451

[I'm_now_smarter]

my search skills are failing me right now (ironic!), but I seem to recall seeing on Google's website that you can use google's search features on free bulletin boards at no charge... given I know several for-profit businesses, companies (intranets, for example), etc pay to use Google's search features rather than rely on built-in poor-quality search engines, this might be the optimal solution. If it's as free as I recall it being...

[SmartieParts]

Yeah, but the problem with Google, or any external search, is that the results are out-dated. Its fine for archival, but any posts that occured between the time they were made and the time Google indexes them won't show up.Unless there's a Google technology that i'm not aware of. - Steven

[Awesys]

The Google search algorithm is a superior one for searching.

You can have a custom Google search for your website (it will only search the pages on your site type of deal and not the whole internet) and it is up to date, unlike Google itself, because it is not indexing the entire internet.

On these bulletin boards (I am not sure which ones they are), I am assuming it incorporates this. It also depends on if you are restricting your search to subject line or the entire body (which will be slower).

There are a bunch of free ones, but I've kind of moved away from them. http://www.xmbforum.com/ is one I used before way back in the day, it's probably changed a ton since then.

I thought vBulletin would be better in terms of the admin control panel. But I haven't used it since version 2.2 ish. I found phpBB 2's to be pretty lacking.

[SmartieParts]

Awesys, I'll pm you with admin access to my test site so you can see it. - Steven*edit* You have to sign up before I can do that.

[SmartieParts]

I'm digging through the Site Feedback threads for topics relating to upgrading the forum and/or static site content. Please check out this post: http://www.clubsmartcar.com/index.php?showtopic=12281

Your feedback has not gone unnoticed! Now we need more.

- Steven

[saronian]

"My Assistant" is my new favorite feature.The whole site looks improved. It's a good foundation for all the new members that will be coming onboard in 2008.