member search

[LiquidEyes]

I have never managed to get the member search to do anything useful when "search all available" is selected.

 

I go to "members", then enter a name in the text box near the bottom, then click "Go". Nothing happens! It just comes back with the same, complete, un-filtered list of members.

 

On the other hand, if you select "Name contains" or "Name begins with", it does exactly what it says on the tin.

 

What does "search all available" mean, and why is it the default? It is only by chance that I randomly tried selecting something else from that drop-down box.

[Lisa]

yeh, ive always had trouble with the search feature, thought it was just me being a thickett

[LiquidEyes]

Now I've really thought about it, I reckon I understand what it means, and why I've always had problems with it.

 

I think "search all available" effectively means "ignore what's in the text box". It's just not obvious from the wording. "Searching" kinda implies that you are searching for something, so you intuitively expect it to search for what you've typed!

 

If I understand correctly, I don't see the need for that menu option. I mean, if you wanted to display all members, you simply wouldn't type anything in the text box would you?

 

I reckon the selection should be "contains" by default. Because if you search for Bob you'd (more than likely) be interested in results like "Big Bob" or "Bobby".

[Guest Jay]

 

also, you cant search a words with less that 4 letters.

[LiquidEyes]

How lame! Pah!

[James]

Andy I can see where you're coming from although I didnt actually get confused by it as I assumed '...all available' meant search (ok list) all members available and then filter/sort by the additional parameters below that one

[LiquidEyes]

The greater issue is, "what would a user do if they wanted to search for a member?"

 

What I did, which seemed reasonable at the time, was enter a name to search for, and click "go". I'm sure I'm not the only one who would do that.

 

There are *five* drop-down menus - I'm not going to try all of them in turn just for a basic search am I?

 

See where I'm coming from?

 

Maybe I'm just being daft, but this has confounded me for ages!

[James]

ah yes i do see - you are right the default should be 'contains' - especially as it brings back everyone if you leave it blank anyway

 

will change..