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Date:         Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:50:27 -0500
Reply-To:     pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: THIS DOESN'T WORK!! (was,
              Re: Using Google Groups to archive messages)
Comments: To: Rob <becida@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To:  <4932e1ab.070bca0a.3f3d.7f0fSMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Of course I agree. It's a good "first resort". But thinking it actually works misleads people into thinking the answer they're looking for isn't there, just because google didnt' find it.

-Wes

On Sun, Nov 30, 2008 at 1:55 PM, Rob <becida@comcast.net> wrote:

> yes it does not work all the time but often "subject" site:vanagon.comwill return enough results for me and it's a LOT faster than going right to > the vanagon list archives http://gerry.vanagon.com/archives/vanagon.html . > If I don't find what I want (or need) I go to the list archives. > > It's not THE answer, it's a just another answer. FWIW the list archives > work a lot better (for me) if I limit it to a couple of years at a pop. > > Rob > becida@comcast.net > > > > At 11/30/2008 09:56 AM, pickle vanagon wrote: > >> 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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