Search confusion

This topic contains 14 replies, has 2 voices, and was last updated by  Alex Rollin 5 years, 5 months ago.

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  • November 20, 2018 at 9:45 am #455128

    Nigel Hancock
    Expired Member
    Post count: 83

    Geo Directory Version 2.0.0.37
    Advanced search filters Version 2.0.0.3-beta

    I’m really struggling to get my head around searches. I’ve read the various help pages and I think I’ve become even more confused, I’m afraid.

    What I would like to achieve is a very simple front-end search where the user can simply type-in, for example, “Vegan friendly” without necessarily having to select a CPT (I have several) and have results displayed in a “nearest to” order as default and I would like it to pick-up tags in the search too. If they then choose to do an advanced search, then and only then have the extended options displayed.

    The problems I have are that:-

    1. I can’t figure out how to format the search bar and include/exclude options
    2. I can’t figure out how to include tags in the search (if that’s even possible?)
    3. The advanced search icon (cog) just brings up nothing, as per attached screen shot.

    I’m hoping there’s a really simple concept I’ve not yet grasped or perhaps settings I’ve not yet found – I am aware of the search settings in each CPT and the ability to add custom fields to the search – but not, it seems a tags field?

    Anyway, I’m hoping someone can help me see the light! Thanks in advance.

    November 20, 2018 at 12:23 pm #455163

    Alex Rollin
    Moderator
    Post count: 27815

    Hello,

    there are several different options for search, that is true, but they can’t all be achieved with a single field. The Search For field (on the left) is for titles/description/categories/tags. When autocomplete is enabled it will show listings by title or category. The Near field is for distance searches. A place/location is entered, and results are sorted by distance from that place. These two search function are different, and the near field requires at least some input to have a location from which to measure distance.

    You mentioned the CPT selector. You can hide that, but then the search will be restriced to whichever post type you have set to be at the top of the order in GD – Post Types.

    1. What do you want to exclude/include? You can hide any and all of the fields, but this will impact the type of search that can be done and so the results shown.
    2. Tags are searched in the Search for field.
    3. Custom fields (including categories) can be added to the advanced search options drawer. https://wpgeodirectory.com/docs-v2/addons/advanced-search/
    4. Tags cannot be added to the search bar.

    November 20, 2018 at 3:44 pm #455197

    Nigel Hancock
    Expired Member
    Post count: 83

    Hi Alex,

    So, if I read you right, in the left-most “search for” field, that should include tags, titles etc. I’m going to try attaching a short video which shows that the search seems to be ignoring tags or it could be I’m doing something really stupid.

    Ok so the upload failed … let’s try a small file size…nope. ok so maybe download from here?
    http://wordpress-106546-665272.cloudwaysapps.com/downloads/search.mov

    November 20, 2018 at 3:52 pm #455203

    Nigel Hancock
    Expired Member
    Post count: 83

    Hi Alex,

    So, if I read you right, the leftmost search field “Search for” should include tags within the search? So, the issue I have is that it doesn’t appear to be picking them up as the video below shows so either somethings not working or I’m doing something stupid (possible btw!).

    http://wordpress-106546-665272.cloudwaysapps.com/downloads/search.mov

    November 20, 2018 at 4:02 pm #455210

    Nigel Hancock
    Expired Member
    Post count: 83

    Thanks Alex, I think I’ve figured out one thing that was confusing me – tags can only be a single word (or hyphenated probably works too?). It will allow you to enter two word tags but search will never find them.

    November 20, 2018 at 4:26 pm #455217

    Nigel Hancock
    Expired Member
    Post count: 83

    … and this means, I think, users won’t be able to search, for example, “Vegan Restaurant” unless it happens to be a CPT, category name, title or included somewhere within the text description?

    November 20, 2018 at 4:51 pm #455225

    Alex Rollin
    Moderator
    Post count: 27815

    The Search For field (on the left) is for finding listings that contain the search terms in the titles/description/categories/tags.

    Last I heard, for searching tags the terms are split up into individual words on each space and then tags are checked for matches on the individual words.

    Your best bet is definitely to include the terms you want in title/category/description/tags. I will flag this for the developers to let us know if there is an update about two-word tags search.

    November 20, 2018 at 5:40 pm #455252

    Nigel Hancock
    Expired Member
    Post count: 83

    “Last I heard, for searching tags the terms are split up into individual words on each space and then tags are checked for matches on the individual words.”

    That don’t work 🙂

    … I also have tried adding a custom field in the CPT “Vegan friendly Yes/No” thinking search might pick-up Vegan friendly = TRUE but it appears not to.

    While I’m here, if you don’t mind? Where’s the max file upload size setting gone to in v2?

    November 20, 2018 at 6:07 pm #455259

    Alex Rollin
    Moderator
    Post count: 27815

    Please provide an example and we will try to clarify the situation.

    Tag Search results URL:
    Listing with the tag URL:

    Search does not pick up custom fields.

    Max file upload size in GDV2 is at:

    GD – Settings – General Tab – General Subtab – Advanced – Max upload file size(in mb)

    November 20, 2018 at 6:22 pm #455263

    Nigel Hancock
    Expired Member
    Post count: 83
    This reply has been marked as private.
    November 21, 2018 at 7:48 am #455336

    Nigel Hancock
    Expired Member
    Post count: 83

    Hi Alex,

    I thought I’d sent a private reply yesterday but it seems this forum discards posts with a URL? Odd but, anyway, I’ll try again now and wrap the URL in a code tag.

    November 21, 2018 at 7:52 am #455337

    Nigel Hancock
    Expired Member
    Post count: 83
    This reply has been marked as private.
    November 21, 2018 at 8:24 am #455342

    Alex Rollin
    Moderator
    Post count: 27815

    Hello,

    cloudways URLs get caught by spam on some occasions.

    Please provide an example and we will try to clarify the situation.

    URL for Tag Search results:
    URL for listing with the tag:

    November 22, 2018 at 7:31 am #455458

    Nigel Hancock
    Expired Member
    Post count: 83

    Hi Alex,

    Thanks for the help so far. I think, for now, I’m going to concentrate on building-out the site. The headaches of understanding ‘search’ have really helped me understand how the directory needs to be structured in terms of user interaction, accessibility and practicability so I’m going to work on content and look & feel – I’m sure I’ll be back to worrying about ‘search’ soon though 😉

    November 22, 2018 at 8:06 am #455459

    Alex Rollin
    Moderator
    Post count: 27815

    OK, let us know how it goes 🙂

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