SMF User Help: Searching

June 22, 2017, 11:56:39 PM

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Introduction • Registering • Logging In • Profile • Posting • Personal Message • Searching

While SMF naturally incorporates a powerful search engine, knowing how to use it is not surprisingly the key to returning successful results!

Starting a Search

Assuming the forum is running the SMF default theme (or a derivative of it), there should be both a simple Search field (partnered by an Advanced search text link) in the collapsible top section and a Search option in the main menu. If not, the main menu Search option should still lead straight to the advanced search screen.

Syntax

While you can just type (and search for) any combination of characters, you should consider using quotes to make your search really work for you:

Quote Marks

To put this in a nutshell, searching for simple machines forum will return any or all of these three words, but enclosing the search string in double quote marks (ie "simple machines forum") will return only the entire phrase.

Simple or Advanced?

Simple Search

To use the simple search (if enabled), the basic syntax outlined above is all you really need to know. But you might also like to know that this tool searches the entire forum for any or all of what you specify that's been posted during the last 9999 days (which is more than 27 years)! So, to take more control of your search, you should use the advanced search feature.

Advanced Search

Although the advanced search screen might initially seem a little intimidating if a forum has many boards and child boards, it's surprisingly straightforward when reduced to its basic components:

Forum Name

Search

Set Search Parameters

Search for:		by user:


Options:		Message age:
Show results as messages Topic subjects only		Between and days.
Search order:

Choose a board to search in, or search all:

Category name	Another Board
Board Name

Check all

Some forums show the navigation tree at the top in a space-saving horizontal mode.
Despite initial appearances, there are really three options for how to search, with Match all words and Match any words being available from the drop-down, and "Match as phrase" still being available as described above.
The default * in the by user field is essentially a wildcard matching any poster. Please note that, while you can replace this with any single username for a more specific search, it's not currently possible to search for posts by multiple users except as that single wildcard.
Show results as messages returns the full message containing the search string (with a reply option) instead of the usual linked excerpt, but will naturally result in much larger results pages which might be significant if you are searching for a popular word or phrase.
Message age sets the minimum and maximum ages of posts to search.
Choose a board to search in provides you with another tool to narrow the scope of the search, with the default being 'all' (the whole forum or, more properly, all the boards to which you have read access).
The Search button not surprisingly sets the whole thing in motion, but hitting 'Enter' direct from any of the search fields is sometimes more convenient.

Introduction • Registering • Logging In • Profile • Posting • Personal Message • Searching

Cbox

Today at 08:57:37 PM

Fox: @conundrum = Think about 8/16/32 bit aligned address, and what that means... Etc.

Today at 08:55:23 PM

Fox: @Space manager thought for gsmagic = What a conundrum... Whelp... I'll just do whatever.... Probably would waste more time thinking about preventing bugs than coding anyway. :P

Yesterday at 09:30:34 AM

Fox: Because he quit a long time ago and has other priorities?

Yesterday at 08:35:54 AM

javi3: Atrius, por que no sigues con el editor de golden sun?

June 20, 2017, 10:52:48 AM

Fox: It feels like the safest bet is to do Atrius's repointering system, and have something that organizes the tables done a bit separate... er... Well, it's something to think about.

June 20, 2017, 08:53:41 AM

Fox: HOWEVER... I can see other problems that might cause..... (Even with just the pointer in the MFT) Meh. It's like you actually need a program to apply patches to do it appropriately.

June 20, 2017, 08:46:38 AM

Fox: ... So... What am I thinking? You ask? That the patches the point data after MFT, should have had pointers in the MFT themselves.... In that case, I can see a possibility of everything working smoothly even if space is needed to the very end of the ROM.

June 20, 2017, 08:37:22 AM

Fox: It's basically that everthink from the point of editing, to the closest free space to the last entry's address would get repointed forward/backwards depending on space needed... and if space is mapped after patches are added, then that could mean the patches are also repointed. (:o)

June 20, 2017, 08:29:03 AM

Fox: Well, I mean if I map the space out the same way Atrius did it.

June 20, 2017, 08:26:41 AM

Fox: I have a hunch... when I add Map Palette editing the way I'm thinking about... it will cause all patches that repoint to after the MFT to break.... Especially if Atrius's editor wasn't used beforehand. Etc.

June 20, 2017, 07:27:17 AM

Fox: Hmmm... Let's see... regardless of method, I think I still do want to take some of Atrius's Space Manager code... Hmm.....

June 20, 2017, 07:07:27 AM

Fox: say*

June 20, 2017, 07:07:19 AM

Fox: I'd go so far as to see.. even if you are trying to be accurate, there could still be inaccuracies... However, that one was just an example where it was clearly intentional.

June 20, 2017, 07:04:03 AM

Fox: Like*

June 20, 2017, 07:03:55 AM

Fox: Let that one time where they tried to clip a guy out... To put it as short and vague as possible.

June 20, 2017, 06:58:52 AM

Fox: But in case you do watch it... I do know the story on TV that they tell... is not always accurate to what actually happened... (From what one can find out from the feed.) ... but usually the fansites will let you know about that.

June 20, 2017, 06:37:54 AM

Fox: Depends, as each person may have a different opinion... (I'm thinking you might find it like other "reality" shows..) ... I'm not really into Survivor at current.... I also question if it was something about Julie Chen that made it a little more interesting.... .being the an iconic host that she is.. Weird.

June 19, 2017, 11:57:31 PM

Dendrophiliafish_the_skull_licker_xxXXDx101XyeahbabyyeahxxXX: Honest opinion but is it any good or is it just like all other "reality" television?

June 19, 2017, 11:57:00 PM

Dendrophiliafish_the_skull_licker_xxXXDx101XyeahbabyyeahxxXX: I have a friend who is obsessed with that show and Survivor and he wants me to watch with him.

June 19, 2017, 07:47:18 PM

Fox: So.. as soon as I saw the cast of BB19, I wanted to try to pick my favs on first impression... And I'm curious about these: Elena Davies (Female pick, maybe.) and Kevin Schlehuber (Male pick, maybe. - He's the oldest.) ... whether they even get close to the end or not... I have no idea. Would have to watch them play the game.

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