SMF User Help: Searching

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

July 06, 2019, 03:44:41 AM

Salanewt: Oh, yeah there isn't an animation overhaul for GS1 sadly.

July 03, 2019, 04:54:58 PM

ryancaesar12345: GS2 Animation Overhaul w/ Baseline ips patch in golden sun 1?

July 03, 2019, 12:03:06 AM

Salanewt: There actually is a Jupiter revive... if you're using the Animation Overhaul patch. I think Caledor made a standalone patch for GS1 too, but you'd have to ask him.

July 02, 2019, 07:34:13 AM

Fox: So like... (just a thought)... If we designed a script to compare times for speedrunning something... goalChance represents stability (I think?) ; If it is 100%, answer results in infinite, which means you can't have 100% stability. (Meaning you'd basically be skipping all item drops/etc.)

July 02, 2019, 07:06:08 AM

Fox: (I still want to make sure the equation is correct, though... as it did include some guessing.)

July 02, 2019, 07:04:47 AM

Fox: Was thinking .... tosses = ln(1-goalChance) / ln(1-chance) = "chance" being a single-toss percentage probability (0.00 - 1.00) , goal chance being if you did more tosses... So that's an interesting logarithm. Just came up with it after some research/thinking... and could maybe be useful for general use.

June 25, 2019, 02:51:42 PM

ryancaesar12345: jupiter revive animation any?

June 24, 2019, 08:05:17 AM

Fox: Such a patch would mean you need to be careful with item drops, coins, exp, etc. Because those things would then no longer be an infinite supply. Whether or not one uses it depends on what they want to do with it.

June 24, 2019, 07:55:01 AM

Fox: (High enough being based on the area you are in.)

June 24, 2019, 07:54:02 AM

Fox: I had a thought today. What if I look into making a simple patch just for lulz. One that works the same way as using Avoid, but it lasts from start to finish, and can't be disabled. Avoid only works if your levels are high enough, though... so thought is to keep that as is.

June 24, 2019, 01:55:17 AM

ryancaesar12345: hi guys i have new update in Golden Sun 2 Lost Age Revise Mod.ips try this. :)

June 24, 2019, 01:54:16 AM

ryancaesar12345: where's that link?

June 24, 2019, 01:53:56 AM

ryancaesar12345: i have no account in discord.*

June 23, 2019, 08:44:52 PM

Salanewt: Although in the case of Wish, you could probably just use Breeze instead.

June 23, 2019, 08:44:36 PM

Salanewt: Yeah, it's a messaging program sort of like Skype. I find that it's much easy to walk people through some of the basics of assembly, since that's what you'll need for most animation hacks.

June 23, 2019, 09:39:10 AM

ryancaesar12345: discord? im not good in asm or assembly.

June 22, 2019, 09:37:26 AM

MaxiPower: gpnna update my thread on progress of my character art if anyones interested. :P

June 21, 2019, 07:51:44 PM

Salanewt: Hey there! Animation editing can be tricky, but I can share some notes with you if you pop in on our Discord. Are you good with assembly?

June 21, 2019, 02:59:40 PM

ryancaesar12345: and how to change a death curse turn in hex editor?

June 21, 2019, 02:50:00 PM

ryancaesar12345: and how to make animation but changing palette only like wish blue i want to change violet. for AOE healing and earth element.

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