change in BBS Search function

[clerick]

Minor point, but I've been trying to search the forums for information on various planes and am having an issue with many since the designations are often three characters.  I will try a search using the planes "name" but they aren't  often called a lightning or wildcat et.c.

[whiteman]

I second this

[Redlegs]

I agree.

[DoNKeY]

Word up.



donkey

[Mr No Name]

absofreakinlutely

[Latrobe]

Yes!

I wanna be able to search the word "A"

[clerick]

Originally posted by Latrobe
Yes!

I wanna be able to search the word "A"

Obviously there needs to be SOME limitations, but there should be some work around for this.  I have tried searching "p-40" but the system ignores the "-" and sees it as 3 characters.

[JB73]

this has been brought up before, and IIRC Skuzzy mentioned the problem inherent with having 3 character searching the database.

database queries can get really complicated, and I personally don't know enough about them, but I do know it is an issue of the search, and the size of the cache.

in the past there were problems with the scoring database, multiple searches taking enormous processing powers, and it messed with the arenas. why? the arenas have to send data to the scoring database, and if the arena server can't send that data it messes it up.

here on the board in the past there were times multiple searches took so much processing power that the board crashed.


I do know it's not about "getting a more powerful server"

At work I manage a database server that is not "huge" it has about 150GB of image data, but with a xeon processor, 3GB ram, and a gigabyte connection it still can take up to 20 seconds for some queries.


the software powering the board is another issue. if the software were to allow "cached" searches like "la7" "b29" or whatever maybe they could implement those, but I don't think the software has that capability.



now I could be completely wrong on this, but I do remember Skuzzy mentioning the database issues 1 time when the search character limit was pushed up to 4 characters.

Skuzzy if you could let me / them know if I am close to correct on this, thanks.

[clerick]

Maybe that is the solution.  Have a select box with the plane types in it, you can choose from there.  It eliminates the idiots who would search for the letter "A" and allows a pre-cached search for what i assume is a very common topic.

[Meatwad]

Yes!!!

Many a search came up under the minimum character length and make Meatwad very frustrated

[Latrobe]

Originally posted by clerick
Maybe that is the solution.  Have a select box with the plane types in it, you can choose from there.  It eliminates the idiots who would search for the letter "A" and allows a pre-cached search for what i assume is a very common topic.

Hey, I may be completly stupid, nuts and/or crazy but I'm no idiot......I tink.

[clerick]

well... you ARE a spit dweeb......