[MUST READ!] LF101: Searching Made Easy (well...easier.)

[Exie]

LF101: Searching Made Easy

I felt the need to write up a search tutorial, since some people are either:

• new and didnt know about it
• dont know how
• intimidated
• too lazy

Or for whatever other reason. Really...it doesnt take long and it's not as hard as it seems.

A few comments:

Duplicate threads...
New users often post threads out of excitement of wanting to talk about a particular subject in the show. Please understand, we try to have subjects consolidated as much as possible to avoid the need to wade through a hundred threads and conversations on the same subject. It keeps our forum clean and neat and shiny. And by the way, new users arent the only ones who do this. *hint hint* We are not here to search your topics for you.

If your thread gets closed...
Please dont be offended if your thread gets closed because it's already being discussed (unless you've been told multiple times.) If you feel that your topic merits its own thread separate from the current discussion, you can PM a mod and ask them...do not create a new thread for the sole purpose of complaining about a closed thread or as a substitute for a private message. PM'ing a mod does not guarantee a go-ahead. It's up to the mods' discretion.

Searching...finally!
First of all, let me say that it may take a few times to refine your search to really find what you're looking for. The search function is not a magic button that can read your mind. It's a computer...that means, garbage in, garbage out. You get what you put into it.

So! First off, let me point out the three places to search. You can search the entire forum, you can search in one forum (or a group of forums), or you can search within a thread. (Of course, there's the Advanced Search, as well, but I'll get to that later.)

Searching the Entire Forum

Searching in an Individual Forum

Searching Within a Thread

Best thing to do is to first try to figure out which main forum your topic might be located in. For instance, if you want to find out more about the Orientation video, it might be in your best interests to start in the 2x03: Orientation thread. If it's a pretty major subject (for instance, the Orientation video or Henry Gale), scan the stickies in that forum first, as well as the first page or so. (Dont forget, there is more than one page of threads!) If you just dont know where to go, start with the main search function (near the top of the page, see first graphic.)

Try to use more words (and more unique words) to narrow down your topic better. Also, the search will kick out any words with less than 4 letters. This does pose quite a challenge in some cases.

Then, when your search results come up, you might have dozens of threads listed. Skim the first few pages, and if you see a thread that might be relevant to your topic, click that thread, then perform the Search Within A Thread. This is cool because it will bring up every post in the thread with your search words highlighted in red. Or, you can start off this way, like I was saying above, if you know what forum your topic might be in.

Example 1: Basic Forum Search

I want to find out more about the key in the S2 Season Finale. I go to Episode Discussion/Season Two, then 2x23/24. I then perform a Search This Forum (see graphic #2). Using the keyword "key" obviously will not work, since it is less than 4 letters. What now?
Well, we know Desmond used the key. Searching keyword "Desmond" in this forum brings up 3 pages of results! Hm. Let's try "Desmond turn", since we know he "turn"ed the key. Down to one page of results, so that's better! Scrolling down, we see the thread "Turn of the key". Clicking it and scanning the first few lines shows us that it is the correct thread.

You can also try the Advanced Search. Click any of the search buttons mentioned above and when the search box pops up the link to Advanced Search will be right below it.

the Advanced Search gateway

Here, you can search Titles Only, or within a certain thread (or more than one--just hold down the Ctrl key (PC users) and click which ones you want), you can search by the date it was posted, or even by username.


the Advanced Search Page

And remember, when you get your list of threads that correspond to your search results, you can glance at the Forum column and kind of filter out which ones you know will not be relevant (for instance, if you want to find out more about the video, you wont be looking in the FanFic section, probably, even though the search results say it's there.)

Example 2: Searching Posts vs. Searching Titles

You want to find threads on the real Henry's balloon, but cant remember what episode it was in. Start with the main Search (see graphic #1). Trying "balloon" (a pretty non-common term for this show, dontcha think?) brings up ELEVEN PAGES of results!
Try again. Search "Henry" and "balloon". Well, down to 3 pages. Let's try a different approach.
Start all over, but this time go to Advanced Search (see graphics #4 and 5.) Type in "balloon" in the keyword box, but this time click the dropdown menu below it and change the selection from "Search Entire Posts" to "Search Titles Only". w00t! One page of threads, with four stickies into the bargain! A quick scan shows that obviously the thread about the supply drop is not what you want. Hey, third one down is the "The Balloon!" sticky!

Example 3: Searching Posts in Individual Threads

I think the reason why people cant leave the Island is because it's in a bubble...kind of like that movie The Truman Show. Hmm, wonder if anyone else has thought of this? Search keyword Truman, using the Titles Only feature. One thread in Archives...cant post there! Lets see...I know this is a theory, so I'll go to the Theories forum. Search Truman. The Truman Show is mentioned in several threads. What if I want to see different takes on this topic, but in more ambiguous threads, like the Space Colony thread (I'm wondering what that has to do with the Truman Show?) Click Search This Thread; search Truman. One post pops up, with Truman highlighted in red.

Also on the subject of Search This Thread, during the LF Matching Avatar and Banner contest, entries were posted in this thread. I wanted to see all the posts with entries for me, so I searched the word Execute within that thread. That brought up a list of the posts with my name, so I was able to click on each one to view that person's contest entry for me.

Also, if you are viewing a thread with several posts, you can use the Find feature in your web browser.

Another thing...if you want to find your own posts, a quicker way is to just go to Quick Links (near the top of the page), then click My Profile, then "Find all posts by MyUsername." Use the Advanced Search to find posts by a certain user.

I hope this helps anyone. Feel free to argue with me or ask a question (pm's are welcome if you feel uncomfortable asking a question on screen!)