Bob Parks sez: >A "vector search" like PM uses will return a lot of hits that do not have >both words, but the ranking system should put the ones with both words >near the top of the list.... >.... >One thing is obvious, people who are used to boolean searching tend to >not like the "fuzzy" results that come from vector searches. Oh well.
Thank you, Bob, for hitting the nail on its head. I, too, don't have an issue with the PM searching because it does tend to rank its hits fairly well and put the important ones at the top of the list. That it finds a whole lot of other ones isn't an issue for me, because I understand the kind of searching being done. Having worked in a library at one time and being subjected to all sorts of online search engines, each one proprietary in its own way, I'm probably more used to changing my search tactics to suit software more than most. I think you've described the difference well, as well as why we'll continue to have demands for a "fix" when things are generally working quite well if you use the search engine the way it is intended. I don't generally make a fuss either way because if or when PM changes to the Boolean engine that people think they want, I'll easily adapt. Thanks for putting into words, though, what's been going through my head throughout the search discussion. :) -- Michael Lewis Off Balance Productions [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.offbalance.com
