Time in between searches.

Greetings All !

When you do a search, you have to wait 180 seconds to do another one. If your search yields no results, then you have 3 minutes of waiting before you can search again. Even if your search yields results you may already want to do another one straight way. There's a lot of time spent waiting for the search function to reactivate.

I'd like to request that this time period be reduced somewhat.
I've added a poll to see what people think.

Would be much obliged to an official answer from an admin if this is feasible.

Salute !

I agree. The main problem with this is that if you search for someone's posts, then try to search for something else, you've got to wait 180 seconds. Which is annoying, in my humble opinion.

It is indeed a long forced pause, but there are probably good reasons for it. Maybe something to do with some sort of "flooding" of bandwidth or something? I voted yes btw.

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Originally Posted by Bijo

It is indeed a long forced pause, but there are probably good reasons for it. Maybe something to do with some sort of "flooding" of bandwidth or something? I voted yes btw.

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I do recall the search function bringing down the forum several times a year or two back. Several restrictions were imposed at the time to prevent that from happening again. This may be one of them.

I believe it was causing a problem a few month back which is why I seem to remember the flood being increased further. I'd prefer it as it is now than to go back to "there seems to be a problem with the database" three or four times a day again. You can also use google to search within the forums.

Is the problem with automated search engines or bots doing this, using the search function? I'd like to see the imposed delay reduce significantly or eliminated all together, this is one area where twcenter tends to shine. One can search as often as they want, one just needs to enter the characters from the graphic it displays each time to prevent bots from abusing the system.

A reduction in time would be nice - yet I read somewhere that, like others have said, that a limit of ninety seconds was imposed awhile ago to prevent database overloads and keep it running smoothly at an optimum speed. I'm not sure why it was doubled, yet it seems that they have done this for the same reason. So I voted "No" - to me a fast database with long search times is better than a slow database with quicker search times.

BTW, I have just tested it and it seems that non-registered users can't search.

WOW... thanks for the very quick replies and thanks for voting, for an indicator of what others feel. I know the reasons why this pause was installed.

As Whacker has stated, it is possible to have both a fast system and one that prevents abuse.

Well, at least some amount of time reduced. As Omanes said, 90 seconds is a minimum, so something like 120 seconds would already be an improvement.

Hello,

It was indeed increased to prevent crashes of the database. Searchbots can't search. But the searchbot can be used nicely. The Google forum search works because bots crawl this board. Results are often faster and more complete when using that search.

We can decrease the searchflood in steps and see how it works now.

Hi Tosa, that's great. Thank you.

I'd recommend also adding visual reference key to the search that should reduce search bots, and at the same time will enable us to search freely.

Thanks a bunch. Hope this does'nt cause any trouble or a lot of work.

Salute !

Hello Sinan,

Bots can't search in this configuration, what's the key going to do then?

Point taken. In this configuration it does'nt have any additional anti-bot purpose.

Hello Sinan,

It's good to make sure points aren't misunderstood.

The google search is something to consider too. The normal search can't find CA. Google will spit out over 300 hits in 0.04 seconds. If only we could have such a complete and fast search but with tigher integration with the forums :(

There are some forums which have a "search using google" function I think.

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Originally Posted by FactionHeir

There are some forums which have a "search using google" function I think.

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You can search within the forums using google here.

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Originally Posted by FactionHeir

There are some forums which have a "search using google" function I think.

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What I ment was advanced searchfunctions like date, which forum and so on. That's a bit harder to do.

Hmm.

Am I right in assuming that the google search box up the top is just a normal google search with the site:totalwar.org switch?

Yes Sapi. Google has new products?

Not as far as I know.

I was thinking about whether it would be possible to run a forum search using specific site: tags for each forum, but I'm not sure if that would work with the php-based nature of vbulliten.

After testing it just then, it didn't seem to ~:(

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Originally Posted by sapi

Hmm.

Am I right in assuming that the google search box up the top is just a normal google search with the site:totalwar.org switch?

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It doesn't work, I have tried that like crazy back when I was a Junior Member...the search results are rather odd and inconclusive.

BTW, reduction to 111 seconds sounds like a good time to me :2thumbsup:

Thread titles seem to work perfectly; content in specific posts less so.

I think that's because there's a time delay between a new post being made and the google bot adding it to the database

The 180 second delay is too long. I had to search 4 times before I found what I wanted... that's 12 minutes!

What exactly are people using the search feature for anyway?

I've never found the need....

You know...when someone ask a popular or often-asked topic you might hear whiner says "use the search function, you lazy camel!" and when that person use it but find nothing, he/she will try to re-word the search and then say "oh dear, 180 seconds of my very precious life?"

The irony! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ~;p ~;p ~:rolleyes: ~:rolleyes: :rolleyes5:

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Originally Posted by Tran

It doesn't work, I have tried that like crazy back when I was a Junior Member...the search results are rather odd and inconclusive.

BTW, reduction to 111 seconds sounds like a good time to me :2thumbsup:

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There are radiobuttons just below the Google search box here (search WWW, Forums or Site).

30 seconds were cut off this week, we'll see how it does when another 30 are removed.

I'm noticing severe lag already. I logged out earlier on encountering the same old problem we had before the search flood was increased. Basically I can access the index, and forums, but on trying to access a thread nothing happens until it times out. I can log out though, which is what I end up having to do.

That's been happening to me a fair bit too

Me too, but it has occurred before the switch to less time between searches

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Originally Posted by sapi

What exactly are people using the search feature for anyway?

I've never found the need....

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Finding the answer to modding questions mostly.

As to the lag, I'm not noticing it much, but I have found the Org to always be a bit slow.

Just had a "problem with the database" page a few minutes ago.

Hmm, it's quite laggy now (16:09 GMT Tuesday 24th April). It took me just under five minutes to get to this thread. Although, it is quite often, almost randomly, like this, so it may, or may not, have anything to do with the search function's re-enabling.

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Originally Posted by TosaInu

Hello Sinan,

It's good to make sure points aren't misunderstood.

The google search is something to consider too. The normal search can't find CA. Google will spit out over 300 hits in 0.04 seconds. If only we could have such a complete and fast search but with tigher integration with the forums :(

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Hi Tosa,

Actually what I meant is exactly whay Whacker has stated.

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Originally Posted by Whacker

Is the problem with automated search engines or bots doing this, using the search function? I'd like to see the imposed delay reduce significantly or eliminated all together, this is one area where twcenter tends to shine. One can search as often as they want, one just needs to enter the characters from the graphic it displays each time to prevent bots from abusing the system.

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If it is possible at all, elimination of the delay is ideal. Note keywords, if it is possible at all.

However a reduction in the time between searches is already a big improvement.

Also as Whacker suggests, and as I have noticed on TWC as well, when you type a search there you have to fill in a visual reference, a set of integers and alphabets before you can search the system. I believe that helps prevent bots from abusing the system.

One should note that TWC is not the fastest forum out there.

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Originally Posted by sapi

What exactly are people using the search feature for anyway?

I've never found the need....

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I always use the search function first before I post a thread or ask a question; chances are high that it's already been answered. Usually you'll see me following up old threads because I often take the time to look for answers myself if I can.

There are times when I'm just too lazy or in too much of a hurry though.

EDIT: and BTW often while searching for answers I can answer questions on the way, for example:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showt...ghlight=replay

Maybe the questions are already answered but the search does tend to make me answer threads that need a follow up. It helps the forum overall, we all come here primarily looking for answers.

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Originally Posted by Sinan

Hi Tosa,

Actually what I meant is exactly whay Whacker has stated.



If it is possible at all, elimination of the delay is ideal. Note keywords, if it is possible at all.

However a reduction in the time between searches is already a big improvement.

Also as Whacker suggests, and as I have noticed on TWC as well, when you type a search there you have to fill in a visual reference, a set of integers and alphabets before you can search the system. I believe that helps prevent bots from abusing the system.

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Hello Sinan,

Bots can not search. So, having to type a key only adds more stress to the users and does not slow down bots, as bots aren't there at all.

Hi Tosa, Oh I thought part of the problem was that bots or malware could slow down the server by spamming the search function. Ja mata.

Hello Sinan,

Under certain conditions, yes.

I'm not 100% sure that bots can not arrive at the start a search page (like walking into a deads end street, but that's what can happen with the enter key option too, actually it's 100% sure bots can arrive there with the key option). But bots can not search.

More downtime just now, for about 15 minutes or more (it could be longer, I've lost track). It seems to me that since the search flood was decreased that the board has begun to lag again and that the "there seems to have been a problem with the database" problem has returned.

I noticed the downtime too Cambyses II. The host fixed it quickly.

On the bright side, reporting people no longer gives me an odd code header in my confirmation window.

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Originally Posted by TosaInu

I noticed the downtime too Cambyses II. The host fixed it quickly.

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So it was the hosts fault this time. That's good to know that it's not the search flood then. :2thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by FactionHeir

On the bright side, reporting people no longer gives me an odd code header in my confirmation window.

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I've never noticed that, though I've only reported someone once IIRC, and that was either a bot or someone posting commercial spam in the EH.

The only error that I know of is this one, where someone has used bbcode in place of html, that you see when you try to post but aren't logged in:

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Please use the [b]remember me[/b] option while logging in when you see this message. That just fixes your cookie. Please contact the forum administrator when you still get this message.

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:bow: