Replies

1. 
   geedubbee | Aug 12, 2020 01:28pm | #1

   Can you give an example of the search terms you are using and the unsatisfactory result. We have multiple generations of folks who don't realize that Google's search engine is the 8th wonder of the world.

   Local site search functions are merely mortal by comparison and lack over 20 years of improvements and a cast of thousands contributing. That is, you may need to be more specific in your search terms to get what you are after.

   Let me grab a couple of examples:

   1st pic = poor result
   2nd pic = better result
   3rd pic = even better result
   4th pic = craftsman and subject result first, then subject result by alternate craftsman.

   
2. 
   _mj_ | Aug 12, 2020 01:30pm | #2

   I usually start at the index:

   https://www.finewoodworking.com/magazine-index

3. FWW Editor
   ben_strano | Aug 12, 2020 01:39pm | #3

   I'd love more specifics on this. It's always hard for me to gauge the flaws in the site because I know it better than just about anyone. In other words, I know which handles to jiggle and do it automatically.

4. 
   user-7528519 | Aug 12, 2020 02:58pm | #4

   I guess I haven’t explored enough- I didn’t know about the magazine index. I was looking for design ideas on an Asian stool, and from the general search box I get 351 results searching for Asian stool. Enclosing in quotation marks yields the same result, so apparently quotation marks are not recognized.
   Searching in the magazine index for asian stool gives 1 result from a 2004 issue, but for an Asian inspired desk. I guess I need to get more familiar with the search tools.

5. 
   user-7094555 | Aug 12, 2020 03:14pm | #5

   I would think that the example provided by GeeDubBee is actually pretty accurate. If you tried searching "table" on Google, you'll likely receive generic results. The more specific you are, the closer you get to your desired outcome. It also depends on what FWW uses on the backend of their site for search, i.e. what are they using for a data store and what are they using to query that data. From the looks of it (inspecting the browser), FWW is a managed wordpress site, but I'd expect that they also utilize some service to search their data and before rendering their pages. Not all search algorithms are created equal.

6. 
   lthemick | Aug 12, 2020 06:02pm | #6

   I've had similar experiences searching here...

   Ben, I don't know how flexible search configuration is from an admin perspective but I'd find it immensely helpful if, after searching for a term, we could limit the search by type - for instance, only magazine articles or only forum posts. It's a bit frustrating to *know* I'm looking for a magazine article but still have to scan through several pages of forum posts.

7. 
   geedubbee | Aug 12, 2020 06:17pm | #7

   I was not trying to be disparaging when I mentioned local search engines not being as powerful as some of the beasts we have at our disposal. It just isn't realistic at times to license Google Search for your site.

   @user-7735068

   You could search fine woodworking specifically and use some of the more powerful search operands available from Google. If you search for Google Search Operators you will find a lot on their use. Here's one to try:

   site:finewoodworking.com intitle:stool

   This restricts the search to 'finewoodworking.com' and the results must contain 'stool' in the title. You can dial this in quite a bit using more operands.