Can Tool Search function be improved?

[daamon]

Hi Baldrick,

Why does a search for media classic return nothing when a search for either media player or player classic does?

If it helps, I was looking for Media Player Classic.

Can this be improved upon?

[BJ_M]

just use 'classic' - it works

[redwudz]

The search engine was trying to find the combination of 'media+classic' and the combination doesn't exist there. 'media' or 'classic' by themselves will get you there, sort of, but 'media+player+classic' (media player classic) will get you a better match. But it will also find other tools that have the same string of words in their tool descriptions because it looks there also, besides just at the tool titles. If you do a search for 'MPEG' you will get about 170 tools as that term is somewhere in their titles or descriptions. That's how most search engines work. You just have to ask them the right questions.

[daamon]

just use 'classic' - it works

Yeah, I know that. But I was thinking about those people - either newbies or otherwise - who don't know the full or proper name of a tool and type in "media classic" when they knpw that that's close to the tool's name. They'll get a null response which could be misleading or put them off thinking "it doesn't exist".

Sure, if they're half close to smart they'll use either just "media" or just "classic". I guess, whichever way they go, they'll get what they deserve - survival of the fittest I suppose.

[daamon]

The search engine was trying to find the combination of 'media+classic' and the combination doesn't exist there.

In my experience of search engines - and, in my line of work - software testing - I've come across a few, I'd expect search criteria of "media+classic" to find "media player classic". It seems as if it's looking for it exclusively as a consecutive string - hence the null results.

An example of how I'd expect it to work - search for "media classic" (no quotes) in Google:

www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=media+classic&meta=

Now, I know Google is a lot more powerful - but that result seems pretty intiutive to me. Maybe it's just me...

[redwudz]

I see what you mean. I agree it would be nice if it worked like the Google search. I'm not sure if it was set up the way it is for a reason, or it's just a simple search engine.

Interesting: I tried an experiment using Google and a site specific search, "media classic site:https://www.videohelp.com/tools" and it does give the results you were looking for with Media Player Classic the first list item. So apparently it is the search engine, not the tool listings data.

Of course for this to help the some of the newbies, they might have to try using the search engine first. I sometimes think our purpose is to be the 'search engine'. But, no complaints. As long as I'm doing something, I'm happy enough

[daamon]

An interesting result to your experiment. I guess there's enough there for Baldrick to go on if he wants to take a look at refining the search.

Of course for this to help the some of the newbies, they might have to try using the search engine first.

Indeed...

[Baldrick]

Can this be improved upon?

Yep. I haven't spent that much time on all list search, shouln't be that tricky to split by space and search for each word instead of the entire string.

[Baldrick]

https://www.videohelp.com/tools?toolsearch=media+classic&Submit=Search&s=&orderby=Name&...res=&listuser=

and I'm also updating the other lists,
https://www.videohelp.com/capturecards.php?CaptureCard=pvr+hauppauge+150&Submit=Search&...&Search=Search
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.php?dvdplayer=642+philips&hits=50&Search=Search

Thanks!

[daamon]

https://www.videohelp.com/tools?toolsearch=media+classic&Submit=Search&s=&orderby=Name&...res=&listuser=

and I'm also updating the other lists,
https://www.videohelp.com/capturecards.php?CaptureCard=pvr+hauppauge+150&Submit=Search&...&Search=Search
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.php?dvdplayer=642+philips&hits=50&Search=Search

Perfect!

Thanks!

No problem. Happy to help.