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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