Re: [Harp-L] search Harp-L Archives

[Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

You need to use boolean combinations of words in your search argument.  They instantly classify the postings.  Because you get to choose HOW  they are classified, it is much better than having someone pre-classify them using a scheme that may not suit your requirements.

Example: <difficult +"hole 2" +draw -overblow>  produces 5 hits.

" " quotes group words together so that the search engine treats the combination as a single word and ignores the individual words. It requires exact spelling and I think that it is case sensitive.
+ means that a hit MUST include that word.
- means that the hit MAY NOT include that word.

The above example may not have retrieved the exact information that you want but....you get the idea of how to choose the postings you want to see. It sometimes requires that you try several times with slightly different search arguments.  If you are only searching for single words, you are missing out on much of the power of the search engine.

You can find a more complete discussion under Advanced Searching.

Vern



On Mar 22, 2011, at 5:27 PM, Rick Dempster wrote:

> A great deal of value would be added to the archive if the postings could be catalogued, as a librarian would do a book or website, according to subject matter.
> Yesterday I was trying to assist a student with the old 'my hole 2 draw doesn't work properly'. (I have my own answers, but there's nothing like someone else's input.)
> The search finds the word 'hole' and the number '2'. Too many results for it to be really useful. Am I volunteering? No! But it might be something that could be done collectively
> over a period of time, like Wikipedia.
> RD
> 
>>>> <owner-harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx> 22/03/2011 11:39 >>>
> If you do go search the archives remember to not use the search engine on
> the archive page, it's broken.  To search the harp-l archives use the
> google custom search near the top of the page at www.harp-l.org  It works
> really well and it searches the same archive.
> 
> Using the list to ask questions is fine.  Even questions that may have
> been asked previously.  You never know what new discussions may be
> triggered by a query.  The main purpose of harp-l is to provide a
> networking tool for harmonica players.  Asking questions is an essential
> part of the process of networking.  harp-l-listowner
> 
>