I have been using this software since the Classic 5 series 2000 and have since upgraded to Threads 7.2.2 and I have to say that a lot of great features have been developed but I am displeased with the changes in the search feature. I am aware of the limitations of the MySQL server settings for the number of characters but that is not my dilemma.

Here are my issues:

1) I would like to see the search results return only one topic instead of every reply that contains the search keyword. Just like it used to be in the Classic series (I think it is confusing when there are multiple results and you can’t tell if you have looked at a topic already or not)

2) I would like to possibly (hack the search template?) if needed to allow searching all dates as a default on the initial search. Instead of having someone chose the newer than or older than option. I don’t care about server load.. Right now I suggest that our users blank out both fields to get a result. Then if needed they can narrow the search with the date range

We have a low load forum but many topics have the same key phrases that confuse not only myself but also the users when searching and many times we go back several years and I don’t want any limitations on the default search.
I gave up searching here and at UBBDev because I can’t seem to find even a negative response to my question. I have seen questions but never a resolution just comments for something that may happen or it would be nice on the next version.

I am sorry if I sound frustrated but this has become a deal breaker with my users. I need to do something.

#2 you can do by modifying the search template. Just set your max search range to something like 10 years in the control panel, and then alter the html in the search.tpl file so it has 10 years selected by default in the "Newer than" field.

#1 isn't quite as simple, but could probably be done with a slight modification to the sql query so it only returns a distinct topic. A bit out of scope here, but you might try checking over at UBBDev

Our next version is going to concentrate on user blogs as the main feature, but the search engine definitely needs some attention, and we're going to make sure we at least make some improvements on it to help with some of the issues reported.

Thanks Rick I did modify the search template.

But I don't understand the comment about the multiple posts. Maybe I am using wrong terms.

Lets say you have a brand new forum and you post the first topic. Then you have two replies. You have a search string that is in all three(the topic,reply 1,reply 2}. When you search for that string you get three results.

Why don't we get one result line that contains the whole thread (the topic,reply 1,reply 2}? I am sorry if this sounds to basic for everyone but I just don't understand why this changed when migrating from classic to threads.Can someone explain to me why this is what it is or is it going to change back someday.