# How does Search work. I can't find even half the places I've been to. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 16, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-search-work-i-cant-find-even-half-the-places-ive-been-to/22605 "2000-06-16T16:49:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@Bilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bilder)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-search-work-i-cant-find-even-half-the-places-ive-been-to/22605/1 "2000-06-16T16:49:13Z")
I want to return to a discussion I added to, but I forgot the title, and can’t find it with the search on my name.I only see four items on the search list, and none of them is the one I’m looking for. Is there another way to find it? I tried a keyword search, but got hundreds of items for the common words could remember being in the thread. Is this a bug, or am I doing something wrong? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2000, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-search-work-i-cant-find-even-half-the-places-ive-been-to/22605/2 "2000-06-16T18:34:51Z")
I’ve noticed this too - not with my UserID, but with _some_ UserID’s. **TN\*hippie** always turns up no matches even if I do a partial search for **TN** and I know I’ve seen some of his posts recently. ---
**Author:** ![jcgmoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@jcgmoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jcgmoi)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2000, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-search-work-i-cant-find-even-half-the-places-ive-been-to/22605/3 "2000-06-16T19:11:50Z")
This happens with the date window wide enough? ---
**Author:** ![Show\_Biz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@Show\_Biz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Show_Biz)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2000, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-search-work-i-cant-find-even-half-the-places-ive-been-to/22605/4 "2000-06-16T19:36:27Z")
When I first saw your post, I clicked on your Search icon and got 5 threads. Now I get 7. If you are in more threads, I’d bet they pop up in a couple of more hours. As to names like **TN\*hippie** or any 2 part name, like **Ed Zotti** , you should search on the longest all-alpha segment only. (hippie or Zotti, respectively) The search routine stores each half separately, but does not do well with 1-3 character pieces. ---
**Author:** ![Show\_Biz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@Show\_Biz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Show_Biz)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2000, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-search-work-i-cant-find-even-half-the-places-ive-been-to/22605/5 "2000-06-16T20:52:19Z")
I just tried again, and got 13 threads, matching your current count. But _only_ when using **Match Partial**. Using **Match Exact** still gave 7, an unexpected difference. But it might help your current dilemma, finding that particular thread with Match Partial. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2000, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-search-work-i-cant-find-even-half-the-places-ive-been-to/22605/6 "2000-06-17T02:34:35Z")
The search engine is picky. It doesn’t like blank spaces. (Try using “+” instead; that works in some cases.) It won’t accept numbers, or punctuation, or alternate characters. It’s also case sensitive. When you give it what it wants in the form it wants it, it works just fine. your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![Show\_Biz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@Show\_Biz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Show_Biz)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2000, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-search-work-i-cant-find-even-half-the-places-ive-been-to/22605/7 "2000-06-17T05:13:39Z")
There’s a definite lag time involved for **Match Exact**. So, the DB index builder is adding items very slowly, a few at a time. The count found by is now only up to 9, after what appears to be 12 hours. I’d say always use **Match Partial** , even if you know the name is unique, because it is always going to be more up-to-date.