Using the wildcard helps (as in PM*).... but by the time a new person has figured that out, he/she has already installed 50+ hacks and doesn't have such a hard time finding stuff here anymore.

Here's another one that's really awful..... searching for IP bans or proxy IP addresses.

Nobody will ever spell that out in a hack title or posts in a discussion thread.

So.... maybe a suggestion might be to add a text line on the search display page giving PM* and IP* as specific examples of how to do wildcard searches?

(Oh darn. I came across this thread while looking for something. Wondering now -- what was I searching for?? I think it was important, too..... :cross-eyed: )

If user's want to find hacks with the words PM in they should search in the hacks database because AFAIK 2-letter words work:)
And that's what they should be using anyway, not the forum search.

Exactly, Mr. Assassin. :)

Actually steve, they should use the forum search;)

The hack database:

a.) does not have every vB hack in it (I know it does with newer ones;))
b.) does not have hack requests modifications in it
c.) does not have general hacking discussion modifications in it

Anyway - @Xenon & Erwin - I am sure that you could make the search allow 2 letter words like IP and PM right?:)

And if not, you could edit the search template to show *PM* or *IP* as examples as suggested;)

Satan

But unless everyone has taken Amy's advice and successfully mastered how to work the search engine, then the hacks database is the best thing to use. I would guess 1/2 of the user's here wont know how to use the search efficiently and effectivly:p

That's why they should use the Hacks Database.

And what about the half of them who don't know how to use the Hacks Database?

Besides - What makes the Hacks Database more efficient or effective? It searches less options, less areas, brings back less results, some of which people won't want - The Forum Search searches ALL forums for the query - Yes it brings back alot of results sometimes, thats why you either narrow it down or view every topic to see if it corresponds to what you are searching for;)

Satan

But as I mentioed some people dont' know how to use it. The hacks database is more precise and 9 times out of 10 finds what you're looking for. Since its searching for hacks only, which is what the user wants.

Maybe not - There are some decent coding finds in the Requests forum;)

Perhaps in your sheltered "I cant use a search" world you miss out:p

I know from replying to / doing requests that there are some really useful codes lying there;)

And like I said before - Searching the Full Releases will return all the results, as the Hacks Database has not got all the hacks in it;)

Satan

Muppet.

But, honestly, how many newbie users do you ifnd that use wildcards in their searches?:-p They should use the hacks database search:) Discussion closed mofo:)

How? Do you not read what people post?:eek:

What have wildcards got to do with using a forum search?

What kind of a closed mind do you have? As a "Master Hacker" you of all people should realise the importance of the Forum Search over the Hacks Database - It returns more results, and searches all forums, all threads, all posts, therefore making it more accurate...

For a newbie who has come to hack vBulletin, no matter what search device they use most of them will have questions about the hacks and their functions, so that is not of importance...

And for the last time - The Hacks Database does not contain all the hacks in the Full Releases forum!

Satan