# Search function

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-function/313866>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [July 24, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-function/313866 "2005-07-24T00:02:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hombre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@Hombre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hombre)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-function/313866/1 "2005-07-24T00:02:06Z")

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Before requiring paid memberships, the search function let you access all the post by all the members in the past.

It appears that search is limited to Unca Ceecs’ columns now.

If this is incorrect, could someone explain how to access general postings of the past,

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-function/313866/2 "2005-07-24T00:25:41Z")

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Are you using the Search function that’s located in the blue bar on the message board ([this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?)) or the “Search Archives” function ([this one](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/))?

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**Author:** ![Hombre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@Hombre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hombre)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-function/313866/3 "2005-07-24T09:06:56Z")

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Aha!

Thanks ever so…

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-function/313866/4 "2005-07-24T12:17:59Z")

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Just for clarification, there are two search functions.

In the Archives, the search function allows you to search through Cecil’s old columns and Staff Reports. Any visitor to the site can do that, to find the Straight Dope about some topic.

In the Message Boards, the search function is limited to use by paying members.

OK?