What types of search are available on Delphi?
There are two types of search: Forum search (to help you find specific
Forums) and message search (to help find messages within a Forum).
Where do I find the message search in a Forum?
There are two message search options within a Forum: basic search and advanced
search. You can access both from the right-hand side of the Start Page
of a Forum. When in the 'Messages' view, the basic search box is on the
bottom of the left-hand frame, and a link to advanced search is near
the top of the left-hand frame.
What's the difference between basic and advanced message
search?
With basic message search, you put in a keyword, and you get results from
all messages posted in the past month. Advanced Search allows advanced
keyword searches, searches limited by date, and searches limited to messages
posted to or from a particular member, or a combination of these.
How do I do an advanced keyword message search?
The "Find Messages" drop-down menu on the advanced search page offers five
choices which can be used to narrow the keyword search. Enter any number
of keywords into the box and click Search.
Can I do a Boolean message search?
Yes. For instructions, click on the "help" link next to the "Search" button
near the top of the advanced search page.
Is it possible to search for messages to or from a certain
member?
Yes. Go to the advanced search page and select the a member from the "To:" or "From:" dropdown
menu in the "Additional Criteria" portion of the page. There will be up
to 50 names listed, in descending order of those who have most recently
logged into the Forum. You may choose from those names. If the name is
not there, you can type in a Membername in the second box on the same line.
Up to 50 messages will be displayed.
How do I search for messages posted during a certain time
period?
By default, message searches are run on the past 30 days. From the advanced
message search page, you can use the "Updated from" and "to" dropdown to
select a time period on which to run your search.
DelphiPlus members may search back to the oldest message in the Forum.
Delphi Advanced members can search back six months, and DelphiBasic members
can search the past three months of messages.
Can I customize the way the message search results are
sorted?
By default, search results are sorted by relevance, but you opt to show
the oldest or newest messages first using the "Order By:" dropdown menu
on the advanced search page.
Can I combine message search options to further refine
my search?
Yes. These options can be combined in a variety of ways, such as limiting
the time period, while also selecting messages from a certain Membername,
and containing selected keywords. You can also use the "Only show messages
to or from me" check box to refine the results even further.
How do I search for Forums on a specific topic?
On the Delphi Forums home page,
enter your search terms in the "Explore" text box and click on the "Search" button.
Can I limit my search for Forums to a certain category?
Yes. On the left-hand side of the Delphi
Forums home page, click on the category you want to search in. Then
use the search box on the top-left of the category index page to do your
search within the category.
Can I do Boolean Forum searches?
Yes. Complete instructions can be found on the Forum
search page.