What's With the "Search" Feature

JoeLogger

JoeLogger

Location
PA, USA
What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

I imagine this has been discussed, but I couldn't find anything.

Many times when doing a search, I get a page that says:

[ QUOTE ]
You cannot make another search at this time. Please try again in a few minutes.

Please use your back button to return to the previous page.

[/ QUOTE ]

What's up with that? It's as if I am being penalized for making more than one search in some arbitrary period of time. So if I do a search that returns no results, I have to guess how long to wait to make another search?

I'm at a loss to understand the logic here, or is it a bug in the forum software?
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

I know, it sucks. You have to wait a certain amount of time before it allows you to do it.

There outta be a way in the forum configuration to tweak that.
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

I've never hit the limit, I guess. I reckon it's to keep anyone from hogging system resources. I'd imagine the search function is a relative heavyweight.

If it were an automated mechanism running from somewhere else searching this site, it could easily bring the site to its knees. With the "cool-down period" they'll likely just go away. And if it's an arbitrary-length one, they'll not get wise and try again when the period is over.

All in all, I think this forum software is right up there in terms of usability/functionality and, except for disallowing HTML input, it's configured pretty well, too.

Glen
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

[ QUOTE ]
I've never hit the limit, I guess. I reckon it's to keep anyone from hogging system resources. I'd imagine the search function is a relative heavyweight.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I hit the limit every time I try to do a second search when the first doesn't return what I want. Do a search on something, then pretend it returned no results and immediately do another search, I'll bet you'll hit the limit.

[ QUOTE ]
If it were an automated mechanism running from somewhere else searching this site, it could easily bring the site to its knees. With the "cool-down period" they'll likely just go away. And if it's an arbitrary-length one, they'll not get wise and try again when the period is over.

[/ QUOTE ]

If that is the case, why can't the limitation be turned off for registered users. That should still eliminate situations where the search is invoked by a guest such as a spider or spam software.
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

Just searched for "something inane" in both subject and body, all forums, limited to the last year, 25 posts per page, no previews. Got 200 results. Then searched for "inane", other parameters all the same, got 3 results. Typed all this. Searched again for "clean carabiner", all other parameters the same, got 200 results. Typed this and the previous sentence. Searched again for "question about forums", all other parameters the same, got 200 results.

What am I doing "wrong"? I don't have javascript enabled; maybe it has something to do with that? (didn't look, but doubt it)

What are the conditions and terms you're using?

Glen
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

Glens,

Thanks for trying. I don't think you "are doing anything wrong", but there is definitely a difference in the way our systems respond. Here is what I did:

I started a new search using:

All Forums
In subject and body
Newer than 1 year

and did a search on "srq" which an obvious typo and returned no results. So I hit the search button again, set the same criteria but entered "srt", and got the "You cannot make another search..." page.

I attempt 4-5 searches in a row at times and get this message each time until it finally decides enough time has elapsed and then lets the search go through.

BTW, it is a not a javascript popup message, so I don't think that is the issue.
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

Since my last post above:

Javascript: on
Forums: all
Search: subject and body
Date range: 1 year
Posts/page: 25
Preview: yes

(plus typing all this afterward for 13 minutes total time, but the searches were all back-to-back-to-back)

Search results for query: question about forums
Results 1 - 25 of 200
(no previews on this one)

Search results for query: horse logging
Results 1 - 25 of 136

Search results for query: backing srt (Excluded Words: up)
Results 1 - 25 of 200

Search results for query: search limits
Results 1 - 25 of 200

Search results for query: +block +dead +rig
Results 1 - 15 of 15
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

[ QUOTE ]
did a search on "srq" which an obvious typo and returned no results. So I hit the search button again, set the same criteria but entered "srt", and got the "You cannot make another search..." page.

I attempt 4-5 searches in a row at times and get this message each time until it finally decides enough time has elapsed and then lets the search go through.

[/ QUOTE ]
I just duplicated all that you'd mentioned, but I did get a result for "srq" (your post above!). Immediately afterward I got 1-25 of 200 for "srt".

Maybe the difference is I'm using Linux? :)
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

OK, here is another thought. I am a new member classified as a "stranger". I wonder if it is possible that this "feature" only appears until you reach a higher level of membership. Although I doubt this is the case, because MB appears to have experienced it also.

I'm baffled, so I guess I'll just wait for one of the moderators to explain what's happening.

Thanks again for taking the time to test it Glens, and I'm glad you don't have this problem.
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe the difference is I'm using Linux? :)

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm using a Mac, for what it's worth.
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

One other possibility I just eliminated was that I use an onion router proxy, so the hits to the site might come from different IP addresses. I disabled the proxy, tried for "srz" (no results), "str" (1-25 of 200), and "srt" (1-25 of 200). All immediately following each other.

Get a decent computer operating system! hahaha!

But seriously, I cannot duplicate your result. Sorry.

Glen
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

[ QUOTE ]
I guess I'll just wait for one of the moderators to explain what's happening.

[/ QUOTE ]
( they may well ask me! :)

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks again for taking the time to test it Glens, and I'm glad you don't have this problem.

[/ QUOTE ]
The real irony of it all is that I rarely use the search...

[ QUOTE ]
I'm using a Mac, for what it's worth.

[/ QUOTE ]
Congrats! OSX?

Are you using Safari? That's essentially the same code-base as Konqueror, which I'm using...

Glen
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

[ QUOTE ]
Get a decent computer operating system! hahaha!

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, it ain't Windoze, so I think it qualifies as decent. LOL.

Besides, we need to stick together since we're both part of the "other" category of OS users.
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

Oops, our posts crossed in cyberspace.

Yes, OSX and Safari.

I'm not sure what's going on but my guess is that is something built in to the PHP script for the forum software.
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

Well I think I've conclusively shown it's not within the PHP. Maybe, since I'm running with Spartan options enabled in the forum the difference lies there.

You should get Mac's new mouse with many buttons and a scroll ball so you can become productive http://www.apple.com/mightymouse/
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

[ QUOTE ]
Well I think I've conclusively shown it's not within the PHP.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not so sure.

When this occurs, I am presented with a specific TreeBuzz HTML page that displays that message, I don't see how anything in my system could be controlling it. It seems to me that it must be the PHP script that is choosing when to display that page based on some unknown criteria.
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

When I log onto treebuzz I just hit the last 24 hours of new messages. I get a list of search results and click a link. After reading the post I hit the back button to show the search results again. About 20% of the time, I get the try again later screen. I normally hit refresh a few times and it comes back.

Not the end of the world but a little annoying

Dave
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

Hi!

Jim and I just got into our hotel in Nashville. First thing I do is check emails and then TB :) I use a Mac OSX3 right now. I don't know much about the searchstuff. If it's a technical question we'll probably have to wait until we get back home to get it to our techies.

When I log on, I go to the bottom, like Dave, and hit "last XX hours" and then work my way backwards to get caught up. I've never hit any kind of time-out for searches though.

Have patience and stick around!
 
Re: What\'s With the \"Search\" Feature

Thanks Tom,

Yes, I can also get the "Cannot proceed..." screen using the "Last 24 hours" link also, apparently because they both use the same software logic. In fact, it appears that they both call the same dosearch.php script.

Try this to see if you get the message.

From the bottom of the Main Index page, hit the "Last 24 hours" link. When the results page appears, go back to the Main Index page and hit the "Last 24 hours" link again. Doing this, I will get that "Cannot proceed..." screen every time.

As Dave indicated, not the end of the world, but a bit annoying.

Again, thank for looking into it.
 
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