[ijusluvit]

Originally Posted by Hal :-)

Sorry, that's just a shortened link to a Google search as an example of using the "site:" selection parameter. Just click on it.

I'm sure it's just me, but this answer is geometrically more confusing than your first answer.

[grandma-annie]

If I just want to ask something fresh without going to that particular topic in the general forum.... how do I do that?

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

I'm sure it's just me, but this answer is geometrically more confusing than your first answer.

If you click on the link Hal provided in post #8 it takes you to google and shows the search he performed. Hal, what is the /forums in the search after talkofthevillages.com?

Here is the link again:

http://goo.gl/Df5NM

It is a funny looking link as Hal must have shortened it before posting it here as it was too long

The original link was a mouthful :

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=site:https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums+bonefish+grill#sclient=psy&hl=en&tbo=1&q=site:www.talkofthevillages.com%2Fforums+bonefish+grill&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&fp=1&cad=b

If you go to http://goo.gl you can see how links can be shortened.

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by grandma-annie

If I just want to ask something fresh without going to that particular topic in the general forum.... how do I do that?

Simply go to the general forum and click on the button at the top left of the page that says "new thread." It's that simple.

JLK

[Hal :-)]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

If you click on the link Hal provided in post #8 it takes you to google and shows the search he performed. Hal, what is the /forums in the search after talkofthevillages.com?

Here is the link again:

http://goo.gl/Df5NM

It is a funny looking link as Hal must have shortened it before posting it here as it was too long

The original link was a mouthful :

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=site:https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums+bonefish+grill#sclient=psy&hl=en&tbo=1&q=site:www.talkofthevillages.com%2Fforums+bonefish+grill&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&fp=1&cad=b

If you go to http://goo.gl you can see how links can be shortened.

I actually have a URL shortener button on the browser so it's easy to send a shortened URL when it gets so long.

That long messy URL is generated by Google. If you go to Google.com and enter any search arguments, then hit the search button you'll see a messy URL. If you wanted to send a link to that Google search page you almost have to shorten it.

Regarding the "/forums". I didn't think about it,but you don't really need that. Often forums are a subset of a web site. If, for example, the TOTV forum was an area on thevillages.com you'd want to narrow your search to just the forums so you didn't get reference from the rest of the site. In this case, talkofthevillages.com is just the forums so the extra qualifier is not necessary.

Hope that helps.

[tony]

Wait! Don't even imply that Talk of The Villages is under TheVillages.com. People might read that and believe it. We are entirely independent.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by redwitch

I like BillnBrillo's way -- attach links to previous threads. It's helpful without sounding mean.

So, when do you upgrade the search function? It really is awful. lol

I agree. If a previous thread is referenced, it's so nice and helpful to provide the link. Adding fresh comments along with the link is also great.

TH, I'm glad you brought this up too. TOTV gets new members all the time-- yea! They may not have seen older threads. Newer posters, as well as long-time posters who didn't post in the previous thread, will have new ideas or angles or stories to add to a previously-discussed subject. Every snowbird season we learn of novel ways people misuse the roundabouts. As sure as the sun comes up, a fresh dog poop story will appear one day, have us laughing or shaking our heads or anticipating what will Fumar say. No matter how many times people ask about selling a house up north, we'll hear of novel approaches or interesting circumstances, and we'll warm to and get caught up in the well wishing. We'll anticipate the new person's arrival and be anxious to hear how things progress.

I hope no one feels intimidated to post on TOTV.

So, when do you upgrade the search function? It really is awful. lol

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by Pturner

So, when do you upgrade the search function? It really is awful. lol

The search function is embedded in the forum software. It isn't anything that we developed or have control of. This forum software is the most popular in the world. I personally belong to five forums that use it. The search feature on all of them make a mess of the bed.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

The search function is embedded in the forum software. It isn't anything that we developed or have control of. This forum software is the most popular in the world. I personally belong to five forums that use it. The search feature on all of them make a mess of the bed.

Oh

[bike42]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

The search function is embedded in the forum software. It isn't anything that we developed or have control of.

Did you have a chance to try adding a custom Google search box? It could fit on the right side of the top border, or in the grey area above the forum jump box --

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by bike42

Did you have a chance to try adding a custom Google search box? It could fit on the right side of the top border, or in the grey area above the forum jump box --

Maybe I am confused. I use Google as my default search engine and there is a search box at the top right hand side of my browser across from the URL I am at.

Why do we need an extra box?

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

The search function is embedded in the forum software. It isn't anything that we developed or have control of. This forum software is the most popular in the world. I personally belong to five forums that use it. The search feature on all of them make a mess of the bed.

Now THERE'S a visual..............

Bill

[bike42]

Originally Posted by zcaveman

Maybe I am confused. I use Google as my default search engine and there is a search box at the top right hand side of my browser across from the URL I am at. Why do we need an extra box?

The TOTV hosts could install a Google search box to search just TOTV. It would work for anyone. The hosts had said before that they were checking into it. Sorry for the confusion.