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Change Search to allow 3 Characters,


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#1 Keebler

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Posted 07 July 2012 - 10:21 AM

Too often I attempt to search for a 3 letter word or acronym and get the 4 character limit.

I only ask this be changed because it increases the chances of NOT finding what I am looking for, and would then increase the likelihood of me creating another thread that would already exist but is unable to be found through normal search procedures.

That is all.

#2 RenegadeMaster

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Posted 07 July 2012 - 10:59 AM

I agree that the 4 letter word requirement can get annoying with certain search terms, but my guess is that a DBA may have encouraged this to ensure quicker search results and somewhat less load on the forum servers.

One workaround of sorts that I do is search for a phrase using quotes that includes the 1-3 letter word. For example, when I wanted to see any Suggestion threads regarding user created maps, I did a search like: "create map"

This "bypasses" the 4 letter word requirement since this performs a search for that exact phrase.

#3 Team Leader

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Posted 07 July 2012 - 11:15 AM

yes plz, wud be gud
(you see wat I did thr?)

#4 Hayashi

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Posted 07 July 2012 - 11:25 AM

+1 to this.

#5 William Thor

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Posted 10 July 2012 - 07:12 AM

yes please!

#6 Bansheedragon75

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Posted 10 July 2012 - 09:05 AM

View PostRenegadeMaster, on 07 July 2012 - 10:59 AM, said:

I agree that the 4 letter word requirement can get annoying with certain search terms, but my guess is that a DBA may have encouraged this to ensure quicker search results and somewhat less load on the forum servers.

One workaround of sorts that I do is search for a phrase using quotes that includes the 1-3 letter word. For example, when I wanted to see any Suggestion threads regarding user created maps, I did a search like: "create map"

This "bypasses" the 4 letter word requirement since this performs a search for that exact phrase.


Does this way of doing a search also work for 3 letter words or phrases?
The way you suggest may work in many cases, but there are times where what I search for contains only 3 letters.
So tell me, how do I search for a 3 letter word using a minimum of 4 letters?

I may be searching for an acronym that contains only 3 letters where it would not be possible to search using 4 or more letters without finding everything except what I'm looking for or I would have to look through several pages of threads that has absolutely nothing to do with what I'm searching for.

In those cases I could just as well try to look through all the forum threads for all the good it would do me.

I had these issues myself and would like to see it changed to 3 letters instead of 4.

Edited by Dragonlord, 10 July 2012 - 09:14 AM.


#7 Jost

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Posted 10 July 2012 - 09:08 AM

Agreed for particular mwo-specific words. Like lrm, srm, tag, and fps. Phrases would also be good.

And stars-and-garters, but it's frustrating not even to be able to search for some 4-letter words (like "narc").

Edited by Jost, 10 July 2012 - 10:24 AM.


#8 RenegadeMaster

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Posted 10 July 2012 - 11:01 AM

View PostDragonlord, on 10 July 2012 - 09:05 AM, said:


Does this way of doing a search also work for 3 letter words or phrases?
The way you suggest may work in many cases, but there are times where what I search for contains only 3 letters.
So tell me, how do I search for a 3 letter word using a minimum of 4 letters?

I may be searching for an acronym that contains only 3 letters where it would not be possible to search using 4 or more letters without finding everything except what I'm looking for or I would have to look through several pages of threads that has absolutely nothing to do with what I'm searching for.

In those cases I could just as well try to look through all the forum threads for all the good it would do me.

I had these issues myself and would like to see it changed to 3 letters instead of 4.


No, putting a single 3 letter (or less) word in quotes does not work around the forums' current search functionality, sorry.

#9 Bansheedragon75

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Posted 10 July 2012 - 11:36 AM

So if I want to find some information about sqay LRM's, what do I do then?
I cant search for LRM, as I will get told I need 4 letters, and I cant add another letter as that would change the search to something completely different.
And using spaces does not count, you will still get told you need at least 4 letters.
And in case youre wondering I actually tried with a space, and got told I need at least 4 letters.

Edited by Dragonlord, 10 July 2012 - 11:38 AM.


#10 Sardaukar

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Posted 09 August 2012 - 07:03 PM

This needs to be done.

#11 Mister Haha

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Posted 12 August 2012 - 10:50 AM

technically, this is bad. idealistically, good!

users type in "the" and destroy the database.

#12 Smarmet

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Posted 14 August 2012 - 07:29 AM

It would be better (and not hard) to blacklist words like the or and than to remove all searches for 3 letter words. "Map" is a key word I need to be searchable before I can post intelligently on my thoughts for map design. The system we have now leads to people either giving up and not posting because they assume it's been said (me) or endless streams of duplicate posts.
We can't even work around this with google, because it doesn't index the beta forums.

Edit: further searching turned up the map* workaround. This should be in the top post of every thread that comes up for "search"

To explain for people who drop in this thread, you can search for three letter terms by appending wildcards, e.g. map*, ppc* op**

Edited by Smarmet, 14 August 2012 - 07:32 AM.






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