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Original poster

New "Improved" search, more whinging.

42 replies

SoupDragon · 23/05/2022 14:16

On the "update" page you say this: We have upgraded our general Search function in the new platform so that it’s faster, returns more relevant results etc.

if it is returning "more relevant results" why do I get this rubbish when searching for the word "worms"? The results are completely and utterly irrelevant. This is not an isolated thing.

New "Improved" search, more whinging.
OP posts:
MNHQ
KatyMumsnet · 25/05/2022 08:48

Hi, we're discussing the feedback regarding the typo tolerance so I'll update you once we've made a decision on that.

@kitchens4ever I'm afraid I can't understand what's happening from your description - are you able to share a screenshot of the issue? Then we can take a look at that. We are working on making the website more accessible but unfortunately, we can't make all the changes at once so it's an ongoing thing. We recently released a lot of changes to make the website more accessible for users who use screen readers for example.

kitchens4ever · 25/05/2022 00:12

unfortunately due to the ongoing issue with photos when I click on OPs photo on the first post above I still cant see the writing! How this can be inclusive I have no idea. Incredibly disappointing that MN are not responding to concerns that the site is now much harder for anyone with disabilities to use

Johnnysgirl · 24/05/2022 21:53

Oh honestly Hmm.
A search for Motherland is throwing up a whole slew of posts about Sutherland. What's the point of typo tolerance when it just means you have to wade through tons of unrelated crap?

Original poster
SoupDragon · 23/05/2022 18:22

KatyMumsnet · 23/05/2022 17:08

We are working on an advanced search feature that will search all posts so you'll have that functionality back soon.

The reason it's returned things like 'worst' and 'works' in this case is that we allow a typo tolerance, so if you typed 'womrs' we would still return 'worms'. We can look at tweaking this though so that cases like this don't return irrelevant results.

Working on something we already had in the old version? 😂😂

"Typo tolerance" is a waste of time IMO. It just returns rubbish results when you made no mistake at all (Google does this too with it's "did you mean to type...." nonsense)

OP posts:
Antarcticant · 23/05/2022 17:45

we allow a typo tolerance, so if you typed 'womrs' we would still return 'worms'

@KatyMumsnet Please reconsider this - it's far faster to do a new search if you've realised you've made a typo and get nil return, than it is to go through weeding out irrelevant results.

Johnnysgirl · 23/05/2022 17:28

Will it include the ability to search by poster, @KatyMumsnet ?

voldr · 23/05/2022 17:19

Can someone explain how exactly this counts as improved?

MNHQ
KatyMumsnet · 23/05/2022 17:08

We are working on an advanced search feature that will search all posts so you'll have that functionality back soon.

The reason it's returned things like 'worst' and 'works' in this case is that we allow a typo tolerance, so if you typed 'womrs' we would still return 'worms'. We can look at tweaking this though so that cases like this don't return irrelevant results.

Original poster
SoupDragon · 23/05/2022 16:43

I only selected my user name for the purposes of this. If there were no posts, it should have returned no results though, not given irrelevant ones.

OP posts:
Original poster
SoupDragon · 23/05/2022 16:33

I've seen many, many "disastrous" updates to MN in my time but I do think this one wins hands down.

OP posts:
Original poster
SoupDragon · 23/05/2022 16:31

the search function currently only searches thread titles and opening posts

how on earth is that fit for purpose or an improvement on the old search?? In no way does that give the "more relevant results" claimed.

OP posts:
MNHQ
KatyMumsnet · 23/05/2022 15:58

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow we're releasing a change for this tomorrow - there will be a button 'apply filters' so hopefully it'll be clearer

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 23/05/2022 15:28

l don’t know if they applied automatically. Nothing seemed to change. But l couldn’t get rid of the drop down menu.

Johnnysgirl · 23/05/2022 15:24

Thread titles and opening posts...
How utterly bizarre that you're still insisting this is an upgrade on advanced search. Baffling.

MNHQ
KatyMumsnet · 23/05/2022 15:15

Hi @SoupDragon the search function currently only searches thread titles and opening posts. I can see you've applied your username as a filter so I would expect that you haven't ever posted a title or opening post including the term 'worms' and this is showing the closest matches. If you think this is wrong then we can investigate further?

You may have posted replies including the term 'worms' but these aren't currently indexed in our search function. We are working on this at the moment though.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow and @Andromachehadabadday - the filters are applied automatically to your search so you don't have to press search again. We are releasing a change to the mobile version so that there is an 'apply filters' button which will hopefully make it more clear in that instance.

Andromachehadabadday · 23/05/2022 14:22

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 23/05/2022 14:19

I tried to use it this morning. Set all the filters, but no search option. Gave up after 10 mins.

thats what I get. Pointless.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 23/05/2022 14:19

I tried to use it this morning. Set all the filters, but no search option. Gave up after 10 mins.

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