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Search results all messed up

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Search results all messed up
This is really weird.
When I search for an "exact phrase" that IS in the description field in the database, I get "Search failed, no results".
Then I search something like "hey dude how are you doing" which is obviously NOT anywhere in the database (with bool=and) and I get 100 results!!! This is crazy.

Another thing that happens is that when searching for something that on Links 2.0 would give me 15 results (same database) now gives me only 1 result. And if I use search-ni.cgi, I get -2 categories and 1000 links!.

This is all messed up. I think there is lack of documentation and I'm not that happy having paid $450 for something that works this way and has so many "minor" details that have to be worked out.
If it is thought for "large sites" and it recommends the use of mod_perl, then why isn't there any documentation on installations with mod_perl?
I'm not saying this sucks. I mean the system is great, I'm just really not in a good mood right now.

Anyone else having issues like this?

Anyway, I would really appreciate a helping hand with this and my other two posts in this forum.
Thank you.


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Re: Search results all messed up In reply to
First,

Did you set the weights in the Links table (in the Admin).

Then, did you re-index.

If you read the forums here, you'll see that the 'and' searching is not working properly, and has not for the 1.11 release. Searches are returned in score order, and with an 'or' search.

To get an and, you need to use the +/- notation.

Search-ni uses a non-indexed mode, and you need to put weights in the category and links tables in order to search using either of the programs.

http://www.postcards.com
FAQ: http://www.postcards.com/FAQ/LinkSQL/

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Re: Search results all messed up In reply to
Ok, thanks again man.
The weights were as they come by default, and I had re indexed. Anyway, I changed the weights a little and am reindexing now. Let's see what happens.
Thanks.

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Re: Search results all messed up In reply to
I updated the Links table values (they were ok anyway):
Title - 3
CategoryID - 1
Description - 2

Then I re indexed and re built.

If you go to http://www.monografias.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi and search for "bases de datos" youŽll get no results.
If you replace the search url for search-ni.cgi, youŽll get -2 categories and 0 results.
Now, if you go to http://www.monografias.com/Computacion/General/ and use the browserŽs page-search function for "bases de datos" youŽll find one at the bottom item. And also in the "next 10" page, and in many other descriptions.

How do you explain that?

In the same way, there are MANY different search queries that before switching to LinksSQL had many results, now have NONE.

Please help me pugdog.

Thank you.

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Re: Search results all messed up In reply to
I would personally give a higher weight value for the Description than CategoryID. Increase the value of the Description field to 3 and then re-index your links and category tables.

Regards,

Eliot Lee

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Re: Search results all messed up In reply to
I did it and I re indexed, but the search still gets no results.
Something I did note is that if I click "Resync" to sync the def file with the database, all the weights get back to 0.
Is there something wrong with that?


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Re: Search results all messed up In reply to
If you resync, you need to re-set all the weights.

_DON'T_ resync unless you make a change to the database outside of the Links Admin!

So, add your weights back, click UPDATE, make sure you see a value in the weights column, do re-index, (the process should show you how many links it's indexing) then try a search again.


http://www.postcards.com
FAQ: http://www.postcards.com/FAQ/LinkSQL/

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Re: Search results all messed up In reply to
I have done this. Without syncing, checking that the tables were modified, etc.
Were you able to see what I mean in the urls?
Any other ideas? This is really bad our website.

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Re: Search results all messed up In reply to
Actually, it looks like the problem has been fixed if you applied the the last suggestions.

I was able to do searches, got no results on some, but no negative numbers.

http://www.postcards.com
FAQ: http://www.postcards.com/FAQ/LinkSQL/

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Re: Search results all messed up In reply to
If you ever see a -2, it means an error in the query. This is most likely caused by not having any search weights set.

Yes, clicking resync will lose your weights, and you need to reset this. It's just part of the design and is very difficult to change (next version addresses this).

To fix, simply give weights to the fields you want (default is for Links table: Title => 3, Description => 1. Category Table: Name => 3, Description => 1), and hit Re-Index.

If you still see a -2, if you open up search.cgi, and find the part that says uncomment for debugging, you can print out what the error was.

Hope this helps,

Alex

--
Gossamer Threads Inc.
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Re: Search results all messed up In reply to
I have tried all these things but searches are still really weird. I had a lot of "search queries" before upgrading to linkssql that now donŽt work.
My siteŽs main function is the search engine, so I guess you realize what situation IŽm in.
IŽve also seen many people in my situation in the forums.
I hope the next release (that will fix this, right?) comes out soon.
And if not, how about just a patch to attend this very important and critical matter?
Thanks.


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Re: Search results all messed up In reply to
_believe_me_ the addition of 'resync' solved many, many p roblems. The only problem remaining was how to carry the existing defaults through the 'reset' process.

The .def files are used to speed up access and to do things to the database with information that is not stored in the field descriptors of the mysql database itself. They provide a multitude of features in exchange for some problems.

Really, the only major problem of any sort with the .def files is remembering to resync them if you make any changes to the database, and the loss of any user-defaults that were entered -- such as weights and changes to the defaults or pattern match.

Otherwise, they are the reason you can do all sorts of things to the database as simply and cleanly as it is.... such as generation of drop down or check boxes, pre-checking of field lengths and formatting, etc.

http://www.postcards.com
FAQ: http://www.postcards.com/FAQ/LinkSQL/