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we need a search program here


  • sidewinder
    Aug 3 8:55 PM
    Reply
    we need a search program at AP that works badly

  • Scott Adelmann
    August 3
    Reply
    lol

    We already have one that works badly.

  • sidewinder
    August 3
    Reply
    and scott your two cents can't be seen here by either of us so why are you commenting?.

  • sidewinder
    August 3
    Reply
    what I'm saying is that you have me on ignore and I do you as well.

    • Scott Adelmann
      August 4
      Reply
      I have never put sidewinder on ignore. I am not that dumb.

      And, sidewinder, why would you put me on ignore and then sneak around to see what I am saying? Since I would never comment on one of your little poems, I don't know what you think you are doing.

      The very fact that I could post to this thread indicates that I can, in fact, see it. and the very fact that you have responded to me proves that you can see it (in spite of my presence on your Ignore list).

      Any other questions, snake?

  • Papagallo
    August 4
    Reply
    i am ready to leave AP i get too much trash

  • sidewinder
    August 5
    Reply
    point is google doesn't work if you have work posted beyond two yrs here

  • sidewinder
    August 5
    Reply
    and if you research what you have posted you don't have access to it

  • Scott Adelmann
    August 5
    Reply
    Too bad this isn't on the Policy board where it belongs - it might get answered there.

  • sidewinder
    August 6
    Reply
    no you're wrong ..... it never did get answered

  • sidewinder
    August 7
    Reply
    the problem is ...I Have....
    I've researched several places and keep coming up with the very same thing. other sites have reliable search engines but unfortunately either have complex user unfriendly sites...where the site is unusable from user's point of view. don't offer what AP does. or as far as posting put major limitations on what one can post on those particular sites. and actually when I did a poll when we got into it so badly... there was 83% of those who voted who wanted a reliable search engine or some type of achieve system where one can store their material or at a later time retrieve it for one's personal use. Is it that hard for Kevin to come up with something?

  • sidewinder
    August 7
    Reply
    he did the same thing at storywrite. why not here?

    • Scott Adelmann
      August 7
      Reply
      I'm thinking volume is the issue. There are a lot more poems posted here than there are stories at Storywrite. I think I remember Kevin once talking about the strain that a full search puts onto the server, slowing the entire site down. (They used to have a message like that which would pop up when you did a search - maybe on the bottom of the search results - I can't remember exactly.)

      So, I guess the real problem is figuring out a reliable search engine that can handle the volume on AP without necessitating whole buildings of server (like Google and Yahoo have).

      Personally, I just remove my older work and store it on my home computer. I usually try to keep it around 500 pieces. I guess I just do the best I can with what I have.

  • sidewinder
    August 7
    Reply
    as i said google and yahoo when you have material that you post 2 yrs down the line... don't recognize that material. so to me they are completely useless if I need to find something or I'm not sure whether down the line I've already posted the piece. if i have it written or I've posted someplace else... thought I've lost it...and at the same time want to keep my readership with something else to read and comment on

  • sidewinder
    August 7
    Reply
    and I'm sure I'm not the only one with this problem that is an older member at this site

    • Scott Adelmann
      August 7
      Reply
      So, here is what you do: go to the "My Account" page. In the right column you will find link marked "Export your work into your word processor". When you click that link, you will be given all of your work in a different list format, one after another. If you have the newest version of Internet Explorer or Firefox (or even a Google Toolbar), you will find a function labelled something like "Find on this page". Simply type in the Name of your poem and the search will take you right to it if it is there. That took me less time than it takes to write this sentence.

      It really is simple and it is completely effective as long as you know how to get to that search function. And you don't need to download them into your computer for this purpose. Nearly every computer is equipped, somehow, to search within a file. If you can't do it that way, you can definitely go to the File button of your browser and "Save as" - this will give you the option of downloading the entire file to your hard drive. Be sure to save it as a >txt file. Then open your computers Windows Explorer and access the search function. Search the file for the title you are looking for. This method is also 100% effective.

      I guess Kevin will not make it a priority as long as it can be done this easily. The only problem I have found is that I cannot search other people's work the same way - but that isn't why you are asking for this, is it?

      • Barbara
        August 10
        Reply
        Even clicking Control + F brings up a find box. Type something in it, and it will find it on the page you're on.

    • Scott Adelmann
      August 7
      Reply
      And, now, having been given two perfectly good methods to search your work, each time you ask for something that already really exists off-site. So, what you probably should do is try it for a while - it might take a few minutes the first time as you are looking for the various functions on your computer.

      Is it reasonable for Kevin to expect that I would take a few minutes to learn how to use a function, rather than demand that he spend hours writing something so I can do it onsite? Is is reasonable to ask me to use a function that already exists and won't necessitate the use of more and more expensive servers?

      Give it a serious try, Bill. You won't be disappointed.

    • AnnD
      August 8
      Reply
      To add to Scott's good suggestions here,
      you could also try having your work psted over several accounts.
      That way you could have say 500 posts per account, maybe brak them down into categories or something, in that way, the existing search engine will work perfectly well for you on every account you own.
      Just a suggestion.

      Ann
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