address for everyone to see?

Sorry, I didn't think much of it because you have it in your profile (in my defense, I posted it in segments...heh).  Well, in any case, Dilbert removed it.

It's quite alright, I was just messing with you.

And no, when I singed up, it had the option of just using your email address.

Wasn't aware they ever did that; I've never seen it before.

Well I got a new screen name anyway, so it all fits now.