Help Finding Content in Old Threads

[Blue Monkey]

The search system bites (imho). After a frustrating half hour trying to use it I can't even find most of what I myself wrote about map design. When I do stumble across a post where I link to that content the linking bbcode was broken in the process of transferring to this newer site set-up.

Maybe I just don't know how to work the search engine properly. If anyone has experience-based advice on quickly finding content in old threads please let me know how to do it. Kind of hard to pull together material for a tutorial if I can't even find what I already wrote.

 

[Synobun]

The search system bites (imho). After a frustrating half hour trying to use it I can't even find most of what I myself wrote about map design. When I do stumble across a post where I link to that content the linking bbcode was broken in the process of transferring to this newer site set-up.

Maybe I just don't know how to work the search engine properly. If anyone has experience-based advice on quickly finding content in old threads please let me know how to do it. Kind of hard to pull together material for a tutorial if I can't even find what I already wrote.

The search function here on CFC does not even load for me 80% of the time. I use Google with the prefix of site:forums.civfanatics.com in the search bar so it only looks up thread results on the site.

 

[Blue Monkey]

OK, I've already tried using an external search engine that I have found to be very efficient for my needs in general. You do the following experiment: Find something I wrote about tiles, accurate maps, and including a screenshot. Then find a post of mine in a completely different thread discussing geometry and game play as relevant to map design. That one needs to include a screenshot as well. Find a post of mine about manipulating a map of the Andes, including satellite imagery. Then - using the search engine you recommend - find the post referred to in the sentence: "Here's a post ,with discussion following on in further posts, illustrating the problems with converting a square, one pixel over another, image into the isometric tile-shaped maps of Civ." Demonstrate that you can find all of that in less than 10 minutes - which is how long a similar search would have taken me in the old system - then i'll accept your post as useful advice about how to effectively use the built-in search function on this site.

 

[Theov]

I have a problem finding stuff too.
I was searching Advisors - but I ran into maybe 2 usable era-mood-specific advisors. There must be more out there.
And a lot of the links are dead. It's sad really.

 

[Synobun]

OK, I've already tried using an external search engine that I have found to be very efficient for my needs in general. You do the following experiment: Find something I wrote about tiles, accurate maps, and including a screenshot. Then find a post of mine in a completely different thread discussing geometry and game play as relevant to map design. That one needs to include a screenshot as well. Find a post of mine about manipulating a map of the Andes, including satellite imagery. Then - using the search engine you recommend - find the post referred to in the sentence: "Here's a post ,with discussion following on in further posts, illustrating the problems with converting a square, one pixel over another, image into the isometric tile-shaped maps of Civ." Demonstrate that you can find all of that in less than 10 minutes - which is how long a similar search would have taken me in the old system - then i'll accept your post as useful advice about how to effectively use the built-in search function on this site.

Maybe if you weren't so aggressive. As it stands I don't have a real reason to do what you've asked in this reply. Your OP asked us what we used to find content on CFC. I told you what I used. If you wanted us to meet your standards of usefulness and do the searching for you, you should have opened with your standards and your desires.

 

[Laurana Kanan]

@Blue Monkey My sympathies. I complained of a similar problem when searching for units earlier this year without discovering much in the way of a solution. I've basically had to rely on my own memory, personal library of d/l's, and browser bookmarks. Have you tried using the wildcard character " * " in your searches (i.e. "design*")? That's helped me some.

 

[Theov]

You can go to the specific forum (customization) for example and search from there in 'this forum only'.
I ran into a few new things this way that I otherwise wouldn't have seen.

The libraries on top here https://forums.civfanatics.com/forums/civ3-graphics-modpacks.61/ are pretty good, but it doesn't make me find everything.

 

[Blue Monkey]

Maybe if you weren't so aggressive.

If I came off as aggressive it was in response to a post that was absolutely not on point.

Your OP asked us what we used to find content on CFC. ... you should have opened with your standards and your desires.

My OP asked for advice on using the search system built into this site more effectively. More specifically, using the search engine built into this site to find posts I myself wrote on specific topics. And the OP asked specifically for detailed advice based on experience using the search engine built into this site. If I wanted to know about what external search engines people use I would have asked for that. Not sure why that wasn't clear enough for you.

As it stands I don't have a real reason to do what you've asked in this reply.

There's this thing called a rhetorical device ...

@Blue MonkeyHave you tried using the wildcard character " * " in your searches (i.e. "design*")? That's helped me some.

Thanks for the advice. Been using Boolean operators in data searches for about the last 30 years. But the concept of a wildcard character is a new one on me. That should really narrow down the results I've been getting.

You can go to the specific forum (customization) for example and search from there in 'this forum only'.
I ran into a few new things this way that I otherwise wouldn't have seen.

Really? This thread is in the C&C subforum. I'm looking for content in the C&C subforum. I'm looking for specific content by specific people. In the C&C subforum, not anywhere else. But it would not have occurred to me to limit the search. Thanks for the link to the top level of the Graphics Modpack subforum by the way. The place where finished work is posted is definitely the proper place to look for general discussions on design techniques.

If I sound frustrated, I am. Because the responses so far amount to saying that the most effective way to use the built-in search function to quickly track down content I already know exists is to use an external search engine with a wildcard character so the keywords return even more results than what I'm having to wade through now, or just browse entire subforums on the random chance I'll find what I'm looking for. Sort of reminds me of all the " I dunno" responses you see on help forums across the web.

 

[Synobun]

Sounds like you've got it all figured out then. Good luck.

 

[Bluemofia]

I did this in about 10 minutes, though depending on what you are looking for exactly, I might be off. What I did was use the generic CFC search function ( https://forums.civfanatics.com/search/ ) , using key words that you listed, and searched for posts by you.

Find something I wrote about tiles, accurate maps, and including a screenshot.

https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/an-ancient-india-scenario.445086/page-5#post-11051798

Keywords: Tiles accurate maps

Then find a post of mine in a completely different thread discussing geometry and game play as relevant to map design. That one needs to include a screenshot as well.

https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/rise-of-asia.163483/page-14#post-4227443

This one was the hardest. Keywords: game play map design

You didn't actually include Geometry in the post, but you talked about other shapes, and I wasted time looking for posts with the word "Geometry" in it.

Find a post of mine about manipulating a map of the Andes, including satellite imagery.

https://forums.civfanatics.com/thre...development-thread.230225/page-5#post-6067457

Keywords: Andes

Then - using the search engine you recommend - find the post referred to in the sentence: "Here's a post ,with discussion following on in further posts, illustrating the problems with converting a square, one pixel over another, image into the isometric tile-shaped maps of Civ."

https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/image-to-map-converter.269698/#post-6671267

Keywords: problems converting isometric

 

[tom2050]

If I sound frustrated, I am. Because the responses so far amount to saying that the most effective way to use the built-in search function to quickly track down content I already know exists is to use an external search engine with a wildcard character so the keywords return even more results than what I'm having to wade through now, or just browse entire subforums on the random chance I'll find what I'm looking for. Sort of reminds me of all the " I dunno" responses you see on help forums across the web.

We all, obviously, have to deal with the same search engine as you do. Everyone was giving helpful advice and alternatives on what has helped them out a bit, which is what it sounded like to me that you were asking for. One thing that helps, is if you are frustrated with something, before you click 'Post Reply', take a breather for 15 or 20 minutes to shake it off, and then re-read what you wrote, and how it comes off. Re-word it so it's not so harsh.. That way you aren't taking your frustrations out on other people, but you keep them aimed at the issue.

As you might remember, long ago I used to do that also from time to time.

My alternative is to keep searching over and over again trying different keywords over and over again until I finally find it. And wishing for the old search system while I'm doing that. Generally it doesn't take too long, but seems to pick up certain keywords better than others.

 

[Bluemofia]

One thing I have noticed when using the base CFC search function, is that quotation marks and asterisks don't seem to work that well. I generally stick to using specific keywords rather than being fancy about it to search for exact quotes, especially if I mis-remember what the actual quote is.

 

[Laurana Kanan]

I haven't had much luck using quotation marks either, but using a wildcard character (*) has definitely helped in my searches.

A big problem that I've noticed, however, is with units that have designations with only two sequential letters/numbers. For instance, the Apache helicopter AH-64*. Now I already know there are a few units in the d/b as AH-64D or AH-64A, and if the title/description of the unit has Apache, you can search for that and you're good. But if it doesn't, you have to use it's designation. Unfortunately, unlike the previous board search function, the hyphen does not count as a character so a straight search for AH-64 results in an error. Also using wildcards with either AH or 64, doesn't bring up any proper results. Searching for 64A or 64D also results in many irrelevant results.

 

[Theov]

Sometimes it's more of knowing where to look.
You got to use the search function in a particular sub-forum to narrow down the results.
Search in the particular libraries that are made. Like the ones here:
https://forums.civfanatics.com/forums/civ3-graphics-modpacks.61/

 

[Laurana Kanan]

Unfortunately, that's not really relevant. It's not a question of narrowing down results, it's a question of actually getting the desired results. In any event, I always search the relevant sub-forum or d/l section anyway instead of the global search function. The "Apache" searches I mentioned above were all conducted in the d/l database under Civ 3 - Unit Graphics & Civ3 - Modern Units. Although this is a problem with any unit that has short hyphenated designations.

 

[Theov]

Unfortunately, that's not really relevant. It's not a question of narrowing down results, it's a question of actually getting the desired results. In any event, I always search the relevant sub-forum or d/l section anyway instead of the global search function. The "Apache" searches I mentioned above were all conducted in the d/l database under Civ 3 - Unit Graphics & Civ3 - Modern Units. Although this is a problem with any unit that has short hyphenated designations.

It is relevant.
Searching in the specific subforums means you're shooting with a shotgun in a barrel instead of a lake.

 

[Wotan49]

Search Results for Query: Apache helicopter
(https://forums.civfanatics.com/sear...=date&c[rescat]=23+70+71+72+73+74+75+76+77+24)

by Luddi VII and AnfhonyBoscia


Greeting
Wotan49

 

[Laurana Kanan]

You both don't seem to understand what I'm writing.

@Theov No, it is not relevant because: 1. As I said above, I already limit my searches to the appropriate sub-forum or d/l section - so your suggestion isn't relevant to me, and 2. It doesn't matter if I get 50 results in a global search or 5 results in a sub-forum or d/l section search, if the relevant units I'm looking for don't appear in the results of either search. One set of results just takes a little more time to look through than the other, which isn't the problem I've described anyway - so again not relevant.

@Wotan49 Thanks, but I don't understand your reason for posting results for something I wasn't asking for, and in super-large bold font no less. (I may be blind in one eye, but I can read the screen just fine.) I was just using the Apache as an example because I already have all five versions that I'm aware of. And that is the problem. You can search Apache in the d/b and find the two by Luddi and Tony, but you miss the ones by Bebro, Ares, and one other (I don't remember who made it.). And unless you already know they exist or decide to do a more thorough search through the forums instead of just the d/b then chances are you'll miss the other versions.

 

[Theov]

You both don't seem to understand what I'm writing.

@Theov No, it is not relevant because: 1. As I said above, I already limit my searches to the appropriate sub-forum or d/l section - so your suggestion isn't relevant to me, and 2. It doesn't matter if I get 50 results in a global search or 5 results in a sub-forum or d/l section search, if the relevant units I'm looking for don't appear in the results of either search. One set of results just takes a little more time to look through than the other, which isn't the problem I've described anyway - so again not relevant.

@Wotan49 Thanks, but I don't understand your reason for posting results for something I wasn't asking for, and in super-large bold font no less. (I may be blind in one eye, but I can read the screen just fine.) I was just using the Apache as an example because I already have all five versions that I'm aware of. And that is the problem. You can search Apache in the d/b and find the two by Luddi and Tony, but you miss the ones by Bebro, Ares, and one other (I don't remember who made it.). And unless you already know they exist or decide to do a more thorough search through the forums instead of just the d/b then chances are you'll miss the other versions.

Let's agree to this: If you're in quotes, I'm responding to you.
If not; it's a response to the OP.

 

[Laurana Kanan]

@Theov You have me confused now... If you are having an issue over who your responses are directed towards, maybe you should just use "@username" instead of the rest of us trying to figure out whom they are meant for. If a response is immediately after one of my comments I'm going to assume it's directed at me unless otherwise stated.