Searching FAQs
     14 years
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Whenever I come across a question from someone, my first thought is to point them to a FAQ, if one exists. But, it is hard sometimes to locate an appropriate FAQ.
Ever since the thread
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/37073
appeared, I have been trying to refine my searches of FAQs using Google Search.
Let me throw out what I am thinking and see if someone can refine it. I will use the example of the above linked thread which had to do with reporting Garmin map errors.
I would love to be able to search only FAQs but I have not discovered how to do that directly, so I resort to narrowing down the returned links.
My starting point is to limit the search to the poi-factory. I do this by starting my search string with
"site:poi-factory.com"
Next I have been using "-submitted-by" to try to zero in on FAQs because that seems to be in present in any FAQ submitted by a member.
Since "submitted by" is also present in POI files, I try to exclude them by using "-raw-file".
Finally, I added the key word that started all this, which was "error" and got down to 20 links, the third of which was the FAQ by charlesd45.
Interestingly, if I look for "map error" rather than just "error", I get only 1 link and it is not charlesd45's FAQ.
Note that "map errors" is in the title of his FAQ which is at
https://my.garmin.com/mapErrors/report.faces
and "maps errors" is in the text.
Shockingly, if I change "map error" to "map errors" I get 148 results. If I then add charlesd45 to the search, I get 147 results with the desired FAQ link at the top.
Even though the FAQ has "maps errors" in the text, if I change the search to say "maps errors" rather than "map errors" I get no results returned.
Anyone figure out how to home in on just FAQs. I am stumpted.
10 entries
I get down to 10 entries using this string:
site:poi-factory.com "Submitted by" -raw-file "Map Errors" "FAQ" "Garmin"
If I use "Map Error" instead, I get zero entries.
Fascinating!
NUVI40 Kingsport TN
"FAQ"
I get down to 10 entries using this string:
site:poi-factory.com "Submitted by" -raw-file "Map Errors" "FAQ" "Garmin"
If I use "Map Error" instead, I get zero entries.
Fascinating!
What you did works for sure but I wonder if the use of "FAQ" would actually exclude some FAQs.
In this case it worked because there is an external link to another FAQ in charlesd45's FAQ. This is not true of all FAQs.
Plurals
I get down to 10 entries using this string:
site:poi-factory.com "Submitted by" -raw-file "Map Errors" "FAQ" "Garmin"
If I use "Map Error" instead, I get zero entries.
Fascinating!
Since you're looking for an exact match, there is a diff between error and errors that may explain your result, especially since the list of FAQs and the specific FAQ entry always use the plural errors.
I never can remember this exotic search string so what I do is use the "Ctrl+F" Find on this page... feature of Internet Explorer. I go to the All FAQs page:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6654
then enter the letters "error" into the search and find the one time on the page that a word contains the letters "error" and then can click the link to go to the FAQ.
Good way
I never can remember this exotic search string so what I do is use the "Ctrl+F" Find on this page... feature of Internet Explorer. I go to the All FAQs page:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6654
then enter the letters "error" into the search and find the one time on the page that a word contains the letters "error" and then can click the link to go to the FAQ.
I often do that myself - and it is helpful on the alphabetic POI page as well.
You need to go slow however ans see if what you are after comes up before you finish typing. I recall once looking for my FAQ on how to "simulate" a route. I did not find anything under "simulate" but would have found it using "simu" because I had used "simulation" in the title.
I cannot remember. Does the CNTL-F still work if the first occurance of the search word is on a later page, like a later page in a multi page thread?
Chrome
Using Chrome and bringing up the alphabetical list of FAQs, press Shift-F3 and type in 'err' (without the punctuation). Highlighted the right FAQ.
NUVI40 Kingsport TN
I think not
I never can remember this exotic search string so what I do is use the "Ctrl+F" Find on this page... feature of Internet Explorer. I go to the All FAQs page:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6654
then enter the letters "error" into the search and find the one time on the page that a word contains the letters "error" and then can click the link to go to the FAQ.
...I cannot remember. Does the CNTL-F still work if the first occurance of the search word is on a later page, like a later page in a multi page thread?
I think not--and that's a major drawback when using my technique, especially with so many of The Factory's message threads here running many pages--and with me hoping do find some particular phrase in one of the replies.
Doubt it
I cannot remember. Does the CNTL-F still work if the first occurance of the search word is on a later page, like a later page in a multi page thread?
Pretty sure it doesn't for Chrome either, since it is just a text search for that screen/page.
NUVI40 Kingsport TN
Searches
Hope I'm not hijacking the thread.
Ever notice that after you post to a thread; if the thread is on one page, you are taken to your post, but if the thread is more than one page, you are taken to the original post?
And, if you are on the 'Recent Posts' view, and you click the '1 new' link; if the thread is one page, you are taken to the first new post, but if the thread is more than one page, you are taken to the original post?
I guess the hyperlinked searches also do not take into consideration multiple-page threads (?)
NUVI40 Kingsport TN
Yes.
That is a very annoying quirk in the Drupal software.
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon
When in doubt
Hope I'm not hijacking the thread.
Ask Flaco
Nüvi 255WT with nüMaps Lifetime North America born on 602117815 / Nüvi 3597LMTHD born on 805972514 / I love Friday’s except when I’m on holidays ~ canuk
You some funny guy!!!
Hope I'm not hijacking the thread.
Ask Flaco
Absolutely hilarious!
NUVI40 Kingsport TN
Search in chronological order?
That is a very annoying quirk in the Drupal software.
Is there any way to get the search results in reverse chronological order (most recent first)?
NUVI40 Kingsport TN