Date:         Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:56:02 -0500
Reply-To:     pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      THIS DOESN'T WORK!! (was,
              Re: Using Google Groups to archive messages)
Comments: To: mtbiker62@comcast.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Sorry for shouting in the subject line.  But, as you say, this suggestion is
posted all the time, in varying forms.  But, as I've posted a few times
before, it doesn't really work!!  Google does not currently index the whole
vanagon site.  (Don't ask me why).  When you try to search the list this
way, you are missing a large fraction of the archive.

For example, I challenge you to find the following message ("randomly"
selected):
http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0611b&L=vanagon&F=&S=&P=28169

This message contains the search terms head, gasket, and acura

But you will never be able to find this message using google, because google
does not know of its existence.  This seems to me to be the case for the
vast majority of messages actually.  So, two lessons here.  First of all,
all those times when you used google to search the list, there probably were
a lot of more relevant results that you missed.  Secondly, there really is a
search problem.  The archive search is basically unusuable and google is NOT
a substitute (it doesn't work, it just looks like it does).  Currently, if I
NEED to search the archives, I find the only reliable option is to search
"by email" using the instructions here:
http://gerry.vanagon.com/info/searching.html (note that though this
sometimes takes a while, it always works.)

The issue with google is an issue with ALL currently available methods of
using google to search the archives.  Including using "advanced" searches,
or using the site:vanagon.com command, or whatever.  If you think you have a
way that works, try to use it to find the message I linked to above.

In response to the original poster (about google groups), I think its a
great idea.  Hopefully, they'll add the possibility of moving over the past
emails in the future.

-Wes

On Sat, Nov 29, 2008 at 12:44 PM, Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@comcast.net> wrote:

> A thorough search of the archives (yes, tongue in cheek) will disclose what
> has been suggested here .... that entering your search subject, then "
> vanagon.com archives" in the google search box, will always get you very
> quick results. That then brings to mind the blather that is included in the
> majority of posts, while not changing the subject in the subject box and the
> reason the archives are so full of not-much-of-use. Go take a look. It's a
> fact.
>
> The wheel does not need reinventing (IMNSHO), but does need to be put on
> the Vagen we already have in order to be useful.
>
> Bob
> '87 Syncro Westy
>
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