Search functionality - new member difficulty

Subject: RE: Search functionality - new member difficulty
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Jul 25 - 11:55 PM

The search engine I use most at Mudcat is the Filter, which is right at the top of the list of threads. The "age" box on the filter is annoying to me - I almost always set it to "ALL" to search through all the threads. I put one word or phrase from the subject in the box, and refresh. For "Mule Skinner Blues," I put mule or skinner, but not "muleskinner." If I get too many results, I use CTRL-F on the results to find what I need. This two-stage method of searching works well with many search engines - do a broad search, and then use CTRL-F on the results to narrow it down

Over almost thirty years now, I've been trying to make searching easier for users by changing titles of threads and messages. Thread titles are fairly well standardized, and message with lyrics have ADD and the song title. Use the Filter to find threads, and the Old Advanced Forum Search (in Quick Links) to search message titles.

Subject: RE: Search functionality - new member difficulty
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 19 Jul 25 - 09:41 AM

Pretty well as above I use google
1 - by having the page
www.google.com/search?q=%22++%22+site%3Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fmudcat.org on my desktop
then adding my query at the magnifying glass

2 - using the android personal dictionary so that I just have to type mud in the chrome browser.
_

---

Setting a shortcut in the Personal Dictionary:
my android works like this

> Settings
> ?? Search
type : personal
> Personal dictionary
> Personal dictionary
> +
> Enter word > type in : " " site:https://mudcat.org
> Shortcut > type in        mud
Then exit with the back button.

Then typing mud gives the choice of " " site:https://mudcat.org

;)

Subject: RE: Search functionality - new member difficulty
From: Fred
Date: 19 Jul 25 - 07:46 AM

And I realise Guest can't, but he can if he becomes a member.

Until then, he'll get all the help he needs by asking politely.

-F

Subject: RE: Search functionality - new member difficulty
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Jul 25 - 07:40 AM

I don't know Mudcat addresses for other moderators, but I'm [e-mail]
I'm old, but I'm still here.

Subject: RE: Search functionality - new member difficulty
From: Fred
Date: 19 Jul 25 - 07:38 AM

Error lol.

I go to my Personal Page. Sorry.

-F

Subject: RE: Search functionality - new member difficulty
From: Fred
Date: 19 Jul 25 - 07:33 AM

Jack -

I click on the name of whoever I want to PM.

-F

Subject: RE: Search functionality - new member difficulty
From: Jack Campin
Date: 19 Jul 25 - 07:23 AM

...except that there isn't a "contact an admin" button so how do you do that? (I do it by searching through previous PMs to find one from Joe and then click on his personal link - not an option for newbies).

Subject: RE: Search functionality - new member difficulty
From: Fred
Date: 19 Jul 25 - 07:19 AM

I'm relatively new here myself.

If I experience a site problem, I PM Joe or a Moderator - works a whole lot better than throwing a hissy fit ;)

-F

Subject: RE: Search functionality - new member difficulty
From: Jack Campin
Date: 19 Jul 25 - 06:13 AM

I just use Google and append "site:mudcat.org" to the search term. I've never found any of Mudcat's confusingly different built-in search engines to offer anything you can't find that way.

Subject: RE: Search functionality - new member difficulty
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Jul 25 - 07:26 PM

I do all my searching thru my browser, including mudcat -

eg. lyrics site:mudcat.org - then I can choose the thread/item I want

Subject: RE: Search functionality - new member difficulty
From: Helen
Date: 18 Jul 25 - 06:31 PM

Guest, it might interest you to know that this forum has been going strong for nearly 30 years. I've been a member for almost all of that time and it is a strong, friendly community with a shared interest in music.

Please follow the advice and suggestions on how to use the search functions, or just use the filter which is below the donations icons and choose the amount of time that you want to search through. As an example, type the term FAQ into the filter box, choose All for the time you want to search and it results in a number of discussion threads, dating back to March 1997.

Subject: RE: Search functionality - new member difficulty
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 18 Jul 25 - 05:46 PM

Minor point about the Old Advanced Search tab: after selecting it in the pull-down at the top of the page, I often forget that one needs to click on the Go button next to it to Make It So. And I'm a regular here (and a techie in remission), so I ought to know better.

Hope that helps.

Subject: RE: Search functionality - new member difficulty
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jul 25 - 04:20 PM

Thread reopened to consolidate some of the new threads Mr. Dillum has started in his demand for attention. What I see is someone with a chip on his shoulder who hasn't taken the time to browse through Mudcat. Read the threads that are up now, expand the timeframe to months or years if you wish to simply see what has been posted in chronological order. Use the Quick Links menu (box at the top center) and see the individual resources. Try the Old Advanced Forum Search (scroll down in the Quick Links dropdown menu.)

You're welcome to participate, we are glad to have new members, but start out by looking around for a bit to learn how the site works and you'll see how people can help you. A few search tools have been shared in this thread. Try them out. For full functionality, join the group.

Subject: Why we need a new thread on Search function
From: GUEST,Blob Dillum
Date: 18 Jul 25 - 02:11 PM

We need a new thread concerning the Search function because it is impossible to find any of the threads on the search function because the search function does not work. Please do not close my threads again if you want to grow this community. That is a terrible way to greet people here. Ask questions and learn, please.

Subject: Newcomer's Guide non-functional
From: GUEST,Blob Dillum
Date: 18 Jul 25 - 01:49 PM

https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=174205


New guy here. I started a thread because the search does not work and was linked to another thread for newcomer's which also does not work. Then the thread was closed. My computer breaks on the newcomer's thread. I do not feel that this place is at all hospitable. Perhaps it would be good to ditch this software and begin with a constitution that will promote the better service of the general public? I think a constitution will cause the growth of this community and that the current policies have been depressing this place. BOINK!

Subject: RE: Search functionality
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jul 25 - 01:41 PM

Searching Mudcat for Information

This question gets asked all of the time. Start at that link. I'm closing this because the topic comes up too often. This thread will be grouped eventually with all of the other threads asking about search functionality and offering tips. If you join Mudcat you can save or "trace" those threads and refer back to them. Contact Joe at [e-mail] to set up a membership.

Welcome to Mudcat, but please stop starting new threads and take time to read the links posted here. Newbies should lurk for a while, learn how Mudcat works.

Tech: Mudcat SEARCH engine tips-try the Filter

Mudcat Search Tips.

Subject: Search functionality
From: GUEST,Blob Dillum
Date: 18 Jul 25 - 01:03 PM

New here. I was wondering why search does not work. I tried to search "search" so as not to be redundant but no Go! Generally, I find it difficult to navigate this site. :)

Subject: RE: Tech: 'Search' Function for Forum, how to?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 May 25 - 03:49 AM

And if you have problems, ask me. I'm pretty good at it.
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Tech: 'Search' Function for Forum, how to?
From: meself
Date: 12 May 25 - 10:13 PM

Thanks, I'll see if I can find anything there that will help .....

Subject: RE: Tech: 'Search' Function for Forum, how to?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 May 25 - 11:55 AM

Mudcat FAQ-Newcomer's Guide (Search tips are updated and are all at the top of the thread).

Tech: Mudcat SEARCH engine tips-try the Filter

Mudcat Search Tips

Tech: Google Chrome search fixes (img & Mudcat)

Subject: Tech: 'Search' Function Failure
From: meself
Date: 12 May 25 - 11:20 AM

For the past little while, whenever I try to use the 'Search' function, I get a page with the message, "Internal Server Error 500". If I search lyrics using the alphabetical index, there's no problem, but I can't do a general search to bring up previous discussion on any given topic or title. Anyone else have the same trouble, and does anyone have a work-around?