Google Custom Search - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Paul Stenning · 19th Apr 2012, 12:15 pm

As an experiment I have added a Google Custom Search bar to the forum. This is set to just search this forum, not the whole internet.

Google spiders this site very frequently so their index should be updated within a few hours of threads and posts being posted, but it won't be instant.

However it should be a better way of finding posts and threads than the forum built in search, and by having it more prominent it may encourage people to search before posting.

Comments welcome please.

Radio_Dave · 19th Apr 2012, 12:52 pm

Thanks Paul, That's a huge improvement

Over the last few days I've been typing "Pye Black Box" into the forum search engine and I think it's been showing me every thread containing the words "Pye", "Black" and "Box" (not "Pye+Black+Box").

The Google search is far more specific and is showing me loads of threads that I didn't see before.

Regards
David

ppppenguin · 19th Apr 2012, 12:57 pm

Will it search the "modern equipment" areas that are not visible to non-members?

Paul Stenning · 19th Apr 2012, 1:09 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio_Dave

The Google search is far more specific and is showing me loads of threads that I didn't see before.

Yes, Google are the experts at this!

The forum search has a minimum word length of 4 characters (which can't be changed as it is a MySQL setting for the whole server) so that example search for "pye black box" would only search for "black" as the other two words are too short - so the chances of finding what you need are quite slim.

The Google search will find all the right threads. Indeed if you put it in quotes "pye black box" in the Google search it will find the exact phrase.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppppenguin

Will it search the "modern equipment" areas that are not visible to non-members?

No, it will only search sections that are visible to someone who isn't logged in.

Paul Stenning · 19th Apr 2012, 1:17 pm

If you use Firefox, install the AdBlock Plus extension if you want to hide the adverts on the Google search results.

Paul Stenning · 19th Apr 2012, 1:59 pm

I've just enabled the Google image search too. I'm not sure how useful it will be though, as it only shows the thumbnails and will probably show avatars in the threads too.

ScopeMonkey · 19th Apr 2012, 2:30 pm

I think it's a great improvement, but it does take up a lot of vertical space on every page, which isn't so helpful if you're using e.g. a netbook, a phone, or a widescreen monitor. Is there any way it could be made hidden until clicked on (like the current forum search is, not taking any space up until "Search" is clicked)?

Ed.

Paul Stenning · 19th Apr 2012, 2:55 pm

Yes, I agree that it takes quite a lot of space, however I do want it always visible to encourage people, especially new members, to search before posting.

I may look into putting it on the title bar, and making the title and advert smaller to give space (probably a complete redesign of the title bar). However I want to get more opinions on the usefulness and other aspects before doing any more work on it.

Nickthedentist · 19th Apr 2012, 3:29 pm

Very useful indeed, Paul, thank you.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds the forum's inbuilt search facility next to useless, as Radio Dave has illustrated.

Nick.

Radio_Dave · 19th Apr 2012, 3:38 pm

Could we have a Google web search as well? I'd be happy to set this forum as my home page then

Regards
David

Paul Stenning · 19th Apr 2012, 3:56 pm

No, that would just cause confusion with two search boxes. The search here should only search here, not send people elsewhere.

In most modern browsers you can set two home pages and they open in separate tabs.

Also most modern browsers have a search option built in which can be set to use any of the major search engines so no need to go to the Google homepage to search Google.

Nickthedentist · 19th Apr 2012, 3:58 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Stenning

In most modern browsers you can set two home pages and they open in separate tabs.

That's what I have here. IE8 with Google as one and this site as the other. Best of both worlds.

Geoff 555 · 19th Apr 2012, 5:11 pm

Hi, what can I say, as someone who was Always defeated by the search, as was, mainly the problem was trying to 'find' the right words and remembering them also, I have just tried the new search and it is fantastic and a great help.
It might even save me asking questions and bothering people with "simple" questions. Great, thank you very much indeed.
Cheers.
Geoff.

robjkmannering · 19th Apr 2012, 5:11 pm

Thats brilliant! Adds a new dimension to the site.
Thanks Paul.
Regards,
Rob

Paul Stenning · 19th Apr 2012, 6:54 pm

Assuming the Google Custom Search works out OK (which so far it seems to be) I am considering redesign the page header to incorporate the search box, something like this (just a PhotoShop mock-up so far):

https://www.vintage-radio.net/VR-New-Banner-Idea.jpg

This keeps it prominent but doesn't waste any extra page space. The white background on the header feels more modern too.

HamishBoxer · 19th Apr 2012, 7:05 pm

Works very well.

Thank You

Pamphonica · 19th Apr 2012, 7:40 pm

Well done Paul, you are right - it is a better search once you get used to it. And your mockup looks just the job - neat placement.
I had always wondered why some searches here produced odd results - it was the "4-character" search rule.
Thanks
Jeremy

mickjjo · 19th Apr 2012, 8:08 pm

Works very well, I just dragged up an old thread I remembered from 2004 in a few seconds.

Regards, Mick.

ppppenguin · 19th Apr 2012, 8:14 pm

I just tried looking for T311, the Ekco TV. Almost instantly all the relevant thread appeared. Huge improvement over the old forum search. The only shame is that it can't "see" the Modern Equipment section.

PS: I don't know about advertising. I run Firefox with Adblock+. I suppose I don't miss what I don't see

davidw · 19th Apr 2012, 8:18 pm

A very positive step forward Paul and the proposed header looks absolutley fine to me.
Thanks for your efforts.

19th Apr 2012, 12:15 pm	#1
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 9,181	Google Custom Search As an experiment I have added a Google Custom Search bar to the forum. This is set to just search this forum, not the whole internet. Google spiders this site very frequently so their index should be updated within a few hours of threads and posts being posted, but it won't be instant. However it should be a better way of finding posts and threads than the forum built in search, and by having it more prominent it may encourage people to search before posting. Comments welcome please. __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster

19th Apr 2012, 12:52 pm	#2
Radio_Dave Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 2,543	Re: Google Custom Search Thanks Paul, That's a huge improvement Over the last few days I've been typing "Pye Black Box" into the forum search engine and I think it's been showing me every thread containing the words "Pye", "Black" and "Box" (not "Pye+Black+Box"). The Google search is far more specific and is showing me loads of threads that I didn't see before. Regards David

19th Apr 2012, 12:57 pm	#3
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,168	Re: Google Custom Search Will it search the "modern equipment" areas that are not visible to non-members?

19th Apr 2012, 1:17 pm	#5
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 9,181	Re: Google Custom Search If you use Firefox, install the AdBlock Plus extension if you want to hide the adverts on the Google search results. __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster

19th Apr 2012, 1:59 pm	#6
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 9,181	Re: Google Custom Search I've just enabled the Google image search too. I'm not sure how useful it will be though, as it only shows the thumbnails and will probably show avatars in the threads too. __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster

19th Apr 2012, 2:30 pm	#7
ScopeMonkey Pentode Join Date: May 2008 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 236	Re: Google Custom Search I think it's a great improvement, but it does take up a lot of vertical space on every page, which isn't so helpful if you're using e.g. a netbook, a phone, or a widescreen monitor. Is there any way it could be made hidden until clicked on (like the current forum search is, not taking any space up until "Search" is clicked)? Ed.

19th Apr 2012, 2:55 pm	#8
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 9,181	Re: Google Custom Search Yes, I agree that it takes quite a lot of space, however I do want it always visible to encourage people, especially new members, to search before posting. I may look into putting it on the title bar, and making the title and advert smaller to give space (probably a complete redesign of the title bar). However I want to get more opinions on the usefulness and other aspects before doing any more work on it. __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster

19th Apr 2012, 3:29 pm	#9
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 18,296	Re: Google Custom Search Very useful indeed, Paul, thank you. I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds the forum's inbuilt search facility next to useless, as Radio Dave has illustrated. Nick.

19th Apr 2012, 3:38 pm	#10
Radio_Dave Rest in Peace Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 2,543	Re: Google Custom Search Could we have a Google web search as well? I'd be happy to set this forum as my home page then Regards David

19th Apr 2012, 3:56 pm	#11
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 9,181	Re: Google Custom Search No, that would just cause confusion with two search boxes. The search here should only search here, not send people elsewhere. In most modern browsers you can set two home pages and they open in separate tabs. Also most modern browsers have a search option built in which can be set to use any of the major search engines so no need to go to the Google homepage to search Google. __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster

19th Apr 2012, 5:11 pm	#13
Geoff 555 Heptode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 981	Re: Google Custom Search Hi, what can I say, as someone who was Always defeated by the search, as was, mainly the problem was trying to 'find' the right words and remembering them also, I have just tried the new search and it is fantastic and a great help. It might even save me asking questions and bothering people with "simple" questions. Great, thank you very much indeed. Cheers. Geoff.

19th Apr 2012, 5:11 pm	#14
robjkmannering Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 717	Re: Google Custom Search Thats brilliant! Adds a new dimension to the site. Thanks Paul. Regards, Rob

19th Apr 2012, 6:54 pm	#15
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 9,181	Re: Google Custom Search Assuming the Google Custom Search works out OK (which so far it seems to be) I am considering redesign the page header to incorporate the search box, something like this (just a PhotoShop mock-up so far): https://www.vintage-radio.net/VR-New-Banner-Idea.jpg This keeps it prominent but doesn't waste any extra page space. The white background on the header feels more modern too. __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster

19th Apr 2012, 7:05 pm	#16
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 9,029	Re: Google Custom Search Works very well. Thank You

19th Apr 2012, 7:40 pm	#17
Pamphonica Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Water, Surrey, UK. Posts: 3,003	Re: Google Custom Search Well done Paul, you are right - it is a better search once you get used to it. And your mockup looks just the job - neat placement. I had always wondered why some searches here produced odd results - it was the "4-character" search rule. Thanks Jeremy __________________ Jeremy, G8MLK, BVWTVM Friend, VMARS, BVWS Secretary. www.pamphonic.co.uk www.bttt.org.uk

19th Apr 2012, 8:08 pm	#18
mickjjo Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartford, Kent, UK. Posts: 1,661	Re: Google Custom Search Works very well, I just dragged up an old thread I remembered from 2004 in a few seconds. Regards, Mick.

19th Apr 2012, 8:14 pm	#19
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,168	Re: Google Custom Search I just tried looking for T311, the Ekco TV. Almost instantly all the relevant thread appeared. Huge improvement over the old forum search. The only shame is that it can't "see" the Modern Equipment section. PS: I don't know about advertising. I run Firefox with Adblock+. I suppose I don't miss what I don't see

19th Apr 2012, 8:18 pm	#20
davidw Heptode Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 647	Re: Google Custom Search A very positive step forward Paul and the proposed header looks absolutley fine to me. Thanks for your efforts. __________________ Dave G1AGK. My perception is my reality!