Has access to the SEARCH capability been changed?

I have also noticed the part with the search window not staying accessible, it only seems to work when you scroll to the top of any page.

Still working here and on my iPad on Firefox.

No problem here, I don't see any difference from months or even years ago.

FWIW, I don't click on the SEARCH to see the dropdown, it just appears when I mouse over it.

I've never noticed any search in my user profile, and I've never used it since I don't see it.

@turkey_hollow_rr posted:

I have also noticed the part with the search window not staying accessible, it only seems to work when you scroll to the top of any page.

Works fine for me anywhere in the thread, case in point.  I'm not at the top of the page and it comes up when I hover over the SEARCH link.

The correct way to get to the SEARCH page is to use the "SEARCH" link in the blue toolbar at the top. The image in Gunrunner John's post shows it perfectly. That is where it has always been and access to it it has not changed.

For what it's worth, I don't see a search link in my profile either.

This may be the issue you are experiencing as this happened to me yesterday.  When you move your cursor to the search function, simply start typing your search.  When your cursor moves off the search tab, the box disappears. 

I typically use Microsoft Edge as my browser for this site.  It has come a long way.  Other browsers may react differently.

Any flames thrown my way for my choice of browser will be met with Monty Python style taunting in my worst French accent.

Mozilla Firefox here.  I did get the window to stay put after clicking SEARCH but I really have to maneuver the cursor to avoid passing over the Advanced Search link and not leave the window. Java isn't sure if you want the window or something under it.

That seems to be the trick, or scroll back to the top.

@rattler21 posted:

I log on using Google Chrome.  In the past I could click on my avatar and when the drop down appeared I would go to SEARCH and the detailed search page appeared.

A couple of days ago, that procedure would not function.  Towards the upper right of any page is  SEARCH.  Clicking on that produced a small drop down and I clicked on ADVANCED SEARCH and got the detailed search page mentioned in Paragraph One.

Today when I click on SEARCH the small drop down appears but as I move the cursor off SEARCH the drop down disappears.     Has the program changed or have restrictions been implemented?

Respectfully,  John

I think I know what you're describing but I don't know why it occurs or how to fix it. It's the suggested searches that appear below the text field you would enter your words into? That little suggestion thing goes away on me when I try to use it. It's like a sick carnival game haha

The generic "SEARCH" function is too broad and usually does not work very well. You should always click on "Advanced Search" which will then bring up a whole new page that won't go away when you move your mouse. You can get much more specific about your search on this page.

If you want to bookmark the Advanced Search page, here is the link:

https://ogrforum.com/advancedSearch

Absolutely been having the same problem using Firefox for quite some time now.

1.  Sign in

2.  Hover cursor over SEARCH or click on it.  Box appears to type in search data

3.  Move down to type something in.  Box immediately disappears before you have a chance to type anything.

4.  Start typing a post (as I am doing now).  Box stays put to do a search

5.  Open another window and enter the forum (signed in).  Box stays put - no problem

6.  #4 and #5 are how I have been tricking the search box into behaving.

John

I just assumed mine was a browser based issue. Or an operator issue. Loose nut behind the mouse, maybe.

This is a browser problem, not a forum problem. I also use Firefox and I do not see this behavior. See if there is an update available for Firefox. The current version of Firefox is 89.0.

Screen grab from my browser.

@Rich Melvin posted:

The generic "SEARCH" function is too broad and usually does not work very well. You should always click on "Advanced Search" which will then bring up a whole new page that won't go away when you move your mouse. You can get much more specific about your search on this page.

If you want to bookmark the Advanced Search page, here is the link:

https://ogrforum.com/advancedSearch

Rich,

Thank you for posting the link, it works for me.

Respectfully,

John in Lansing, ILL

I'm with Rich, I use the Advanced Search 100% of the time.  I can zero in on what I'm looking for much easier than screwing around with zillions of hits from a generic search.  FWIW, I also use Firefox.

@rattler21 posted:

I log on using Google Chrome.

Today when I click on SEARCH the small drop down appears but as I move the cursor off SEARCH the drop down disappears.     Has the program changed or have restrictions been implemented?

I've had the same problem lately. I assumed it was a glitch caused by a recent Windows/Edge update. (Chrome and Edge are now siblings)

It was also happening when I tried to get to the drop down menu below my name ... but, that stopped. Odd.

I agree, advanced search is my preference also. That is what lead to my issue with the search box because I would click SEARCH and then attempt Advanced Search. If my cursor touches Advanced Search the search window goes away. Even if I get the cursor in the box and type a little if I move to Advanced it disappears. At the top of the page it works as expected and I can get the Advanced Search page. It's peculiar but not really an issue.  (edit)

Yes,

I use advanced search as well and change the value to search by date and I always keep Firefox up to date.

John

Thanks for the direct link Rich.  I'll use that from now on.

https://ogrforum.com/advancedSearch

John

@CNJ Jim posted:

I've had the same problem lately. I assumed it was a glitch caused by a recent Windows/Edge update. (Chrome and Edge are now siblings)

It was also happening when I tried to get to the drop down menu below my name ... but, that stopped. Odd.

This is weird. It depends on what page I am on at OGR. Some pages, I can access advanced search from the upper-right Search button ...  but not the drop down menu under my name. Other pages here ... the issue is reversed. lol

Will play with it this evening.

I just solved the problem once and for all. I added a new "Search" menu item to the blue toolbar which goes directly to the Advanced Search page. Click there and you're in - no fuss, no bother. I also changed the old "Search" link to an icon.

I'll be in touch with Crowdstack Tech Support to see if I can get rid of the default search icon/link that is troublesome.

Chrome here. There must have been a very recent change to the forum software... a couple of days ago, I clicked on search and moved the cursor and clicked on advanced search, and it let me enter the keywords and the search was performed.  Now when I click on search, if I move the cursor (to try to click on advanced search), the drop-down disappears, but if I just start typing, it accepts the input. However, as others have noted, basic search is pretty useless - I always use advanced.

The good news is that the menu bar now has advanced search on it, just to the left of search; it points to the link that Rich provided and it appears to work just fine.

Speaking as a former IT developer and project manager, I scream whenever I see changes being implemented that have not been fully tested.  And web software should not be developed in a way that is browser-dependent.  Maybe my dislike for these poor practices is why I retired early.

Edit:  Rich made his post above while I was typing my rant. Now there's one search option on the menu bar, and it seems to work. However, the customer (in this case, OGR/Rich) shouldn't have to be the one to fix that kind of thing.

@Mallard4468 posted:

Chrome here. There must have been a very recent change to the forum software...

Nope. Nothing changed at all. I get advance email alerts about any changes to the forum software. There have not been any changes for over a month.

Thanks Rich!. Works great for me.   I think it is the interface between Java and the graphics packages on different hardware.

@Rich Melvin posted:

I just solved the problem once and for all. I added a new "Search" menu item to the blue toolbar which goes directly to the Advanced Search page. Click there and you're in - no fuss, no bother. I also changed the old "Search" link to an icon.

There you go, how it should have worked all along!

FWIW, I still have no issue using theicon and just selecting the ADVANCED SEARCH link to go to advanced search.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

There you go, how it should have worked all along!

Yes, that's true, but we have a unique situation here.

For the vast majority of Crowdstack clients, the generic Search function works fine. However, we are a victim of our own success! This forum has grown so large that the generic search function is no longer very useful. There are simply too many threads and posts here to search with a generic, forum-wide search.

As I write this, there are 169,661 threads here, and 1,876,169 replies/comments in those threads! That is a vast amount of data to search.

The new link directly to the advanced search page should be a big help.

The default search icon is gone, thanks to some custom CSS from the good folks at Crowdstack. Clicking on "Search" in the blue menu bar will now take you to the Advanced Search page.

No confusion now!

Rich M -- works as you've just advertised on my Mac, running Firefox 88.0.1.  Thanks for making the 'one-click' advanced search work

Just used it.  That works great.

Thanks Rich