CompSci.ca Search

Tony · **Posted:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:34 pm

the build in phpBB search function's performance seems to be inversely proportional to the size of the database. With over 125 000 articles to search (we do have couple thousand in administrative areas), it takes an annoyingly long time, and the accuracy of results is often nearly useless. You're better off scrolling through the [Turing Walkthrough] then searching for a tutorial on a given topic.

Recently a suggestion came up to try and use the Google search instead. Google has indexed over 49 000 of compsci.ca pages. Considering that we have only 11 700 visible topics (granted that some span over multiple pages) and about 5000 user profile pages... I'd say that they've got a pretty good coverage.

Having said that, I introduce a Google Search for Thread BETA extension to the current search page. It's extremely simple
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Enter the topic name you're looking for, hit "Construct Search"

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And JavaScript will put together a proper Google search string that should give an accurate result. As a bonus feature, you will also get results from Wiki, Free Range, and Blog parts of CompSci.ca network.

If you guys find this feature to be actually useful, I'll look into extending it further.

Silent Avenger · **Posted:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:21 pm

I've been trying out this new feature and I seem to like it over the previous one. This is especially true when you're trying to search for a specific topic and getting a few results which are more related to what you're trying to find then the regular search which will turn up about 239 matches which have no relation to what you're looking for. So, I say I like the new feature.

md · **Posted:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:15 pm

Now, why not have the first box generate the proper query and then call the google search right away?

Maybe rdrake will update his search plugin too...

rdrake · **Posted:** Tue Oct 03, 2006 10:56 am

Cornflake wrote:

Maybe rdrake will update his search plugin too...

Hopefully in the next few days I'll get some time to. Even then, methinks people have to upgrade to Firefox 2.0 in order for it to work.

Midterms are already this week in some casts Confused

.

md · **Posted:** Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:43 pm

Ahh yes, midterms... oh how glad I am not to have any Very Happy

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